November 2023

Fellows:

Pat and I have begun our year-long pilgrimages to visit with Fellows across the country – having already attended state dinner meetings in Wyoming, Indiana, Seattle and Nebraska in the last few weeks. And we are scheduled to visit Birmingham AL, Missoula MT, Chicago IL and Tucson AZ in the next few weeks. We have enjoyed meeting so many Fellows.

During our travels, I hope to carry forward the enthusiasm generated during our Leadership Workshop in Washington, DC last month. One of the goals of this Workshop was to illuminate the many ways Fellows can participate in the programs and projects of the College, including our new partnership with the National Constitution Center for the promotion of civics education. Fellows interested in participating in this project should contact either Fellow Craig Merritt on the Outreach Committee or Kayce Gisinger, Vice Chair of that Committee. A highlight of the Workshop was the luncheon presentation of Judicial Fellow Paul Friedman of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Judge Friedman’s address on the current perils to judicial independence was timely, thoughtful and sobering. Look for an abridged account of his presentation in the next issue of the Journal.

The Workshop also marked the beginning of the ACTL’s Strategic Planning project. More than 80 College leaders present at the Workshop broke up into focus groups, directed by our consultants at McKinley Advisors, and discussed ways in which they believe the College can remain relevant and important to the Fellows (and to the rule of law and the fair administration of justice). I am pleased to announce that we have formed a Strategic Planning Task Force, chaired by Past President Sam Franklin of Birmingham. Other members of this Task Force include Georgia Fellow Virgil Adams, Texas Fellow Robby Alden, Ontario Fellow Sandra Barton, Northern California Fellow Josh Cohen, Colorado Fellow Carolyn Fairless, Regent Katie Recker of Pennsylvania, and Oregon Fellow Renee Rothauge. I am grateful for their willingness to serve on this important Task Force.

Next month, I look forward to reporting on our second Diversity Trial Advocacy program, once again directed by Upstate Illinois Fellow Tom Heiden, Chair of the Teaching of Trial and Appellate Advocacy Committee.  

William J. Murphy

ACTL President

The 2024 Spring Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona promises an incredible lineup of speakers, fabulous evening events and warm, desert sunshine. Registration opens Wednesday, November 29. More information coming soon!

The Foundation's Board of Trustees recently awarded a $75,000 grant to the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii (LASH) to provide legal assistance to victims of the recent Maui wildfire that incinerated the town of Lahaina, Maui. LASH is coordinating responses to the requests for civil legal assistance from the more than 10,000 Lahaina residents whose homes, contents, important documents and cars were destroyed by the wildfire. When the Foundation first reached out to LASH shortly after the wildfire it was already, in its own words, "inundated" with requests and had zero funds to respond to those requests. With our assistance, LASH quickly put together a grant application and the Foundation's $75,000 award, made just days after receiving that application, was the first major grant that LASH had received to assist Maui wildfire victims, an effort that is expected to last several years and to cost well over $1M in total.

In the past month, the Foundation has also made a $50,000 award to provide DNA training to the Innocence Project of Pennsylvania and a similar award, plus a $25,000 matching grant, to Redemption Earned to provide representation to deserving inmates at parole hearings. These grants can only be made because of the generosity of Fellows of the College. 100 % OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE USED FOR CHARITABLE GRANTS WITH NO DEDUCTION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, FUNDRAISING OR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. In planning your year-end giving, please make a provision for a meaningful contribution to the Foundation. There is no more efficient or economical or efficient way to make your charitable contributions. Contributions by Fellows will be indicated in the Directory and will also be recognized in the Foundation's annual Impact Report.  

Because justice can’t wait . . .

David J. Hensler

President, ACTL Foundation

Tucson Fellow Richard Davis received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Arizona Law School. Honorees are selected for their contributions to the legal profession, support for public causes and law reform, and commitment to the pursuit of justice.

General Committees

Complex Litigation Committee: The Committee is working on a full calendar of “Lunch and Learn” Zoom speaker meetings for the 2023-24 program year. We kicked off the fall with a candid discussion with Hon. Mitch Goldberg., E.D. Pa., led by Committee member David Wolfsohn. Our upcoming programs include discussions with Hon. Kathleen O’Malley (ret.), Judicial Fellow Thomas Durkin, N.D. Ill. and Hon. Michael A. Chagares, Chief Judge of the Third Circuit. The Committee is also collaborating with the Advocacy in the 21st Century Committee to plan a CLE program for the College’s 2024 Spring Meeting.

The College recognizes extraordinary individuals and their important contributions to the law through the 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 nationaloffice@actl.com or directly to the committee chair indicated below.

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. To view previous recipients and submit a proposal for the Committee to consider click here.

Chair: Todd N. Thompson

Wyoming State Dinner, Casper: October 6, 2023

President Murphy attended the Wyoming Fellows Dinner on October 6, the first dinner meeting of the Wyoming Fellows since prior to the pandemic, and his first as President of the College. Regent Dan Folluo and his wife Sally met President Murphy and Pat for cocktails before Immediate Past State Chair Jay Gilbertz escorted the group into dinner at the FireRock Steakhouse. State Chair Stephanie Sprecher and Vice Chair Scott Klosterman were in attendance at the small group supper. Wyoming is one of the smallest states by population; there are just 23 Fellows. There were no remarks during dinner, but one topic of discussion was the Wyoming Fellows’ Summer Trial Institute, which takes place annually at the U of WY Law School in Laramie. While in Wyoming, President Murphy took the opportunity to hike to the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, a museum run by the Department of the Interior.  

Indiana State Committee Dinner, Indianapolis: October 20, 2023



President Murphy and Pat attended the Indiana State Committee Dinner, which was held at the Columbia Club. The Columbia Club is a beautiful turn-of-the-last century private club which was the scene of many political dinners and events. Steve Langer, Chair of the State Committee, addressed the Fellows before dinner and discussed the State Committee’s efforts to find new Fellows. The guest speaker at dinner was Mark Miles, President of Penske Entertainment – the entity that now owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500. During President Murphy’s brief pre-dinner remarks, he congratulated Steve and the State Committee for their efforts at achieving greater gender, ethnic and geographic diversity and urged them to continue. He also touched on the College’s upcoming Strategic Planning process and the Civics Education partnership with the National Constitution Center. 

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.

Connecticut

Stephen Traub, ’86, Milford, September 20, 2023

Maryland

J. Frederick Motz, ’85, Baltimore, October 23, 2023

Roger C. Spaeder, ’05, Bethesda, October 20, 2023



Nebraska

Thomas M. Locher, ’13, Omaha, October 8, 2013

Pennsylvania

David H. Pittinsky, ’17, Philadelphia, September 30, 2023

South Carolina

Stanley L. Myers, West Columbia, ’22, September 27, 2023

Tennessee

Thomas (Max) Bahner, ’85, Signal Mountain, October 13, 2023

Washington

Charles Gordon, ’92, Seattle, September 8, 2023

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Email: nationaloffice@actl.com@actl.com



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