November 2024

Dear Fellows:

I have just returned from participating in the College’s Leadership Workshop, held in Salt Lake City, October 24-26, 2024. As most Fellows know, so much of the work of the College is done through its Committees, both General Committees and State and Province Committees. Most Committee Chairs are appointed for a term of two years, after which they are likely succeeded by their Vice Chair. The State and Province Committees are responsible for identifying and presenting candidates to be considered for induction. The forty General Committees cover subject matters ranging from award recognitions (e.g., Emil Gumpert Award Committee; Thurgood Marshall Equality and Justice Award Committee) to sponsoring mock trial competitions (e.g., Sopinka Cup Committee; National Trial Competition Committee) to special interest areas (e.g., Judicial Independence Committee; Legal Ethics and Professionalism Committee).

Since the work of the College is so dependent on its Committees and the leadership of those Committees is subject to change, the College provides annual leadership training for all Committee Chairs, with an emphasis on those who are new to their position. These Leadership Workshops are essential to the College’s success. Over our two days in Salt Lake City, new Committee Chairs were provided with the tools and information they will need to have successful tenures. We were especially fortunate to have Past Presidents Doug Young, Fran Wikstrom and Bob Byman join us for the workshop. Each provided valuable insights on best practices and strategies for success. All of the participants found the meeting to be invaluable and left feeling confident about their new roles. And I enjoyed meeting all of the new leaders and renewing friendships and expectations with those who are continuing in their positions. It was a great meeting!

Past President Doug Young’s comments to the group probably best captured the theme and feel of the workshop. As he quoted from an African Proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.”

All of those at the Workshop committed themselves to going far on behalf of the College.

Best regards,

Richard H. Deane, Jr.

ACTL President

Thank you to those Fellows who have volunteered their time to participate in this Civics Education program and partnership with the NCC. As of October 29, the program was projected to reach 3,072 students in the month of October alone. They held 91 sessions attended by 118 classes last month, representing a tremendous increase from previous records. To date this year, the program has reached 4,693 students in 36 different states. 

Here are a few testimonials from teachers that were received over the past month: 

“My first group was beyond shy and nervous to talk to [our Fellow Scholar] or the Judge. I am forever grateful for the Judge's flexibility and willingness to share a little but about his personal experiences with protesting. My scholar who asked the question wants to be a lawyer and she was over the moon that he took that time and effort.”

"This opportunity has meant a lot. I do my best to draw on numerous sources, ideas, and perspectives in the classroom. Through this opportunity I was able to achieve all these goals while also introducing my students to you and the NCC. This opportunity helps them to move beyond the 25-mile radius they have lived most of their lives in."

“Thank you so much for a wonderful session. My kids just took me down a deep rabbit hole over the court cases from the session...We now have an impromptu jigsaw going and will be stretching our investigations into tomorrow. I had other plans, but I’d be crazy not to run with this…Mission success!”



If you are interested in participating in this important program, please visit actl.com/civics for more information.

Past President Chilton Varner was honored at the Supreme Court Historical Society Dinner in Atlanta on October 16 for her long-standing contributions to that organization. Several Fellows were in attendance, including Regents, Past Presidents and members of the Executive Committee.

Past President Andy Coats was presented with the inaugural Andy Coats Lifetime Achievement Award by the Fellows of his home state at the recent Oklahoma Fellows Retreat. Past President Coats accepted the award via Zoom.

U.S. Foundation Awards Seven Grants

The Foundation Board awarded $235,000 in grants at its recent meeting in conjunction with the College's Annual Meeting in Nashville. The grants were for a wide variety of projects. For example, the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project received a $50,000 grant to establish a new unit to provide same-day, emergency legal assistance to victims of domestic violence. Suzerain Capital Defense, a highly regarded runner-up for this year's Gumpert Award, also received a $50,000 award to train the next generation of death penalty lawyers to fill a gap created when many expected the death penalty to soon be abolished.

The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation received a $25,000 grant for a highly innovative program to provide the technology needed to equip mobile workshops intended to educate tenants on how to defend themselves against wrongful evictions. The Foundation also provided a $50,000 grant to Just The Beginning, which will be used to enable law students to take summer internships with federal judges that they could not otherwise afford to take. This grant was strongly supported by the College's Mentoring Committee, which works closely with JTB.

The Foundation Board also approved a $50,000 grant to Project One Vet @ A Time (POVAT) to create a new program designed to assist disabled veterans about to leave active service in promptly obtaining the disability benefits to which are rightfully entitled. Finally, the Board approved a $10,000 grant to the Jere White Trial Advocacy Program from the Thomas E. Deacy Fund that was established for the express purpose of enhancing trial advocacy skills. 

The Foundation expects to award approximately $325,000 in grants during the balance of this fiscal year in addition to grants described above and the $150,000 Gumpert Award, which is funded by the Foundation. If you are aware of any worthy law-related charitable activities that might qualify for a Foundation award, please encourage the sponsoring entity to submit a grant application. Applications submitted prior to December 31, 2024 will be considered in early March during their next meeting.  

David J. Hensler

Foundation President

General Committees

Boot Camp Trial Training Programs: The Boot Camp Trial Training Program is a one-day CLE for new trial lawyers. The case materials are based on an actual high-profile trial, with each critical phase of the trial (Opening, Direct, Cross and Closing) being demonstrated by the Fellows. Following each demonstration, the attendees will hear from a panel of state and federal judges. Over the past several years, the Boot Camps, which have been held throughout the United States and Canada, are put on with the assistance of a local bar association and have proven to be a successful education and outreach opportunity. If you are interested in organizing a Boot Camp in your area, contact Committee Chair Jeff Brickman at jeff@jeffbrickmanlaw.com to learn more about what's involved.

State and Province Committees

New Jersey: New Jersey Fellows Dennis Drasco and Bill Wallach were joined by retired New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Jaynee LaVecchia on October 28, at the Rutgers Law School, as presenters for the 3rd Annual Seminar on “Advocacy in the Courtroom and Arbitrations”. The Seminar series is organized by the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of Trial Lawyers. This year’s discussion focused upon such topics as professionalism in the courtroom and ADR settings, lessons learned in both contexts, and how to be an effective advocate for your client. 

New York–Downstate: In partnership with the Federal Bar Council, the Downstate New York Fellows will be sponsoring another trial training program for lawyers interested in handling pro bono cases on December 5 & 6 in the SDNY. The program is in mock trial format and will use SDNY courtrooms for the trial exercises. If you are interested in volunteering as a faculty member, for one or both days, please contact Larry Krantz at lkrantz@krantzberman.com.



Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Fellows have teamed up with New Jersey and Delaware Fellows for the very first Regional ACTL Boot Camp Trial Training Program. It will be a day-long trial training event by some of the most experienced and respected trial attorneys and jurists in the region. Speakers will offer demonstrations, presentations, and panel discussions – including a critique of the demonstrators’ trial techniques - while they conduct - from opening to closing - the trial of Al Capone for murder for the historic St. Valentine’s Day massacre in Chicago. Federal Judges from PA, NJ and DE are also participating.

Attorneys can receive up to 8.6 CLE credits. Additionally, all attendees will get a copy of Fellow Paul Sandler’s book “The Art of Persuasion.” This event is not just for Fellows – all attorneys are welcome.



The event will be held November 25, 2024 at the The Westin in Mt. Laurel NJ, and will also be available online. Registration information can be found here - https://njsba.com/event/the-regional-trial-bootcamp/ 

DID YOU KNOW that the College opposes contested elections for the selection and retention of judges? In 2011, the College published a white paper on judicial elections. It concluded that the Judiciary Committee revise its Fourth Principle in the Recommended Principles for Judicial Selection and Retention to say:

The "appearance of impartiality" is critical to judicial independence. Nothing erodes public confidence in the judiciary more than the belief that justice is "bought and paid for" by particular lawyers, parties or interest groups. The College holds in the highest esteem elected judges who perform their duties day in and day out with integrity, courage and conviction, and without permitting the fact of judicial elections to exert any influence over their decisions. The College believes that contested judicial elections, including retention elections, create an unacceptable risk that improper and deleterious influences of money and politics will be brought to bear upon the selection and retention of judges. The College therefore opposes contested election of judges in all instances.

Indiana Fellows Dinner, Indianapolis, Indiana: October 4, 2024

President Rick Deane made his first trip as ACTL President, joining the Indiana Fellows for their State Dinner at the Columbia Club in Indianapolis. About forty Fellows and guests attended, with Past State Chair Steve Langer hosting. Chair Langer reflected on his positive experiences as Chair, their three newly inducted Fellows and the strong expectations for incoming Chair, John Kautzman. Professor Shari Diamond of Northwestern, one of the leading empirical researchers on jury process and decision-making, treated the Fellows to an after-dinner lecture on studies focusing on jurors' evaluations of expert witnesses. President Deane also spoke briefly and discussed the need to engage with and introduce new Fellows to College activities. 

Light the Spark Celebration Gala, Chicago, Illinois: October 10, 2024



President Deane traveled to Chicago to accept the Social Justice Leader Award given to the Foundation for its commitment to diversity in the legal profession. The Light the Spark Celebration was held for the Just The Beginning Foundation (JTBF), a pipeline organization that began in the mid-1990s as a way to celebrate the integration of the federal judiciary. The organization focuses its efforts on placing law students in the chambers of federal judges for summer internships both to foster mentoring relationships with the judges and to deepen students’ commitment to pursuing law. The Foundation has supported the organization financially, through grants totaling $225k with an additional $25k from the College, and Fellows have supported the organization through countless volunteer hours. Indeed, in the past three years, 213 Fellows have served as mentors for students during summer clerkships. Upon accepting the award, President Deane made brief remarks regarding his own experience with the organization, both as a federal magistrate judge and as a mentor.  

Oklahoma Fellows Retreat, Monkey Island, Oklahoma: October 18-20, 2024



Immediate Past President Bill Murphy and his wife Pat traveled to the Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees to attend the Oklahoma Fellows Retreat at the Shangri-La Resort. About fifteen Oklahoma Fellows and ten spouses were in attendance. Former Regent Dan Folluo and the State Committee surprised Past President Andy Coats with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the event. As Past President Coats could not attend - he was hosting the Dean of the University of South Carolina Law School and Fellow, William Hubbard - this required subterfuge to have Past President Coats join via Zoom. Former Regent John Tucker regaled everyone with Coats' long career and achievements. Following this presentation, new Regent Carolyn Fairless was introduced. Immediate Past President Murphy spoke on the past service of the leaders and urged the State Committee to seek out potential Fellows from the far corners of Oklahoma. Immediate Past President Murphy also remarked on the successful Annual Meeting in Nashville, the work of the Strategic Planning Task Force, and the Civics Education Partnership with the National Constitution Center. Featured speaker Todd Hembree, the former general counsel of the Cherokee Nation and current Senior VP and Special Counsel to the CEO of the Cherokee National Business Division, discussed the impact of the SCOTUS decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma. The Court determined Oklahoma had no jurisdiction to prosecute criminal cases involving Muskogee (Creek) tribal citizens for acts committed on reservation lands. Hembree outlined potential impacts of the decision, including civil disputes involving tribal citizens, the regulation of waters on reservation lands and possible claimed exemptions from state and local income and property taxes. 

Washington State Fellows Dinner, Seattle, Washington: October 17, 2024 

President Rick Deane joined Regent Carey Matovich, State Chair Malaika Eaton and forty others at the Washington State Fellows Dinner held at Seattle’s iconic Rainier Club. State Chair Eaton reported to the Fellows on College activities in Washington, with three candidates recently approved for induction and great participation in the civics education initiative through the College’s partnership with the National Constitution Center. President Deane offered remarks on the College’s strategic planning process and the recent publication of public statements on issues of concern to the Fellows of the College. Strong support and a standing ovation from those in attendance was received for this initiative in public communication. The gathering reflected the strong collegiality of the Washington Fellows and their engagement in the programs and work of the College.  

Nebraska Fellows Dinner, Omaha, Nebraska: October 18, 2024



President-Elect John Day recently returned from the Nebraska State Dinner at the Happy Hollow Club, a legendary private country club in Omaha. Over thirty Fellows and their spouses attended, including Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter and Vice Chair Robert S. Lannin. Following a cocktail hour and dinner, State Chair Steve Davidson gave brief opening remarks. President-Elect Day then delivered remarks to the group about the work of the College, including its Boot Camp Trial Training Program and Judicial Independence Committee. Two additional speakers each honored recently deceased Fellows, whose family members were also in attendance.

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 city 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.

Arkansas

Overton S. Anderson, II, ’04, Little Rock, October 2, 2024

Georgia

William Bruce Maloy, ’01, Atlanta, September 26, 2024

Illinois

Robert B. Austin, ’90, Olympia Fields, September 2024

James Streicker, ’90, Chicago, September 10, 2024

Kentucky

Reginald Lee Ayers, ’81, Bowling Green, October 5, 2024

Minnesota

Joseph S. Friedberg, ’08, Minneapolis, June 17, 2024

Missouri

John Louis Gianoulakis, ’96, Saint Louis, September 18, 2024

Tennessee

W. J. Michael Cody, ’89, Memphis, September 15, 2024

Texas

Allen Lewin Plunkett, ’87, San Antonio, October 7, 2024

Washington

Thomas A. Lemly, ’02, Seattle, September 18, 2024

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