Bench & Bar May/June 2026

PRESIDENT'S PAGE

LEADERSHIP. I wrote about John Marshall Harlan, the Great Dissenter. A few lawyers wrote to thank me for writing about the lawyer-states man ideal. I really do think we lawyers need to think more about being leaders. When I look at our leaders, I am disappointed in most of them. What we see happening in our country is not what I would call leadership, it is partisanship. Notably, few of our leaders are lawyers, as political discourse usually denigrates lawyers. People seem to think we are the problem. I hope each one of us, in our own way, can work in our communities to change this dynamic. Steady, ethical, practical leadership from lawyers can foster change. We have a lot to offer, so I encourage you to seek out leadership opportunities in your community. I am scoring myself with an A for encouraging lawyers to get involved.

DEMOGRAPHICS. I recently spoke with Chase Dean Judith Daar. We compared notes on the steady reduc tion of the percentage of men entering the field and the changing demograph ics of new law students. Since 2015, women have increasingly outnum bered men as law school applicants. Combined with record Baby Boomer retirements, the composition of the legal profession will be nothing like it was when I started to practice in 1991. Change is as dramatic as I reported earlier this year. Dean Daar advised that nearly half of current applicants to our nation’s law schools claim some level of diversity. The legal profession is a snapshot of our country. I scored my comments on lawyer demographics as an A. Times are changing. MEANING. I shared with you the tragic story of my friend, Patrick Heringer, who was murdered in Cin cinnati last June. This article resonated with many of you. I thank each person who took the time to react to Patrick’s personal philosophy. One person, who has been practicing since 1982 advised that this was her favorite president’s page ever. I have been humbled by your responses and honored to be a part of Patrick’s legacy. I scored this president’s page as an A for its message.

THE FUTURE. The legislature's effort to sig nificantly restructure the bar association, which represents its second attempt in four years, fell heavily on my tenure. The KBA Executive Committee and I did our best to preserve the role of the board of governors as a medi ating influence between practitioners and the Supreme Court. The future structure of the bar association remains an open question, as compet ing visions of its proper role continue to be debated. Some see value in a professional association model, in which dues reflect a shared commitment to the ideals of the profes sion. Others prefer a more streamlined licensing model, in which a fee covers the cost of regulatory oversight. Both perspectives reflect sincere convictions about how best to serve lawyers and the public. The legislature will likely revisit this question in the coming session, and the KBA will continue to participate in that conversation. So, whatever I did or tried to do has not been up to the task. I give myself a D+ on securing the future of our association. I for one will continue to aspire to be a professional. THANK YOU. The Law and lawyers have been such an important part of my life. From the early days of vacuuming my father’s office to writing my final president’s page, nearly every day of my life has had some legal interaction. I am so thankful to have had this life, and I deeply appreciate the opportunity you have given me to serve our profession. I also want to thank the truly professional KBA staff. We have an extremely well-run organization that genuinely cares. It is hard to convey how diligently so many KBA staff members work to provide you with outstanding educational opportunities, networking opportunities, and professional support. They are the unsung heroes.

4 may/june 2026