CBA Record Sept-Oct 2019

Remembering John Paul Stevens: His CBA Roots Ran Deep BY TERRENCE M. MURPHY

I mentioned that Justice Stevens was an “active” member of the Association and in fact, his record of CBA service was quite extraordinary. Dan Cotter’s tribute covers Justice Stevens’ distinguished record of CBA service, including his role as Chief Counsel to the Special Commission to investigate allegations of misconduct by two Illinois Supreme Court Justices. On several occa- sions Justice Stevens publicly mentioned his involvement as Counsel to the Special Commission. In 1975, he described the investigation as “one of the principal, impor- tant professional achievements of my life.” In a 1992 speech before the ABA the Justice said, “All I can say is had I not participated in that matter, I’m sure I would not be occupying the position I occupy today.” In 2015, WTTW presented a documentary about the 1969 Illinois judicial scandal titled: “Unexpected Justice:The Rise of John Paul Stevens.” As Justice Stevens wrote in his dissent in Bush v. Gore , echoing the lessons learned in that long-ago Chicago summer, “It is confidence in the men and women who administer the judicial system that is the true backbone of the rule of law.” Justice Stevens was a universal donor to America’s justice system and The Chicago Bar Association. Our nation and our asso- ciation are better because of him!

of America’s most esteemed and respected Supreme Court Justices. How proud and honored The Chicago Bar Association is to present its highest award each year in his memory, to lawyers and judges whose careers emulate Justice Stevens’s commit- ment to public service. The Association is grateful to his former clerks who suggested that the Association establish an annual award in Justice Stevens’ honor.

Justice John Paul Stevens was an active member ofThe Chicago Bar Association for his entire professional career.The tributes in this issue of the CBA Record were written by Justice Stevens’ dear friend of 50 years, Judge William J. Bauer; Illinois Appellate Court Justice Michael B. Hyman; James Wascher; Dan Cotter; and Michelle Odor- izzi, who had the honor of serving as one of Justice Stevens’ law clerks. These articles spotlight the distinguished legal career, extraordinary intellect, civility, and kindness of this cheerful man who is in the pantheon

Terrence M. Murphy is Executive Director of The Chicago Bar Association.

Listen Now: The Scarlet A Edition

At least one in four American women will have an abortion in her lifetime, and the Supreme Court deemed it a consti- tutional right in Roe v. Wade nearly five decades ago, yet the stigma is such that we’re unable to have a civil conversation about the topic. In this new edition of @theBar, co-hosts

PRACTICE AREA UPDATES The CBA is pleased to partner with CBA Newsstand by Lexol- ogy, a daily email that provides valuable and free practical know how.Learn more at www.chica- gobar.org/newsstand.

Jon Amarilio and Chastidy Burns are joined by Katie Watson, a lawyer, profes- sor, bioethicist, and the author of “Scarlet A: The Ethics, Law and Politics of Ordinary Abortion.” Katie makes the argument that we need to start having real conversations about ordinary abortion because it impacts millions of Americans, and can help us unpack many other social issues, including civil rights, religion, socioeconomic stratification and more. Listen on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher or on the Legal Talk Network at legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/chicago- bar. Special thanks to our sponsor, CourtFiling.net.

34 September/October 2019