CBA Record

PRESIDENT’S PAGE BY JUDGE THOMAS R. MULROY The CBA Wants You

The Chicago Bar Association www.chicagobar.org OFFICERS President Judge Thomas R. Mulroy Circuit Court of Cook County First Vice President Steven M. Elrod Holland & Knight LLP Second Vice President Jesse H. Ruiz Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP Secretary E. Lynn Grayson Jenner & Block LLP Treasurer Executive Director Terrence M. Murphy Assistant Executive Director Elizabeth A. McMeen BOARD OF MANAGERS Jonathan B. Amarilio Alan R. Borlack Hon. Thomas M. Durkin Mark B. Epstein Hon. Shelvin Louise Marie Hall Robert F. Harris Maurice Grant Grant Law LLC

common education. Since then, the CBA has remained relevant to thousands of Chicago lawyers in all practice types and areas. The practice of law has become increas- ingly challenging, rushed and stressful. Today in particular, members of the CBA need–and find–support from one another. Our members work to maintain the dignity of the profession, sponsor continuing legal education programs, encourage collegiality and promote the administration of justice. These essentials will always be needed in our practice no matter how the profession changes. The CBA has an excellent Executive Director and a first-rate staff. The Board of Managers, which decides Association policy, is active. They oversee the Asso- ciation’s operating budget, which comes primarily from member dues and fees for continuing legal education seminars. That budget makes possible an enor- mous range of activities and initiatives that support the causes of truth and justice. Members of the Association are dedicated to making sure affordable legal services are available; ensuring adherence to strong ethical standards; improving public understanding of and respect for the legal system; encouraging diversity; satisfying the needs of members; and promoting a collegial atmosphere. The practice of law can be especially hard for newly admitted lawyers. Navigat- ing the bridge from law school to a success- ful practice is challenging. Years ago, the CBA created the Young Lawyers Section to help this group. Today our award-winning YLS has 9,000 members and has become one of the most active and effective sections of any bar association in the country. The section’s variety of committees and projects give a young lawyer many ways to grow and be connected.

T ravel bans, fake news, tweets at mid- night, Russian hacking and criticism of the legal system may recall Dick- ens: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” Our gov- ernment’s executive branch’s criticism of lawyers, judicial decisions, and individual judges is inappropriate and, moreover, dangerous‒it causes the public to suspect the integrity of the judicial system. Judges and lawyers have tough skins; criticism comes with the job. Lawyers have been criticized before, but today’s attacks are much more serious. When Shakespeare’s character, Dick the Butcher, dreamed of a society where laws would not be enforced so he would be able to act with impunity, he said: “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” But Shakespeare was writing as a playwright, not as a gov- ernment official. What to do? Today, more than ever, judges and lawyers need an effective bar association. Lawyers and judges have unique skills and needs. Recognizing this, in 1874, Chicago lawyers formed the Chicago Bar Association to support one another, for camaraderie, and for

Michele M. Jochner Michael J. Kaufman Daniel M. Kotin Pamela S. Menaker Paul J. Ochmanek, Jr. Matthew A. Passen Mary Robinson John C. Sciaccotta Helene M. Snyder Andrew W. Vail Greta G. Weathersby Zeophus J. Wiliams

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