Transcript Federal Bar Association

Federal Bar Association
Chapter
Bench/Bar Relationships
Maria Vathis • Hon. Michael Newman • Hon. Michelle Burns
Federal Bar Association • April 26, 2013
www.fedbar.org
Federal Bar Association
Developing Partnerships with Judges
Involving Judges in your Chapter
• Enhances membership; allows members to develop
relationship with judges outside the courtroom
• Enriches chapter programming; resources and
speakers for events
• Ensures dialogue between the court and the FBA
• A viable avenue to assist the court as appropriate
• Members value judges participating - TOP reason for
joining the FBA and the FBA differentiator
• Judges provide their own perspective and insight
• Access to courtrooms, chambers and court facilities
• Access to the court website and mailing list–
opportunity to expand chapter membership and
cross promote activities
Federal Bar Association
Developing Partnerships with Judges
Which Judges to Involve?
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US District Judges
US Magistrate Judges
US Bankruptcy Judges
Court of Appeals Judges
Administrative Law Judges
State District Judges
State Appellate Judges
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Developing Partnerships with Judges
Synergies Between Bench and Bar
• Allows chapter to further the judges goals
consistent with FBA’s mission
• Satisfy the court’s need for particular educational
programs
• Lobby on issues important to judges
 Increase judicial pay, COLA
 Nomination and up/down votes on judicial
nominees
 Additional judgeships in underserved areas
 Courthouse construction
 Security issues
• Participation in court-sponsored programs
• Help judges with special projects
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Ways to Involve Judges
• Establish relationships with judge’s law clerks and court
clerks
• Find judges who will help – judges who are already FBA
members or with existing relationships with members
• Ask for a meeting with your Chief Judge and/or other
appropriate judges, explain the FBA and offer chapter
assistance
• Share with judges what the FBA and the chapter are
doing to further the bench’s goals
• Appoint judges to leadership positions and/or board of
directors
• Make Judges honorary members
• Offer discounts to judges on events and activities
• Help the court – donated needed items, offer pro bono
assistance
Federal Bar Association
Developing Partnerships with Judges
Design Programs to Involve Judges
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Co sponsor programs
Mix judge and lawyer panels
Mock oral arguments
Small luncheons
Judicial receptions
“State of the Court” programs
Do’s and Don’ts with Judges
Panel discussion on famous local cases
Events honoring judges – judicial investiture, retirement
receptions, judicial portraits
• Attendance at judicial conferences
• Purely social events
Maintaining a Strong Existing
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Bench/Bar Relationship
• Don’t be complacent – like any other relationship, you
have to work on it
• Repeat successful programs and other initiatives your
Chapter has done with the judges
• Borrow other chapters successful programs and
initiatives
• As incoming Chapter President, ask for a meeting with
your Chief Judge and/or other appropriate judges
• Ask them what they would like to see your Chapter
do, and listen
• Let your judges know what the FBA and your Chapter
is doing to further the bench’s goals
• Consider having one or more judges, or the court
clerk, on your Leadership Ladder
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Honorary Membership for Judges
• Bestowed at the request of a Chapter
• Circuit court judges, district court judges,
magistrate judges and bankruptcy judges may
be honorary members while they serve as
judges
• Cost-free to the judges and the Chapter
• They receive all the FBA membership benefits
• Some Chapters offer it to all of their eligible
judges, others offer it selectively to chief
judges, judges that participate in FBA
programs, or others
• You MUST notify National – they don’t become
honorary members of the FBA until they are
added to the National database
Federal Bar Association
Developing Partnerships with Judges
Be flexible and sensitive to your judges’
attitudes and local practices - no one-size-fits-all
approach
• Hosting judges for meals
• Judges as Chapter Executive Committee members
or as officers
• Chapter functions on court premises
• Fees for Chapter programs held on court
premises; discounted admission for FBA members
• Links to the Chapters website from the court
websites.
• Postings of FBA events on court websites
• Use of the ECF PACER system
Federal Bar Association
Developing Partnerships with Judges
Questions?
Comments?