National Office

Staff News

Office Administrator Cheryl Castillo has retired! After serving the College for fifteen years, Cheryl has decided to enjoy new adventures and spend time with family. We know many of you spoke to Cheryl first when calling the office and we join you in saying, “Best Wishes, Cheryl!”

The College will miss you and is appreciative of your many years of service.

National Office

Staff News

The College welcomes Sarah Reynolds as the new Office Administrator! Sarah joins us with a breadth of experience in office management and accounting and will be taking over Cheryl’s position with very capable hands. To learn a bit more about Sarah, click here to read her bio on the website. If you call the National Office and are greeted with a lovely British accent, you’ve met Sarah! 

National Office

Staff News

At a recent California Society of Association Executives (CalSAE) event, Senior Strategic Initiatives Manager Amy Mrugalski was honored with the Geri Hayes McDonald Staff Achievement Award, which recognizes “a staff member of an association, charitable organization, or AMC who has achieved success in overall contributions to CalSAE, service to professional, civic, or charitable organizations, and achievements for their employing organization.” In addition, Amy was selected to serve as part of the CalSAE (which is becoming Associations West this summer) Board of Directors for a two-year term beginning in July. Congratulations, Amy, for this well-deserved honor! 

Podcast

Trial Tested: A Podcast by the American College of Trial Lawyers

Today marks the final episode of Trial Tested Season 11! To commemorate Mental Health Awareness month, host Amy Gunn interviews Hon. John Broderick, former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Since 2016, Judge Broderick has spoken extensively, especially at schools, to advocate for mental health education. In this powerful interview, Judge Broderick speaks candidly about the pain he and his family endured during his son’s struggle with undiagnosed mental illness – an experience that ultimately led to a life-changing diagnosis. 

Listen to this episode or catch up on all of Season 11 by clicking here.

National Office

Poll Reminder

As a reminder, the 2025 Spring Poll is now open. Please cast your vote for the candidates under consideration for fellowship. Your vote and comments are completely confidential, as are the names on the ballot. Please complete the poll as promptly as possible, but no later than Friday, May 16, 2025. Your response is essential to the selection process. The Board of Regents places great reliance on the information you furnish and the opinions you express, all of which will be communicated to them on a “not-for-attribution” basis. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the National Office. 

In the Spotlight

Michael Engle

Fellow Michael Engle was awarded the Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award by the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. The award recognizes his outstanding advocacy and leadership on behalf of his client, which resulted in the release of a wrongfully convicted man after more than forty years of imprisonment.

In the Spotlight

Fred Gray

Renowned Civil Rights lawyer and Fellow Fred Gray was honored with a statue outside the Alabama State Bar Association. Gray, who is 94 years old, was the first Black president of the statewide organization in 2002. The statue is engraved with the words “Lawyers Render Service,” a phrase Gray coined during his term as president and is now the Bar’s official motto.

In the Spotlight

William Griffin III

On April 11, Fellow William Griffin III was awarded the 2025 Outstanding Lawyer Award by the Arkansas Bar Foundation and the Arkansas Bar Association, one of the highest distinctions in the Arkansas legal community.

In the Spotlight

James "Jim" Kirk

The Oklahoma Fellows presented former State Chair James “Jim” Kirk with The Andy Coats Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to the College and in recognition of his outstanding legal career.

In the Spotlight

Josh Koskoff

Fellow Josh Koskoff was recently included as an Innovator on the TIME100 2025 list of The Most Influential People. This recognition reflects Josh’s unique work holding gun manufacturers accountable for their role in the "uniquely American epidemic of gun violence.” Koskoff was also instrumental in assisting the families of the Sandy Hook victims in their defamation lawsuit against Alex Jones. 

In the Spotlight

John Neal

Fellow John Neal will be honored in May as the recipient of the Leonard R. Gilman Award. This Federal Bar Association Award is given annually to a federal criminal law practitioner in the district who exemplifies the excellence, professionalism, and commitment to public service of Len Gilman, who was U.S. Attorney at the time of his death in 1985. 

In the Spotlight

John Wester

John Wester is the 2025 recipient of the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation’s Ayscue Professionalism Award. The award recognizes an attorney who displays exemplary professionalism through service to the Bar and the greater community and embodies the profession’s aspirational traits of “high ethical standards, model conduct, unquestioned integrity and consistent competence.” The Ayscue Professionalism Award is named for E. Osborne Ayscue, Jr., Past President of the College.

Appointments and Designations

Elevated to the Bench

Timothy J. McEvoy

Fairfax, VA

Judge McEvoy

Fairfax County Circuit Court

March 2025

Matthew Ferguson

Montreal, QC

Judge Ferguson

Court of Quebec

April 2025

Heritage Committee

DID YOU KNOW that the National Trial Competition has been the training ground for future trial lawyers for 50 years? Fellow Michael Feldberg [at right, with the 2025 winning team] won the inaugural competition as part of Harvard’s mock trial team 50 years ago. According to Mike, “I was fortunate to participate in the inaugural National Trial Competition, and with my classmate Eric Zagrans [we won] that competition. I knew that I wanted to be a trial lawyer, and the experience of that competition cemented my desire to try to become one. The experience was also a confidence booster; at least for those few days the judges thought I had a chance to be pretty good. I would certainly encourage law students with an interest in trial work to participate in as many [mock trial] competitions as possible. It provides experience, sharpens skills and is a lot of fun.”  

Furthering the Mission

General Committees

Mentoring: The Mentoring Committee is looking forward to the fourth year of mentoring federal judicial interns in coordination with Just The Beginning – A Pipeline Organization. We have 102 interns working for 84 judges in 24 states. We are reaching out to State Chairs to recruit mentors for these 102 students. In particular, we have a significant number of interns in four cities/states: 16 interns in Chicago, 15 in California, 10 in New York, and 7 in Florida. Training sessions for mentors will be in May, with the mentoring program running from late May through the end of July. We hope Fellows will answer the call from their State Chair in those 24 states and enjoy one of the most rewarding experiences a Fellow can have – mentoring the next generation, as they work with assigned federal judges. If you are interested in mentoring, you also may reach out to Elizabeth Wright, Mentoring Committee Chair, at Elizabeth.Wright@ThompsonHine.com

National Trial Competition: The Committee convened in Houston, Texas April 2-6 for the 50^th anniversary of the National Trial Competition. Teams from 300 different law schools were narrowed through regional competitions to thirty finalists teams representing fifteen regions, with thirty-five Fellows serving as judges. In the finals, presided over by President Deane, a very talented team from St. John's University School of Law edged out an equally talented team from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law to capture the title. Best oralist was awarded to Drake Jones of the University of Georgia School of Law. Among those who attended the week’s events and festivities included Chair of the Committee Richard Zielinski and Past President David Beck, who helped found the competition in 1976. In keeping with longstanding tradition, the Committee serenaded President Deane with an original tribute song on karaoke night before the finals. 

Furthering the Mission

State and Province Committees

Massachusetts: Fellows are participating in a program in partnership with the Supreme Court Historical Society, Supreme Court and My Hometown, an immersive, in-person civics program for high school students in partnership with the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Legal Mentors are an essential part of the program as are featured speakers. If you are interested in potentially serving as a legal mentor or speaker for Hometowns Boston, please complete the following form.

Virginia: The Fellows extend congratulations to Past President Mike Smith, along with Fellows Elaine Bredehoft and Steve Noona, who have been named to the 2025 VLW Hall of Fame. They will be honored on Friday, May 16, 2025, from 11:30-2:00 pm at the John Marshall Ballrooms in Richmond. Tickets are available at www.valawyersweekly.com if you wish to celebrate with them in person. 

Mark Your Calendars

View all upcoming events at www.actl.com/events

President's Travel Log