The American Inns of Court and Georgetown University Law Center co-sponsored a symposium on the Status of the Legal Profession: Facing the Challenges of the 21st Century in Washington, D.C., March 31–April 1, 2011. Leaders of the bench and bar of the United States, England, and Ireland gathered to discuss timely issues of significance to our profession. More than 260 participants, from more than 110 Inns in 35 states attended.
Justice Don Lemons, president of the American Inns of Court, noted that the topics were “provocative and represent the ‘pressure points’ we must confront today: declining civility, technology, innovative legal education, judicial independence, and perceptions of the public.” The capstone of the symposium was a discussion, moderated by Justice Lemons, between Justice Stephen G. Breyer, Supreme Court of the United States; Lord Phillips, President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom; and Mr. Justice John L. Murray, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland on the state of the legal profession in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
Other symposium highlights included a welcome reception, hosted by Judge Richard Linn of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, at the Dolley Madison House, and a gala dinner. Welcome remarks by Georgetown Law Dean William M. Treanor addressed the long relationship between Georgetown Law and the American Inns of Court and noted the timeliness of the symposium, pointing out that “we are facing a time of great change and challenge for the legal profession.” Justice Ruth V. McGregor, who recently retired from the Arizona Supreme Court, presented remarks prepared by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who was unexpectedly unable to attend.
Other participants and attendees included Lord Clarke of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, the first woman attorney general of England and Wales; Sir Nigel Sheinwald, British Ambassador to the United States; and many distinguished federal and state judges from the United States.
Pictured from left to right are Justice Donald Lemons, Supreme Court of Virginia; Rt.Hon. The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom; Justice Stephen Breyer, Supreme Court of the United States; Hon. Mr. Justice John L. Murray, Supreme Court of Ireland. (Photo: www.KevinKennedy.com)
Hon. Donald W. Lemons, Supreme Court of Virginia and president of the American Inns of Court, greets symposium attendees.
“Professionalism and Civility on the Bench” was the topic for the panelists above, from left to right, Hon. David B. Sentelle, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit; Emmet J. Bondurant, Esq., Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore LLP; Rt. Hon. The Lord Clarke of Stone-Cum-Ebony, Supreme Court of the United Kingdom; Hon. William C. Koch, Jr., Supreme Court of Tennessee; and Hon. Donald W. Lemons, Supreme Court of Virginia and president of the American Inns of Court.
Attendees at Friday’s luncheon, standing from left to right, Hon. Carl E. Stewart, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and vice president, American Inns of Court; Meryl Chertoff; Hon. Richard Linn, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; Malinda E. Dunn, executive director, American Inns of Court; Professor Sherman Cohn, Georgtown University Law Center. Seated are Hon. Michael Chertoff, Covington & Burling LLP; Hon. David B. Sentelle, chief judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit; and Steven F. Molo, Esq., MoloLamken LLP, and member of the American Inns of Court Board of Trustees.
Friday evening’s program panelists, from left to right, are Hon. Donald W. Lemons, Supreme Court of Virginia; Rt. Hon. The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Supreme Court of the United Kingdom; Hon. Stephen G. Breyer, Supreme Court of the United States; and Hon. Mr. Justice John L. Murray, Chief Justice of Ireland.
Hon. Ruth V. McGregor, Supreme Court of Arizona, retired, delivers keynote remarks prepared by Sandra Day O’Connor.