Fall 2018 Advocate Expanded Edition
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FALL EDITION 2018 VOL. 28, NO. 1 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT BY: KATHRYN KNIGHT Welcome to the New Orleans his determination to follow through with the Justice Camp Chapter’s new year! program, as well as mentorship programs for younger lawyers and the Chapter’s relationship with Crescent The recent Annual Meeting of the Leadership Academy. thriving New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, held We honored Raley during the Annual Meeting by presenting August 23rd at the Intercontinental him with an armchair that bears the FBA’s logo and is New Orleans, heralded the engraved to commemorate his service as Chapter President. completion of another busy and This is the Chapter’s traditional way of expressing successful year for our Chapter gratitude and appreciation for a job well done, and Raley and the beginning of an exciting indeed served this Chapter well. I hope he will enjoy some new year. Although I’m honored relaxing moments in his FBA chair, but knowing his drive to serve as President of this dynamic group during the and determination, I suspect he will continue his tireless coming year, I would be remiss if I failed to thank our work for our profession, this organization and the larger outgoing President Raley Alford for his diligence and hard community. Thank you, Raley! work in leading our Chapter’s efforts and accomplishments this past year. Following Raley as President, I have big shoes to fill, both figuratively and literally. Raley is the consummate professional, approaching every task – including his service on the Chapter’s Board – with As I began to reflect upon the Chapter’s goals for the intelligence, strength of character, and unflappable calm. coming year, I recalled the words of my friend, mentor, and Raley began his work with the Chapter in 2003, as a former law partner Judge Barry W. Ashe (the most recent member of the Chapter’s Younger Lawyers Division, but addition to the Bench of the United States District Court he quickly moved to the Chapter’s Board in 2005. Since for the Eastern District of Louisiana), when he assumed the then, Raley has worked tirelessly in so many capacities, presidency of this Chapter in 2010. Judge Ashe spoke of from editor of The Advocate, where I first had the privilege charting a course for our Chapter that is “noble and true” – of working with and learning from him, through this past that is, a course of building up, uniting, creating, giving, and year as President. Early in his presidency, Raley was quick sowing freedom. And I submit that throughout the past eight to help FBA chapters in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico years, this Chapter has been steadfast in its commitment to with Hurricane Relief, following the devastation of Harvey, navigating that course. Indeed, Raley began his tenure last Irma, and Maria. He, along with José Cot, were relentless year as Chapter President drawing upon words of Abraham in their efforts to share lessons learned after Katrina and Lincoln in support of the proposition that “reverence for to raise funds for immediate assistance through a gift the laws” is “our path for staying united with each other.” card drive. Throughout his tenure with the Board, Raley remained resolute in his commitment to civics education During the Annual Meeting, the Chapter recognized the and mentorship, as vividly demonstrated this past year in outstanding contributions of several of our members in cont’d on page 2 EDITORIAL BOARD: LARRY CENTOLA, COLIN CAMBRE, MEGAN DUPUY, MEGHAN SENTER MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT (CONT’D) working toward the noble objectives of building up, uniting, which will provide programming and networking events and educating in order to sow freedom. Omar Mason, specific to those practice areas, as well as opportunities to Annie McBride, and Paul Sterbcow received the President’s collaborate with the corresponding National Federal Bar Award for their contributions to community leadership Association sections. These are only a few examples, but outside the practice of law; Ashley Belleau received the it’s easy to see how each of these programs – and the many Jack Martzell Professionalism Award; and David Williams others offered by our Chapter – contribute to the noble and received the Camille Gravel Public Service Award. Look true course of building up, uniting, creating, giving, and for more details about these worthy recipients and their sowing freedom. awards in the article about the Annual Meeting. This year promises to be busy and exciting, with many We also recognized and thanked Chief Judge Brown and opportunities for you — our Chapter members — to the Judges of the Eastern District and the Fifth Circuit for become more involved. We invite you to help us stay the their support of and participation in the Chapter. Without course, by volunteering to assist with any of these programs their contributions, we would be unable to accomplish so in which you are interested. Reach out to Amanda or me, much for the federal bar and the larger community that we and we can put you in touch with the committee chairs for serve as legal professionals. the various programs, who will gladly put you to work. Also plan to join us for our signature events throughout More recently, the Chapter recognized and honored former the year, such as the Federal Judges' Reception scheduled Chapter president Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt on the occa- for November 14th. Additional upcoming events include sion of his investiture as a Judge for the United States Court “Presenting Evidence in Bankruptcy Court: Tips and Best of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Judge Engelhardt became Practices CLE,” slated for October 4th; “Lunch with the a member of the Chapter’s Board of Directors in 2004 and Court” with Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Wilkinson, Jr., was actively involved in establishing events and programs on October 10th; and the Annual Federal Defender and that continue today, such as the Cultural Heritage CLE se- CJA Panel Training CLE on October 26th. In addition, ries, the always-popular Cocktails with the Court, and the the Younger Lawyers’ Division will present the Malcolm Chapter’s annual awards for pro bono work, professional- Monroe Federal Practice Seminar and Swearing In on ism, and community leadership outside the practice of law. December 5, 2018, followed by the annual Holiday Party. Judge Engelhardt was installed as Chapter President in This edition of The Advocate includes more details about 2011 and led us during the bicentennial celebration of the these upcoming events, as well as reports of the Chapter’s federal courts in Louisiana. many activities over the summer months, and you will find regular updates on our website and Facebook page, as well During his tenure as President, Judge Engelhardt took great as in future editions of this newsletter. pride and delight in the fact that the Chapter was the larg- est nationwide, and it remains so today. An obvious rea- Our new Executive Director, Amanda Kaiser, joined us less son for our large membership is our abundant offerings of than a year ago with lots of energy and fresh ideas. She quality CLEs—but perhaps more importantly it is because quickly came up to speed and does a great job. Amanda is of the Chapter’s relationship with the judiciary and court always available to provide information or to answer any personnel in the Eastern District and in the Fifth Circuit. questions you might have, and she regularly updates our Judge Engelhardt continued to foster those relationships website and Facebook page with current and upcoming long after his tenure on the Chapter’s Board came to an events. The work of this Chapter would not be possible end, including most recently during his time as Chief Judge without Amanda; we are grateful for her able assistance. for the Eastern District of Louisiana. We, as a Chapter, are truly appreciative of Judge Engelhardt’s longstanding I look forward to a productive year and hope to see friendship and support. many new faces at our events and new authors in future editions of The Advocate. I urge you to engage actively So what will we, as a Chapter, do in the coming year to stay with the Chapter this year as we continue in our effort to the noble and true course to which our work is committed? chart a course that is noble and true. After all, as lawyers We plan to continue and hopefully expand the reach of and leaders within our profession, we have the ability to this year’s inaugural Justice Camp program, and we will influence lives. And we have an obligation to ourselves, continue incorporating the Moot Court program with the our profession, and our community to influence the lives Landmark Cases program as part of our civics initiative. we touch in positive ways – which we can surely do if we We will also build upon the mentorship program, in stay the course of building up, uniting, creating, giving, and which practitioners provided mentorship to law students sowing freedom. in casual one-hour breakfast settings. And we plan to get more substantive law committees up and running this year, THE ADVOCATE THE Federal Bar Association New Orleans Chapter Annual Federal Judges’ Reception November 14, 2018, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Windsor Court Hotel Chinoiserie Ballroom 300 Gravier Street, New Orleans, Louisiana The New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association requests your presence at its annual tribute honoring the federal judiciary’s contribution to our community. l SPONSORSHIP AND REGISTRATION FORM Individual Tickets o Individual $ 50 o Judicial Law Clerk $ 35 Sponsorships Our firm would like to sponsor the Federal Judges’ Reception at the following level: o Silver $ 500 Allows three guests to attend o Gold $ 750 Allows five guests to attend o Platinum $ 1,250 Allows ten guests to attend *Sponsorship pledges and payments must be received by November 9, 2018 to be listed on the sponsor board.