Greetings to All Fellows:
Happy Canada Day and Happy Independence Day. I’m looking forward to celebrating the 4th of July by swimming, kayaking, eating lots of great Rhode Island seafood, and of course, watching the fireworks.
In the last issue of the eBulletin, I wrote about the need for our Task Force on Civics Education. I’m pleased to report that the Task Force has completed its work in record time and has recommended that the College pursue a partnership with the National Constitution Center (NCC). Through this partnership, Fellows will participate as scholars in the NCC’s Peer-to-Peer Scholar Exchange Program.
Before settling on the NCC, the Task Force examined several organizations that are currently providing civics education to various groups with the goal of finding a highly respected organization with both a national scope and an existing audience network. The NCC’s Scholar Exchange Program meets those criteria. It relies on volunteers to engage virtually via Zoom with multiple classes of students from middle school to college to discuss selected constitutional topics throughout the year. The NCC develops the content and handles the logistics of scheduling and advertising the programs.
All in all, the program is just what we were looking for, and the Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of the Task Force. Our Outreach Committee soon will be reaching out to Fellows to volunteer in the program, and I hope that each one of you (including our Canadian Fellows) will consider teaching a civics class at least once a year. We owe a debt of gratitude to the members of the Task Force for their work and recommendation. Perhaps through this partnership, each of us can help to enhance respect for the rule of law.
Best Regards,
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Susan J. Harriman
ACTL President
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2023 Annual Meeting in San Diego |
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Registration for the 2023 Annual Meeting in San Diego is now open. Featured speakers include a former United States Attorney General, a retired Vice Admiral of the US Navy, authors, judges and an expert in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Experience unforgettable evening entertainment, a motivational CLE and a dose of SoCal sunshine. Click here for more information or to register online.
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Trial Tested: Season Six Premieres July 6 |
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The new season of Trial Tested: A Podcast by the American College of Trial Lawyers premieres on July 6. Join hosts Vince Citro, Amy Gunn, Mike Herring, Terri Mascherin, Renee Rothauge, and Dave Thomas as they explore the lives and careers of notable figures in trial law. Guests this season include DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, Judge Barbara Lynn, recipient of the Samuel E. Gates Litigation Award, and former Ambassador to Ireland Kevin O'Malley. New episodes are released every Thursday. Click here to listen to previous seasons.
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Emil Gumpert Award
Applications Due September 30
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Are you aware of an outstanding program whose principal purpose is to maintain and improve the administration of justice? If so, it might be a fit for the College’s Emil Gumpert Award. The Award, given annually, includes a $150,000 grant from the Foundation. Applications for the 2024 Award are due on September 15, 2023. Past recipients have provided services in such areas as sentencing fairness, record expungement and human rights, among others. Learn more here. Also, the Emil Gumpert Award Committee is looking for Fellows interested in serving on this rewarding committee. The time commitment is heavier in the fall but lighter in the spring and summer. Contact Amy Mrugalski at the National Office for more information about either the application process or serving on the committee amrugalski@actl.com.
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Special Problems in the Administration of Justice Committee |
In recent years, the Special Problems in the Administration of Justice (U.S.) Committee has worked on several issues that impact veterans. If you are a Fellow who is also a veteran and are interested in serving on this committee, please reach out to Amy Mrugalski at amrugalski@actl.com.
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On June 28, the 30th anniversary of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the Federal Rules of Evidence Committee hosted a Zoom presentation examining recent developments and its application in civil and criminal proceedings. The panel featured members of the College’s Federal Rules of Evidence Committee, as well as Hon. Michael Simon, a Judicial Fellow serving on the U.S. District Court of Oregon. The slides from the presentation are available on the College’s Learning and Resource Center. The entire video presentation will also be available soon.
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Regent Gregory Wells was recognized as Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Maryland Association for Justice.
Civil Rights icon and Fellow Fred Gray will receive this year’s ABA Medal. The award, which is the association’s highest honor, “recognizes exceptionally distinguished service by a lawyer or lawyers to the cause of American jurisprudence.”
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General Committees
Boot Camp Trial Training Programs Committee: The committee is pleased to report a very busy June. On June 2, Orlando held a program under the wonderful leadership of late committee member Mark Horwitz, who passed away just prior to the program, and Vincent Citro; On June 21, Western Michigan held a program under the leadership of Mike Turco; on June 23 in New Orleans, under the leadership of State Chair James Brown and Leland H. Ayers; and June 30 in Austin, Texas under the leadership of State Chair Robby Alden. In May, a boot camp was presented in Salt Lake City under the leadership of Jury Committee Chair Andrew Morse.
Complex Litigation Committee: This spring, the Complex Litigation Committee tried a new format for every other monthly meeting. Instead of business meetings, we invited a guest speaker or speakers to join us in an interactive “Lunch and Learn” presentation and discussion on an issue of interest to our committee. Topics this spring included Prosecuting Claims for Damage from Acts of Terrorism, Why the Most Highly Credentialed Scientists Don’t Testify as Experts, and Post-Pandemic Damages. With each Lunch and Learn meeting, we expanded the scope of our invitations beyond our committee membership. The final presentation of the spring – by Fellow Bill Lee on Post-Pandemic Damages – drew eighty-three Fellows. We plan to continue the Lunch and Learn meetings next fall, with one program already on tap for December with a retired federal judge leading a discussion on Best Practices to Manage an MDL Case.
Heritage Committee: The work of the Heritage Committee continues with interviews of senior Fellows. Several Fellows of the College have assisted with these interviews that are regularly posted to the College’s Learning and Resource Center. Additionally, Immediate Past Chair Ron McLean continues to author wonderful articles for the Journal, most recently about T. John Ward, of Longview, Texas, which will appear in an upcoming issue.
Judicial Independence Committee: The Executive Committee tasked the Judicial Independence Committee with preparing guidance for when the College should speak out in response to attacks on judges and a template for such responses. Committee members prepared two documents: the Judicial Independence Response Template (to aid in responding to attacks on the judiciary) and Guideline Points for Response by the American College of Trial Lawyers to Attacks on Judges and Justices. These documents are currently under review by the Executive Committee.
Online Advisory Committee: The Online Advisory Committee participated in a focus group run by the consulting company hired by the College to update the College’s website and create a technology roadmap. Committee members provided feedback as to desired improvements to the College’s digital presence.
Teaching of Trial and Appellate Advocacy: After a successful Diversity in the Courtroom program this past May, a second program has been scheduled for October 27-29, 2023. Fellows interested in serving as faculty can email Chair Tom Heiden at tjh66@cornell.edu.
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Marybeth Ayres
Rockville, Maryland
Judge
Montgomery County Circuit Court
May 2023
Patrick Ouellet
Montreal, Quebec
Judge
Superior Court of Quebec Palais de Justice
May 2023
Darrel J. Papillion
New Orleans, Louisiana
Judge
US District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
June 2023
Anne M. Turley
Ottawa, Ontario
Judge
Federal Court of Canada
May 2023
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Griffin Bell Award for Courageous Advocacy
Awarded only when appropriate to honor outstanding courage demonstrated by trial lawyers in unpopular or difficult causes. The award is one of the highest honors conferred by the College upon an individual trial lawyer and recognizes lawyers who have persevered in pursuit of an important cause despite substantial personal danger, fear, unpopularity, opposition or other difficulties. Please consider nominating a worthy recipient. You may send your letter to nationaloffice@actl.com or directly to the committee chair indicated below. To view past recipients, click here.
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Upcoming National Meetings: |
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More events can be viewed on the College website. Click here for the Events Calendar.
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September 21-24
Marriott Marquis
San Diego California
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2024 Spring Meeting
February 29-March 3, 2024
Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Phoenix, Arizona
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Quebec Fellows Dinner, Montreal, May 25, 2023:
The Quebec Fellows dinner was held at Restaurant Graziella in Montreal. President Harriman attended, along with The Honourable Suzanne Côté of the Supreme Court of Canada. President Harriman spoke briefly about the Task Force on Mental Health Awareness, the Task Force on Civics Education, and the upcoming Annual Meeting in San Diego. Regent Bernard Amyot then introduced the guest speaker, Alex Bilodeau, an Olympic champion who won two gold medals as a freestyle skier. After Alex finished his remarks, Province Chair Julie-Martine Loranger, Regent Amyot and President Harriman presented plaques to the Sopinka Cup winners.
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Kansas Fellows Dinner, Wichita, June 3, 2023:
President Harriman attended the Kansas Fellows Dinner in Wichita on June 3, held at the Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, along with Regent Dan Folluo. After dinner, State Chair Don Gribble tested everyone’s knowledge of Kansas trivia before introducing President Harriman. During her remarks, President Harriman emphasized the Task Force on Civics Education and the Task Force on Mental Health Awareness, as well as the importance of diversity to the future of the College. Don Gribble then presented President Harriman with a beautiful, framed photograph of a Kansas scene in honor of her visit.
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Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s, June 12, 2023:
President Susan J. Harriman traveled to St. John’s to join the Canadian Fellows of Newfoundland and Labrador Province. While there, President Harriman visited Cape Spear, the easternmost point in North America. Fellow Dan Simmons provided a tour of the area before the Fellows dinner that evening at Vu Resto and Bar. The Newfoundland and Labrador Province has only three actively practicing Fellows and a small number of retired and judicial Fellows, so the meeting was small but enjoyable.
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Nova Scotia Fellows Dinner, Halifax, June 13, 2023:
Regent Michelle Awad, President Harriman and her sister Lori, took the short flight from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Halifax, Nova Scotia to attend the Fellows Meeting. The event took place at Chianti, where President Harriman enjoyed the chance to visit with several Fellows before dinner, including Janet Purdy, the wife of Province Chair Rob Purdy. Janet was a figure skater and ice dancer who went on to coach the Olympic Canadian ice dancing pair and taught several NHL hockey players. At dinner, President Harriman provided brief remarks and started by acknowledging the work of Regent Awad. She then spoke about the Task Force on Mental Health Awareness and finished by encouraging Fellows to attend the Annual Meeting in San Diego.
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New Brunswick Fellows Dinner, Moncton, June 15, 2023:
After a brief respite, President Harriman and her sister Lori continued their tour of the Atlantic Provinces by heading to Moncton, New Brunswick, where both their mother and grandmother were born. A dinner and reception were held at Little Louis’. President Harriman sat across from inductee Lynn Murray, who will be the first ever Fellow from Prince Edward Island. In her remarks, President Harriman emphasized the importance of finding new and diverse candidates. Also in attendance were Judicial Fellow Charles LeBlond and Chair of the Sopinka Cup Committee, Ken McCullogh, who was excited to discuss the College’s partnership with the Advocates’ Society for the Sopinka Cup.
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Southern California Fellows Dinner, Los Angeles, June 16, 2023:
Treasurer Richard H. Deane, Jr., attended the annual dinner of the Southern California State Committee held at the iconic California Club located in downtown Los Angeles. State Chair Gerald “Gerry” Klein welcomed Treasurer Deane and highlighted some of the Club’s notable artwork that had been donated by members during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Approximately sixty Fellows and guests attended the dinner, including Former Regent Paul Meyer and Donna Melby, Chair of the Judiciary Committee. Special guests Sarah Stebbins and Peter Jones, UCLA students who won the National Trial Competition, also attended. Treasurer Deane spoke about the upcoming White Paper from the Judicial Independence Committee on Senate confirmation hearings, and the Just The Beginning internship mentoring program, which currently has more than eighty participating Fellows.
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Maryland and Washington, D.C., Fellows Dinner, June 17, 2023:
More than one hundred Fellows and guests met together at the Supreme Court, where President Harriman was joined by the Canadian Ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, President-Elect Bill Murphy, Regent Greg Wells, State Chair Pleasant Brodnax, State Chair John Bourgeois and Former Regents Paul Bekman and Joe Caldwell. The evening’s primary speaker was Hon. Mahmud Jamal of the Canadian Supreme Court, who was very entertaining. President Harriman spoke about the Task Force on Civics Education and the significance of diversity and inclusion to the College. Maryland and D.C. were commended for their strong efforts in nominating diverse candidates and were encouraged to continue their good work.
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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.
California
Marcus S. Topel, ’96, Gualala, March 13, 2022
Florida
David T. Knight, ’05, Tampa, June 4, 2023
Georgia
George Oliver Lawson, Jr., ’18, Atlanta, May 28, 2023
Iowa
John B. (Jack) Grier, ’83, Marshalltown, May 20, 2023
Maryland
E. Dale Adkins, III, ’96, Baltimore, June 1, 2023
Massachusetts
Edward D. McCarthy, ’90, Waltham, May 25, 2023
Pennsylvania
William H. Pugh, IV, ’89, Norristown, May 23, 2023
Quebec
J. Vincent O’Donnell, ’75, Montreal, June 6, 2023
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