On behalf of the State Bar of Georgia, I am writing to extend condolences to the family, colleagues and many friends of longtime Atlanta attorney and community leader Clay C. Long after his passing on May 29 at the age of 85.

A Georgia Bar member since 1964, Mr. Long began his legal career as a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black and drafted the landmark ruling in Gideon v. Wainwright, which established the right of representation for indigent criminal defendants. Upon moving to Atlanta, he joined Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan and in 1974 co-founded a corporate and commercial real estate firm, which is now known as McKenna Long & Aldridge.