![](https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif) |
Welcome to the latest issue of the eBulletin — an update of the happenings of the American College of Trial Lawyers. More in-depth coverage of College happenings and meetings will continue to arrive in printed form via the Journal. We look forward to growing our correspondence and relationships with Fellows through this digital newsletter and encourage your feedback.
|
|
New Year Brings New Initiatives
Progress on White Paper, Diversity Liaisons, Online Polling, Overseas Projects
|
|
Dear Fellow:
We are extremely excited about our program for the Spring Meeting in Boca Raton. President-Elect Sam Franklin has put together a group of speakers that will both inform and entertain. The venue has undergone a complete renovation and will be the kind of first-class site that you have grown to expect from our College meetings. It will be a great event.
The Executive Committee has been working hard at several important tasks. Our Task Force on the Response of Universities and Colleges to Allegations of Sexual Violence has submitted a final draft of their white paper that the Board of Regents will review for potential approval. This is an extremely difficult issue and the members of this Task Force have done a great service to the College in working so diligently on this paper. I hope to report to you in the near future that the report has been approved.
Our International Committee continues to press forward on their mission. They are still working on a potential trip to Cuba and are continuing to work on the Guam meeting.
Our efforts on diversity are making real progress. We now have liaisons in almost all of our state and province chapters. My goal is to have 100% compliance by the time we get to Boca. I intend to speak to all of the liaisons before the Spring Meeting and double our efforts while in Boca. The response to this initiative by the Fellows continues to be extremely positive.
Our first use of online polling has been completed. As with all new endeavors it was not without some pitfalls, but Executive Director Dennis Maggi and Membership Manager Geri Frankenstein worked hard at solving as many of the problems as we could. Our response rate has been consistent with historical numbers. Our hope is that once our Fellows see how easy this system can be that things will go smoother the next time. We are also working hard to complete the website. We thought it would be finished by March but that date has been pushed back to July. We are going through what is called the "user experience" phase. That means we are testing things out on many of our Fellows to make sure that we are doing what the Fellows want and expect. I will continue to report our progress on that project.
I have been off the road for the College since the holidays. I start back with a visit to San Francisco followed by the National Moot Court Competition Final Rounds in New York, then on to Salt Lake City, the Gale Cup in Toronto, a Fellows weekend in South Carolina, then finally to Boca where I look forward to spending time with many of you. Please contact me with any ideas you have to make the College better.
Sincerely,
|
|
Bartholomew J. Dalton
President
|
|
2017 Spring Meeting Heads to Sunshine State
|
|
- The Honourable Mr. Justice Russell Brown
Supreme Court of Canada Receiving Honorary Fellowship
- Honorable John P. Carlin
Chair, Global Risk + Crisis Management Morrison & Foerster, LLP Former Assistant Attorney General for DOJ (NDS)
- Judy Clarke, FACTL
Recipient of the Griffin Bell Award for Courageous Advocacy
- W. Neil Eggleston, FACTL
Former White House Counsel to the President
- Honorable D. Robert Graham
Former Senator and Governor of Florida
- David Howard
Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Litigation, Competition Law and Compliance Microsoft Corporation
|
|
- Michele A. Roberts, FACTL
Executive Director National Basketball Players Association (NBPA)
- Bryan Stevenson
Founder and Executive Director Equal Justice Initiative
- Michael Taylor
Professor Film and Television Production Executive Director Media Institute for Social Change USC Cinematic Arts
- Paul Taylor
Author, The Next America
- Dr. Robert Watson
Professor American Studies Lynn University
|
|
The Power of an Hour campaign was launched at the 2016 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. The goal of the 2016-2017 campaign is to have all Fellows contribute the equivalent of one billable hour (or more) to the U.S. or Canadian Foundations. As President Dalton travels around both countries throughout his term, he will remind Fellows of this opportunity to give to the
Foundations' worthy projects. Through
your support, the Foundation is better equipped to extend the College's reach in supporting worthwhile projects.
The Foundation accepts applications from College committees and organizations requesting funding for proposed projects that are consistent with the College's objectives. The Foundation's Trustees welcome project proposals with potential to leverage its investments through model programs capable of replication in other jurisdictions. The application must be completed and submitted to
[email protected]. Click
here to download the application.
If a State or Province Committee is interested in hosting a CLE program for public service lawyers, the Foundation can provide a grant of up to $2,000 without a formal application. A Chair should provide basic details and the amount needed in an inquiry to the National Office,
[email protected].
|
|
Alabama Fellows Honor Jere F. White, Jr.
|
|
On November 11, 2016, the Alabama Fellows honored the life of deceased Fellow Jere F. White, Jr. with a dinner and presentation of the Jere F. White, Jr. Trial Advocacy Institute. This all-day program was first held in 2012 and repeated in 2014. The program focuses upon the major components of a trial beginning with voir dire through closing argument. Each segment is divided between the two Fellows who give their perspectives from the plaintiff and defendant sides. The 2016 event was attended by over 300 attorneys and viewed as a great success. Alabama Fellow, Fred Gray, served as the luncheon speaker. Among the participants were President Bart Dalton, President-Elect Samuel H. Franklin and Past Presidents Michael W. Smith, Chilton Davis Varner, Warren B. Lightfoot, and Regent C. Rufus Pennington III. The proceeds are contributed to the Jere F. White, Jr. Fellows Program at the Cumberland School of Law. To date, $285,000 has been raised from the Trial Institute.
|
|
6th Edition of Trial Manual for the Defense of Criminal Cases Now Available
|
|
Arizona Fellows Sponsor Jenckes Competition, Pay Tribute to Deceased Fellow
|
|
On November 18, 2016, the Arizona Fellows convened at the University of Arizona in Tucson and judged another Jenckes Competition between the law schools of the University of Arizona (U of A) and Arizona State University (ASU). This year’s competition was a criminal case involving a duo of hunters accused of illegally killing a mountain lion in a state park near Tucson. The Fellows ruled that the defense team—the team from the U of A—won the competition. Both teams and all in attendance were greeted at the post-competition reception, where Fellows and students had the chance to get acquainted and discuss the arguments. Since 1970, the Arizona Fellows have proudly sponsored the Jenckes Competition, an annual closing argument competition between the law schools at the U of A and ASU. The competition honors a beloved Fellow, the late
Joe Jenckes. Both law schools internally select two-person teams by late October. Fellows provide each team with a trial transcript (sans the closing arguments) of a real trial. Civil and criminal trials alternate year to year. Each team is given 35 minutes to present its argument with the plaintiff or prosecution team reserving time for rebuttal. The Fellows who attend deliberate and decide on the winning team. After the competition, both teams are presented with a cash prize from the Arizona Fellows - $1,000 to each member of the winning team and $500 to each of the runners up. The morning after the competition, the Arizona Fellows held their annual business meeting. Regent
Robert K. Warford attended both the competition and the Saturday meeting. Next year’s Jenckes Competition will be held at ASU’s new law school located in downtown Phoenix.
|
|
Arizona Fellows will always remember deceased Fellow
Barry M. Davis for his tireless and courageous advocacy in difficult circumstances for desperate and deserving clients. Beyond his dedication in representing his clients, Davis was deeply devoted to the teaching of trial advocacy. In keeping with his passion, the Arizona Fellows are offering their support of a new endowment established at the U of A College of Law—The Barry Davis National Trial Team. This endowment will support the Arizona Law Trial Team which competes annually in the College sponsored National Trial Competition. Those wishing to contribute to this endowment to honor Davis and support the teaching of trial advocacy should contact Fellow
Ted A. Schmidt for further information,
[email protected]
. The Arizona Fellows will hold an all-day CLE on April 28, 2017 at the Phoenix Convention Center followed by a Fellows meeting on April 28-29.
|
|
International Committee Moves Forward With Overseas Projects
|
|
The International Committee is making progress with a trial skills symposium to be held in Guam in January 2018. The committee is partnering with the Supreme Court of Guam. Brian O'Neill, Former Regent and past chair of the Committee, is serving as the leader and project chair for the Guam training. O'Neill led the trial training symposium in November 2015 when
13 Fellows traveled to the Republic of Palau. More than 80 lawyers and judges from Palau and the neighboring islands were exposed to the trial and advocacy skills Fellows of the College are known for. The Committee is also working on a potential trip to Cuba.
|
|
Long Range Financial Review Committee Formed
|
|
During the 2016 Fall Board of Regents Meeting, the Board took action to appoint a Long Range Financial Review Committee. The new committee will be composed of Past President Thomas H. Tongue, Past President Robert L. Byman, President-Elect Samuel H. Franklin and Fellow Jeffrey E. Stone. The committee's central focus is to help the College plan for a future where there may be fewer Fellows because of the "Vanishing Trial" problem. More specifically, the committee will review how the College budgets capital expenses and other budget items. Additionally, they will evaluate all aspects of financial management to determine the best way forward so the College can stay as fiscally healthy as it is today.
|
|
Ohio Fellows Present Two CLE Programs
|
|
On November 17, 2016, the Ohio Fellows sponsored a full-day CLE program in conjunction with the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA). The program was titled, “ACTL Winning At Trial 2016.” Six Fellows covered pre-trial procedures, voir dire, opening statements, direct examination, cross-examination and closing arguments. The trial components incorporated actual trial videos and Fellows talked about their strategy and techniques during the trial. Four Fellows then presented a 2 ½ hour presentation on ethics and professionalism using the College vignettes and
Code of Pretrial and Trial Conduct. The program was presented to a live audience at the OSBA office in Columbus and simultaneously webcast to four other locations in the state. More than 150 attended the program and it was taped for later replay. The following Fellows participated in the program: John C. Barron; Doreen Canton; Thomas M. Green; David C. Greer; Thomas W. Hill; Gerald R. Kowalski; Robert W. Trafford; Regent Kathleen M. Trafford; and Elizabeth B. Wright.
On December 6, 2016, four Fellows presented a program titled “ACTL Professional Conduct” in conjunction with the OSBA. This program used the College vignettes and
Code of Pretrial and Trial Conduct with the four Fellows commenting on each of the ten vignettes. The program was presented to a live audience at the OSBA office in Columbus and simultaneously webcast to four other locations in Ohio. A video replay of the program was planned on December 30, 2016.
|
|
Pennsylvania Fellows Contribute to Landmark Public Defender Under-Funding Decision
|
|
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has upheld the right of indigent criminal defendants to seek injunctive relief to remedy systemic under-funding of public defender programs.
Kuren v. Lucerne County, 146 A.3d 715 (Sept .28, 2016). Pennsylvania Fellows David Rudovsky and Witold J. Walczak represented the indigent petitioners. Fellows Edward W. Madeira, Jr., for the ABA, and Paul H. Titus, for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers contributed as
amici. The decision is the first State Supreme Court to recognize such a pretrial claim under the right to effective counsel.
|
|
MA, NH and VT Fellows Volunteer at New England Moot Court Championships
|
|
Fellows from Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont volunteered as judges for the 67th New England Moot Court Regional Championship held at Boston University. The teams from Boston College Law School and Vermont Law School faced off in the finals, with Boston College taking the title. The winning team was composed of Boston College third-year students Morgan Sellers, Jennifer Lang and Rufus Urion. Lang was also named Best Oralist. The final round was judged by retired Supreme Court Justice Robert Cordy, United States District Court Judge Rya Zobel and Past President Joan Lukey. The winning team will represent Boston College Law School in the National Rounds this week in New York. The following Fellows participated: Samuel E. Gates Litigation Award Committee Chair Lisa G. Arrowood; Regent Ritchie Berger; Adjunct State Committee Chair Richard Campbell; Bill Glahn; David Hanrahan; Massachusetts State Committee Chair Tom Hoopes; Vermont State Committee Chair John Maley; Tom Peisch; Alice Richmond; and Richard Zielinski.
|
|
Trial and Appellate Training Programs Available to State, Province Committees
|
|
The Teaching of Trial and Appellate Advocacy Committee has developed and scheduled an array of training programs which can be adapted for presentation in your states and provinces. The agenda and topics for these offerings include:
- Trial Training Program for Young Lawyers - One day boot camp training program, San Francisco, July 14, 2017 (Coordinating with William P. Keane Northern California State Committee Chair and Teresa M. Caffese).
- Legal Aid CLE Training - One day boot camp trial training program for legal aid lawyers in Mid-Atlantic, Baltimore, Maryland (Coordinating with Dane H. Butswinkas, Barry Coburn, Harriet E. Cooperman and James D. Pagliaro).
- Appellate Practice Advocacy Program with American Academy of Appellate Lawyers – Filming Date June 21, 2017, University of Texas (Coordinating with Sylvia H. Walbolt and Mary Lee Ratzel).
- Ethics, Professionalism, and Civility (Coordinating with Joseph C. Crawford and Dawn M. Parsons).
- Dissemination of Committee CLE Materials (Coordinating with John C. Aisenbrey and Former Regent Dennis R. Suplee).
- Mock Trials, Jury Consultants, and Focus Groups (Coordinating with Steven W. Usdin, and James R. Hubbard).
- Classical Rhetoric for the Trial and Appellate Lawyer (Coordinating with Louisiana State Committee Chair and Teaching of Trial and Appellate Advocacy Committee Vice Chair George H. Robinson and Paul Mark Sandler).
Contact Teaching of Trial and Appellate Advocacy Committee Chair Paul Sandler [email protected] for more information.
|
|
The College recognizes extraordinary individuals and their important contributions to the law through three awards described below. A nominator need only submit a letter of support, and the award committee will complete an investigation before deciding whether to recommend the person to the Board of Regents. Please consider nominating a worthy recipient. You may send your letter to
[email protected] or directly to the committee chair indicated below
|
|
|
Griffin Bell Award for Courageous Advocacy
|
To receive and investigate recommendations and information relative to outstanding courage demonstrated by trial lawyers in unpopular or difficult causes, and where appropriate to recommend an award.
Pictured:
2013 recipient Louise Arbor
Chair: Daniel J. Buckley,
[email protected]
|
|
|
Samuel E. Gates Litigation Award
|
To honor a lawyer or judge, whether or not a Fellow of the College, who has made a significant, exceptional and lasting contribution to the improvement of the litigation process.
Pictured:
2016 recipient Rebecca Love Kourlis
Chair: Lisa G. Arrowood,
[email protected]
|
|
|
Sandra Day O'Connor Jurist Award
|
The Award is to be given from time to time to a judge in the United States or Canada, whether or not a Fellow of the College, who has demonstrated exemplary judicial independence in the performance of his or her duties, sometimes in especially difficult or even dangerous circumstances. A nomination form can be
downloaded here.
Pictured:
2010 recipient Honorable Sam Sparks
|
|
NATIONAL MEETINGS
2017 Spring Meeting Boca Raton, FL
March 2-5, 2017
2017 Annual Meeting
Montreal, QC
September 14-17, 2017
Western Chairs Workshop Laguna Niguel, CA
October 12-15, 2017
Eastern Chairs Workshop
Amelia Island, FL
October 26-29, 2017
STATE / PROVINCE MEETINGS
Utah Fellows Dinner
Salt Lake City, UT
February 11, 2017
New Jersey Fellows Dinner
Hamilton Township, NJ
February 11, 2017
South Carolina Fellows Meeting Bluffton, SC February 24-26, 2017
Downstate New York Fellows Dinner New York, NY
March 22, 2017
North Carolina Fellows Meeting Asheville, NC
March 23-26, 2017
Quebec Fellows Dinner
TBA
March 30, 2017
Maine Fellows Dinner TBA
April 2, 2017
Virginia Fellows Meeting
Charlottesville, VA
April 7-8, 2017
Maryland Fellows Dinner
Rockville, MD
April 29, 2017
LAW SCHOOL COMPETITIONS National Moot Court Final Rounds
New York, NY
January 30- February 2, 2017
Gale Cup Toronto, ON
February 12-18, 2017
Sopinka Cup
Ottawa, ON
March 17-18, 2017
National Trial Competition
Fort Worth, TX
March 22-26, 2017
|
|
|
Mark your calendar now to attend one of the College’s upcoming gatherings.
More events can be viewed on the College website. Click here for the Events Calendar.
|
|
|
of Columbia, South Carolina was inducted into the Warren E. Burger Society, which honors individuals who have volunteered their time, talent and support to the National Center for State Courts (NCSC).
|
|
|
|
Arkansas, December 1: President Dalton and his wife Eileen were in Little Rock for the dinner at the elegant Capitol Hotel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also attending were Regent Tom Hayes and his wife, Hon. Karen Hayes, as well as a contingent of 25 Fellows and their guests. President Dalton’s remarks addressed the health of the College, communications and the College’s diversity initiative. The Fellows were most eager to hear the ways that they can promote and prioritize the College’s diversity efforts.
Mississippi, December 2: The drive from Little Rock to Jackson was an entertaining 4.5 hours as Tom and Karen Hayes provided local insights about the area’s rich history. The black tie dinner was attended by 36 Fellows and their guests. It was a wonderful night with great stories and collegiality. The Fellows and guests applauded President Dalton’s remarks about the College’s diversity initiative.
Louisiana, December 3: Continuing the Southern swing, 35 Louisiana Fellows and guests gathered in New Orleans at Arnaud’s for their black tie dinner. Honored guests included Past President Gene W. Lafitte and his wife, Jackie. President Dalton’s pre-dinner remarks included a shout-out to LSU football, which greatly warmed the crowd. Louisiana is advancing the College’s diversity initiative and has a diversity liaison as well as several good candidates under consideration.
Oregon, December 7: Heading to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, the Daltons were in Portland for a dinner with a good crowd of 40 Fellows and their guests. Earlier in the day, President Dalton attended the Oregon State Committee meeting where he was invited to speak about the diversity initiative. Esteemed guests included Past President Tom Tongue, Former Regents Paul Fortino and Hon. Garr M. King, current Regent John Hunter, and their spouses. The evening was lively and fun. In the spirit of giving, Past President Tongue committed to match all Oregon Fellows' December contributions to the Foundation.
Washington, December 8: Last year, when President Smith attempted to drive from Portland to Seattle, passage was blocked by a landslide on Interstate-5. Lesson learned. President Dalton booked a flight to ensure attendance at the dinner. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had another less creative, but equally effective, plan. After flight delays and finally cancellation due to icing, President Dalton and Eileen were stuck in Portland and missed the Washington State dinner. The Fortinos and Hunters made excellent time in their car, however, and reported that a fun time was had by all in Seattle.
|
|
The following Fellows have been elevated to the bench in their respective jurisdictions.
Kevin P. Feehan, Q.C. Edmonton, Alberta
Effective October 20, 2016
Justice
Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta
David R. Fenster Middlebury, Vermont
Effective October 2016
Judge
Vermont Superior Court
Jennifer B. Schiffer
Baltimore, Maryland
Effective January 4, 2017
Associate Judge
Circuit Court for Baltimore City
Michael J. Strickroth
Irvine, California
Effective January 2017
Judge
Orange County Superior Court
The College extends congratulations to these Judicial Fellows.
|
|
The College has been notified of the passing of the Fellows listed below. The date after each name notes the year of induction into the College, and the date following the state or province is the date of his or her passing. A tribute to each will appear in the In Memoriam section of a subsequent issue of the Journal.
Stanton Bloom, ’08, Tucson, Arizona, December 7, 2016
John Francis DeMeo, ’90, Santa Rosa, California, October 6, 2016
Steven August Hirsch, Sr., ’15, Phoenix, Arizona, December 1, 2016
Dan Frederick Hoopes, ’09, Idaho Falls, Idaho, July 12, 2016
Richard T. Horigan
, ’94, a Fellow Emeritus, Amsterdam, New York, November 4, 2016
Jack Norman, Jr., ’83, a Fellows Emeritus, Nashville, Tennessee, August 28, 2016
Hon. Leonard B. Sand, ’76, Judicial Fellow, New York, New York, December 3, 2016
Cubbedge Snow, Jr., ’72, Macon, Georgia, December 4, 2016
|
|
19900 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 530 Irvine, California 92612
Phone: (949) 752-1801 • Fax: (949) 752-1674 Email: [email protected]
Copyright © 2016 American College of Trial Lawyers, All rights reserved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
![](https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif) |
|