Thomson Reuters Vice President Thomas C. Leighton receives Lawyer in the Arena Award
HIGH POINT, N.C., March 25, 2026 – Members of the bench and bar paused for a moment during a reception in honor of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit—that held oral arguments at High Point Law on March 25th—to recognize a distinguished lawyer. Former chief justice and founding law school dean Mark Martin presented High Point Law’s Lawyer in the Arena Award to Thomas C. Leighton.
The “Lawyer in the Arena” award draws its inspiration from President Theodore Roosevelt and his enduring 1910 speech, Citizenship in a Republic. In that famous address, Roosevelt reminded us: “It is not the critic who counts… The credit belongs to the [person] who is actually in the arena…” The award reflects this philosophy of honoring those who do not stand on the sidelines, but instead commit themselves fully to the work of advancing justice, often without recognition or fanfare. Thomas C. Leighton’s career exemplifies that ethos.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota Law School, Mr. Leighton began his professional career with a strong foundation in public service, including service in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. These early commitments would shape a career defined not just by professional success, but by meaningful contribution.
For more than thirty years, Mr. Leighton served at West Publishing and later Thomson Reuters, operating at the critical intersection of the judiciary and the legal profession. As Vice President for Content Acquisition and Judicial Relations, he played a pivotal role in ensuring that judicial work was communicated with accuracy, integrity, and respect—strengthening trust in legal institutions nationwide.
Mr. Leighton’s influence extends well beyond his formal roles at Thomson Reuters. He has dedicated himself to numerous organizations that impact the legal landscape, including:
- The American Inns of Court Foundation
- NYU’s Institute of Judicial Administration
- The United States Supreme Court Historical Society
- The National Association of Women Judges
- The Books for Africa Jack Mason Law & Democracy Initiative
Through these efforts, he has helped build stronger institutions, foster legal education, and promote access to justice globally.
One of the defining threads of Mr. Leighton’s career has been a commitment to strengthening the rule of law across borders. From helping deliver law library collections to developing legal systems in more than 26 nations, to supporting judges and lawyers in their communities, his work reflects both reach and purpose.
Mr. Leighton received the prestigious A. Sherman Christensen Award in 2020 from the American Inns of Court in a ceremony held at the Supreme Court of the United States—reflecting both the depth and spirit of his service.
In presenting the Lawyer in the Arena Award, High Point Law recognized not only a distinguished career, but a lasting legacy. Mr. Leighton’s work has strengthened the legal profession, supported those within it, and advanced the rule of law in enduring ways.
His example serves as a reminder of what it means to lead—not through words alone, but through sustained, meaningful action.
As the evening concluded, attendees were invited to do what Roosevelt himself might have encouraged: not simply to admire, but to follow the example of a lawyer who lived his professional life fully in the arena.
Former Chief Justice and Law School Dean Mark Martin observed:
“Tom Leighton has been that lawyer in the arena. He has advanced the rule of law and supported judicial institutions in America and in many other countries. His career shows our students a template for personal fulfillment and professional success.”