Inside by Amanda Green Alexander to Have More and Different Experiences
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
SEPTEMBER 2014 President’s Column our experiences, so let’s challenge each other Inside By Amanda Green Alexander to have more and different experiences. I Federal District Judge THE CHALLENGE: guarantee it will improve your lives- – both 2 Debra Brown Sworn In The new year for personally and professionally. In this edition CABA has kicked of the CABA Newsletter, we will explore the Meet Wendy Scott: off with a blast! As topic of intergenerational communications and New Dean of MC Law School you can imagine, while we are not pouring buckets of ice water 5 there is lots of buzz over our heads, we are very excited to accept about our most recent the challenge of embracing our differences Golf Tournament CLE that focused on and broadening our horizons both personally Photos and Sponsors intergenerational and professionally. 6 communications. In our August Monthly LOOK OUT! Many of you participated in CLE Meeting, Will Manuel jumped right in the CABA Golf Tournament and we appreciate New Federal Uniform to tackle intergenerational communications. your efforts to gain sponsors. It was a beautiful 8 Local Rules Coming While the room was filled with several baby day and lots of fun for all. This year, we were boomers, Gen Xers and millennial, we all seemed able to provide a contribution to the MS Integrated Management to take away many of the same thoughts— Volunteer Lawyers Project (MVLP) and will How Do You Relate to the Lawyer times are changing and we had better look continue our commitment to the project. 9 Who Has Never Seen Animal House? up from our desk to explore more. With all Photos from the Golf Tournament and the list of the ice bucket challenges and efforts to of our fantastic sponsors are included in this The Road Lawyer Contemplates make the day go by faster, I would challenge newsletter. In an effort to “drum up” more 11 the History of Turner Field and The Braves you to take some time and talk with those in support for MVLP, we are happy to report the your office/firm and environments that look “Battle of the Barristers Tennis Tournament” a little different than you. While some of us returned this past weekend, September 19-21, hate to admit it, we often surround ourselves 2014 in a big way. Under the leadership of with friends and colleagues who think just tennis guru Venecca Green Mason and her a little bit more like us than others. So my committee, the tournament participants and Upcoming Events challenge to you is to try something different attendees enjoyed three days of fellowship and October 14 for a week. Go into the office, invite the fun for a worthy cause (even those of us who Membership Meeting • Noon, Capital Club millennial/baby boomer/gen Xer to lunch and probe them. Who knows — you may even Continued on Next Page … December 2 learn something. We are the summation of Christmas Social • 5:30 pm, Old Capitol Inn CABA Membership Luncheon Meeting October 14, 2014 @ 12:00 Noon Capital Club • 19th Floor of Capital Towers Building $15 for members & law clerks $18 for guests “Making your pitch before, after, and during court through written and oral presentations.” The panelists will be Judge Winston Kidd, Judge Daniel Jordan, Lance Stevens and La’Verne Edney. The views expressed in the articles published are solely those of the authors and do not represent the views of CABA, its officers, directors, or staff. President’s Column campaign continues, so please round up friends CLE credit, and improve your business and continued from page 1 in your office and others and encourage them practice is priceless. to join CABA. Remember CABA membership Again, thank you for the opportunity are not remotely close to Serena Williams!) can be as low as $75.00 per year depending on to serve as your President. Each one of you Look for the full story and photos from the your practice and includes 4–6 hours of CLE. matters and we need your support. It’s going tournament in our next newsletter and on the It’s a bargain you should seize! The membership to be a GREAT YEAR! CABA web site. dues are minimal. However, the opportunity Sincerely yours, MEMBERSHIP: Our membership to visit with judges and local colleagues, earn Amanda Green Alexander, President UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE DEBRA BROWN Sworn into Office in the Northern District worked as an architect in Washington, D.C., Mississippi’s leading businesswomen. Judge By Terryl Rushing where she participated in the renovation and Brown has also served on the board of the Judge Debra Brown was sworn into office restoration of municipal and historic buildings Mississippi Center for Justice and Operation as a District Judge for the Northern District and in the construction of commercial and Shoestring. of Mississippi in December, 2013, becoming residential properties. the first African-American woman to serve Judge Brown received her law degree from as a federal district judge in Mississippi. Her the University of Mississippi School of Law investiture was held in Greenville, where in 1997, after serving as associate editor and her office and courtroom will be located, articles editor of the Mississippi Law Journal. on June 20, 2014, and both Senator Thad Upon entering the bar, Judge Brown became Cochran and Senator Roger Wicker attended the only lawyer in Mississippi with degrees in the ceremony. Senators Cochran and Wicker both architecture and law. In 1997, she joined had both strongly supported Judge Brown’s Phelps Dunbar in Jackson, later becoming a nomination, and they both spoke extensively on partner at that firm. In 2012, Judge Brown her behalf when her nomination was brought moved to Wise Carter Child & Caraway as before the full Senate for a vote. Excerpts from a shareholder. their remarks follow. With her background in architecture, it is Like Senior District Judge William Barbour not surprising that Judge Brown specialized in and District Judge Carlton Reeves, Judge commercial construction litigation, although Debra Brown is a Yazoo City native. She is her civil litigation practice covered a wide range one of five sisters born to Willie James and of topics. During her sixteen years in private Ruthie Brown, who had high expectations for practice, Judge Brown was active in several each of their daughters. Judge Brown’s college bar associations, including the American Bar dean at Mississippi State University recalled Association, the National Bar Association, Judge Debra Brown that her key character traits were perseverance, the Federal Bar Association, the Magnolia President Barack Obama nominated diligence, and focus. While attending MSU’s Bar Association, and the Mississippi Women Judge Brown to be a District Judge in May, School of Architecture, she served as a member Lawyers Association, in which she served as 2013. During the nomination process, Senator of the school’s advisory council. In her senior president. She is also a fellow of the Mississippi Chuck Grassley asked her to identify the most year, Judge Brown won the top architecture Bar Association. In 2004, Judge Brown received important attribute of a judge. She responded, student honor — the Alpha Rho Chi Medal. the Jackson Young Lawyers Outstanding Service “The most important attribute of a judge Judge Brown graduated from the School of Award, and, in 2008, she was recognized by is sincere respect for the position of judge. Architecture in 1987. After graduation, she the Mississippi Business Journal as one of When a judge truly respects the position, I Continued on next page... CABA NEWSLETTER 2 motions, including dispositive motions filed, historical significance of this moment in emphasizing to parties and counsel deadlines Mississippi history. And I am acutely aware set in the case; and promptly resolving all issues of the magnitude of this judicial position that could potentially delay the progress of the and the responsibility that goes along with case.” This philosophy is fully in keeping with it. I promise you that I will at all times give the character traits earlier attributed to Judge it the respect it deserves and approach it with Brown of perseverance, diligence, and focus. humility.” She promised to approach “every In his statement to the Senate supporting believe the judge will necessarily execute all Brown’s confirmation as district judge, Senator judicial duties with impartiality, firmness, Cochran stated that he believed that she would integrity, and discipline, and apply the law “serve with distinction.” Senator Wicker said, to the facts of each case or controversy in an “Our country needs judges who have a record even-handed manner consistent with judicial of professional excellence, integrity, and public precedent and applicable procedural rules.” service. Ms. Brown has demonstrated this She described the appropriate temperament throughout her career.” Senator Wicker also of a judge as respectful to all involved in the noted the significance of having a judge who U.S. District Judge Michael Mills administers the judicial process, as well as “courteous, patient, is also an architect in the federal courthouse oath of office to Debra Brown, the first African- open-minded, unbiased, and an attentive in Greenville, which is desperately in need of American woman to serve as a federal district listener.” Judge Brown also pledged to control major repair or replacement. Judge Brown’s judge in Mississippi. Judge Brown’s mother, her docket by “evaluating the most efficient nomination was confirmed by the Senate Ruthie Brown, holds the Bible on which Judge and effective means for each case to proceed by a unanimous vote on November 4, 2013. Brown swears the oath. to resolution; supervising the progress of cases At her investiture, Judge Brown took decision I make on the bench with reverence with status conferences at appropriate intervals the oath of office with her hand on a Bible for the law and those who come before me and making any adjustments necessary to held by her mother.