J. Marshall Hughes

J. Marshall Hughes, now acting of counsel, founded Hughes & Coleman law firm alongside Lee Coleman in 1985. For over 35 years, he dedicated himself to bettering the firm he helped start. Throughout that time, he was also a businessman, farmer and hunter.

As a graduate of Western Kentucky University, J. Marshall’s roots in the Kentucky and Tennessee area run deep. He earned his B.A. from Western Kentucky University and continued his education at Indiana University School of Law to obtain his J.D. After that, he returned to Bowling Green and helped found Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers.

Throughout the years, J. Marshall has assisted in recovering millions for clients, and his credentials speak volumes. He was awarded the Top 10 Attorney Award by the National Academy of PI Attorneys, as well as the Top 100 Trial Attorney by the National Trial Lawyers. He is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association, Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, American Judicature Society, Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association and Kentucky Justice Association.

J. Marshall’s long standing mission has always been to make the communities around him a better place. After all, he knows that it is not just the clients that are part of the Hughes & Coleman family – it is the members of the communities too. This is why he has helped found several non-profit organizations aimed at increasing safety awareness and saving lives. He co-founded Kids Are Special®, a program aimed at protecting and encouraging children in our communities to practice safe habits. It promotes the fingerprinting of children for identification purposes and encourages bicycle safety through the sale of certified bike helmets for a fraction of the typical cost. He is an avid supporter of the Butler County Boys & Girls Club, an organization that provides programs, resources and assistance to children and teens. J. Marshall also co-founded Arrive Alive, a program aimed at bringing awareness to children in the south central Kentucky area about the dangers of driving or riding with someone under the influence of alcohol. It encourages teens and parents to sign a pledge not to drink and drive.

In fall of 2022, after decades of service to our clients and community, J. Marshall Hughes decided to take a step back from practicing law to focus on his life outside of the legal industry. While he remains of counsel at Hughes & Coleman, he is currently enjoying quality time with his wife, Judith Given Hughes, as well as their two children and three grandchildren. An avid outdoorsman, J. Marshall has always enjoyed hunting and fishing – as shown by his memberships of the North American Hunting Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Quail Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, National Rifle Association, National Parks and Conservation Association and the National Geographic Society. He hopes to continue pursuing his outdoor adventures for many years to come.
We appreciate all J. Marshall Hughes has done for the Hughes & Coleman clients, team, families, and community.