President's Message

BAR BENCH SALT LAKE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION & WINTER 2019 by Christopher Hogle President’s Message Salt Lake County Bar President Hello, you’ve reached the Men's Help Line. My name and needs glasses to see the chalk board. (That doesn’t is Don. How can I help you? mean he actually wears his glasses in class. Apparently, seeing the chalk board isn’t as important as looking “cool.” Hi Don, I really need your advice on a serious Maybe we shouldn’t have picked out problem. I have suspected for his frames from the Carol Channing some time now that my wife Collection.) has been cheating on me. You know, the usual signs: the Without engagement, we’re unable phone rings and when I answer, to see what’s under the surface. And the caller hangs up. Plus, she what’s there isn’t always a problem. goes out with “the girls” a lot. I You can find inspiration as well. try to stay awake to look out The SLCBA is a prime example. for her when she comes home, Engagement with the SLCBA and but I always fall asleep. other bar and community organizations can be rewarding, as Anyway, last night around your fellow SLCBA members already midnight, I woke up and she know. wasn’t home, so I hid in the garage behind my boat and The enemy of engagement is waited for her. When she came cynicism, and beyond telling a funny home, she got out of someone joke, that’s the real point of this else’s car, buttoning her blouse, message. Imagine if Don’s caller had and then she leaned in and been silenced by the notion that the kissed the driver, long and hard, cards were stacked against him and just like she and I used to kiss Christopher Hogle anything he tried would be back when we were dating. It ineffectual. His boat would be a was at that moment, while disaster waiting to happen. crouched behind the boat, that I noticed a hairline We should resist the urge to be cynical, and that means crack in the outboard motor mounting bracket. Is avoiding sore loserism. Today, we see some politicians that something I can weld, or do I need to replace the blame their defeats, or preemptively bewail possible whole bracket? outcomes, on “rigged” elections, dishonest tactics, or A crack in an outboard motor mounting bracket is quite ignorant, incompetent, or “activist” voters, officials, and serious. Good thing Don’s caller didn’t stay in bed and, judges. Lamentably, it seems that this has become a instead, got engaged. standard tactic. Gracious concession is no longer generally expected and, when withheld, universally condemned. But As lawyers, engagement is our stock and trade. Clients hire the tactic is effective only to the extent that it erodes us to deal with their problems, and while doing so, we confidence in institutions, which makes a mockery of those frequently discover other matters that need attention. engaged with them. It’s a situation familiar to parents. My son was having trouble with his school work, and when Yvonne and I investigated the matter, we found out that he’s near-sighted BAR&BENCH President’s Message C o n t i n u e d As lawyers, we need to set a good example. We’re uniquely situated to chalk up disputes to good faith disagreements and defeats to judges and jurors doing their level best to reach the right outcomes. If we impugn the motives of opponents and decision-makers, we call into question the integrity of the institutions in which they operate. If we truly value inclusion, we need to resist cynicism. Why should anyone waste their time with institutions where the cards are stacked against them, or engage honestly when others don’t? Cynicism runs counter to inclusivity by discouraging universal participation. Rather than sore loserism, we ought to encourage widespread engagement and the good that comes from it. Just like late night boat inspections. Clients hire us to deal with their problems, and while doing so, we frequently discover other matters that need attention. 2 BAR&BENCH Judicial Profile Judge Amber M. Mettler By Melanie S. Grayson At Snell, Judge Mettler worked in litigation, becoming involved in some of the firm’s bigger cases. She also had the Appointed by Governor Herbert in November 2017, Judge opportunity to do appellate work while working at Snell. Amber M. Mettler is a Third District judge based at the She enjoyed the big cases, with lots of discovery and Matheson Courthouse. Judge Mettler hails from documents, which enabled her to learn the facts of the case Pennsylvania, having spent most of her life on the east coast through the discovery process. Snell offered excellent until a federal clerkship brought her to Utah in the early training, great people, and great cases. She did not give 2000s. She attended Princeton University, earning a B.A. in much thought to becoming a judge, until two other Politics in 1999 and then attended law school at the partners in her office were made judges. She decided to University of Pennsylvania. Judge Mettler always knew she apply and was nominated by Governor Herbert after her wanted to go to law school; growing up, she viewed being second attempt. an attorney as the epitome of success and job security. Before law school, she worked for two years in finance in Judge Mettler has a criminal calendar, which she admits she Boston. This work experience was a real benefit to her in probably would not have picked if given the choice. But, law school, because she knew right away she embraced the dual challenges of that she wanted to pursue litigation and becoming a judge and learning the criminal because she had some real world experience system. After she was confirmed by the that other students lacked. Legislature and before she took the bench, she spent six weeks reading the criminal After law school, Judge Mettler wanted to code and rules of criminal procedure; she clerk for a federal appellate judge. Initially, spoke with judges with criminal calendars she hoped to secure a clerkship with a and observed court as much as she could. judge that might one day feed into a Even now, after a year on the bench, Judge clerkship with a United States Supreme Mettler is candid with attorneys appearing Court justice. She was selected for an before her, acknowledging that she is still interview with then Judge John Roberts, learning. but claims she botched the interview. Eventually, she realized that she was just as She has been most surprised by the sheer likely to “get struck by lightning” as to get volume of the court’s calendar. She a feeder clerkship, and so, she began explained that her court calendar is fully thinking about a “destination clerkship.” booked for more than three months. She Once Judge Mettler realized how accessible Judge Amber M. has had to adjust to the fast pace and the skiing is in Salt Lake City, she set her M e t t l e r become as efficient as possible in her court sights on Salt Lake. She was very fortunate room and in her learning process. Judge to secure a clerkship with Judge Michael R. Murphy on the Mettler has a few tips for practitioners, too. She stressed the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. While living in Utah and need to be on time. She also stressed the importance of clerking for Judge Murphy, she skied as much as she could communicating with the court when adjustments need to and had what she described as a “perfect” year. be made to scheduled events. She advised contacting the court as soon as a practitioner knows that a motion need Following the clerkship, Judge Mettler returned to the East not be heard or that a hearing should be continued. Coast and the law firm of Williams & Connolly in Otherwise, the judge is likely to waste time now preparing Washington, D.C. She worked there for a year, but quickly for a hearing that will only be continued and for which the determined to return to Salt Lake City. She returned in judge will have to prepare again at a later date. 2006, where she bought a home, got a puppy, and studied for the Utah bar exam. Once back in the Beehive State, When asked about the most rewarding part of being a Judge Mettler joined the regional law firm of Snell & judge, Judge Mettler explained that she understands the Wilmer. impact she and the courts have on someone’s life. 3 BAR&BENCH Judicial Profile C o n t i n u e d She is frequently asked whether it is depressing to have a criminal calendar. Judge Mettler’s time on the bench has actually made her think more positively about life, how hard people are trying to do good and right in their lives, and how fortunate many of us are. In her spare time, Judge Mettler serves on the Utah Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure, remains involved in the Federal Bar Association, and enjoys skiing at Alta. Staying calm and being responsive is the most effective way to advocate for your client during oral arguments. 4 BAR&BENCH Judicial Profile Judge Adam Mow By Michael Young He is also a past chair of the Dispute Resolution Section of the Utah State Bar. Judge Adam Mow recently firmly believes that every person should have his or her day in court.

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