To Address Bar Membership Posthumously
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® September 2001 The Monthly Newspaper of the Philadelphia Bar Association Vol. 30, No. 9 October Quarterly Meeting O’Connor Award Former ABA President Barnett to Be Presented to Address Bar Membership Posthumously Martha W. Barnett, immedi- ate-past president of the to Judge Jamison American Bar Association, will be the keynote speaker at the by Daniel A. Cirucci Association’s Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon on Wednesday, Former Philadelphia Oct. 24 at noon at the Park Common Pleas Court Hyatt Philadelphia at the Judge Judith J. Jamison Bellevue. will be awarded the Barnett, a partner in the Philadelphia Bar global law firm of Holland & Association’s 2001 Sandra Knight LLP in Tallahassee, Fla., Day O’Connor Award was the second female president posthumously at the of the American Bar Association. Association’s October She began her one-year term at Quarterly Meeting and the close of the association’s Luncheon on Wednesday, Judge Judith J. Jamison 2000 Annual Meeting in Oct. 24. London. Barnett is immediate- “We will always be inspired by the memory of past chair of the Public Law Judge Jamison’s consummate professionalism, her Department at Holland & trailblazing journey as a woman lawyer, her attentive- Knight and is a member of its ness to everyone whom she encountered along the Directors Committee. way, and the help she gave to so many others. This During her tenure as ABA award stands as a shining reminder of her contribu- president, Barnett brought tions to all of us,” said Association Chancellor Carl S. Primavera. attention to issues ranging from Martha W. Barnett was the second woman to serve as president of the ABA. the death penalty to immigra- The Sandra Day O’Connor Award is given annually tion to substance abuse. But names to the ABA Standing with a much more visible role by the Women in the Profession Committee to a wom- there was one issue that gar- Committee on the Federal in advising the Senate, the pub- an attorney who has demonstrated superior legal tal- nered even more attention: the Judiciary for screening before lic and the President about can- ent, achieved significant legal accomplishments and ABA’s role in vetting potential nominations are announced. didates. furthered the advancement of women in both the federal judicial nominees. The controversy gave Barnett In 1994, Barnett became the profession and the community. According to commit- Earlier this year, President a chance to talk about the eval- first woman to chair the ABA’s tee co-chairs Rochelle M. Fedullo and Carol Nelson Bush ended the half-century uation procedure. Now, she says, policy-making House of Dele- Shepherd, Judge Jamison was told she would be practice of providing candidates’ the ABA may well find itself continued on page 13 receiving this year’s award before she passed away on continued on page 12 In This Issue ... Bar to Broadcast Events Over Internet 4 Bar Foundation by Daniel A. Cirucci Association’s Oct. 24 Quarterly Meeting webcasts, the Association will also gain 6 YLD Update and Luncheon which salutes women added publicity for important programs The Philadelphia Bar Association will lawyers and will feature the presentation featuring prominent guest speakers who 8 First Monday make another technological leap forward of the 2001 Sandra Day O’Connor Award. have something newsworthy to say. this fall when it begins audio webcasts of Members who have live audio capa- In announcing the new service, 9 Judicare Summer selected Association events. bility on their personal computers will Chancellor Carl S. Primavera said “This is Webcasting allows the Association to be able to listen to the program by click- the next logical step in the development 11 Arts & Media broadcast an event over the Internet so ing on a screen box. This innovation will of our tech capability. Our Web site has the event can be heard live or down- be undertaken using existing telephone gained wide acceptance and is increas- 14 Calendar loaded from the Association’s award- lines through a special arrangement with ingly seen by our members and the pub- winning Web site at www.philadelphi- PRNewswire (PRN), the Association’s out- lic as a real service. We want to build on 15 People abar.org. The first webcast is expected to sourced news and information service. include keynote remarks from the Because PRN will actively promote the continued on page 2 Visit the Philadelphia Bar on the Web at www.philadelphiabar.org • Look for Bar Reporter Online e-newsbrief every Monday morning Thriving Region Can Do Even Better by Carl S. Primavera Atlanta, Dallas and even Boston. report calls “spatial suicide,” which is Though we’re doing better, we’re not defined as “the manner in which many Have you been to any of the new doing good enough. American metropolitan areas choose to restaurants in town? Did you get a F R O N T L I N E It should surprise no one to discov- tear themselves apart rather than adapt chance to attend the recent X Games or er that one of the biggest impediments to the idea of an economic region.” The any of the related events? Have you to local economic growth is Philadel- Delaware River Port Authority and checked out the progress on the new phia’s tax burden. The total tax burden other key regional entities have come Visitors Center or National Constitution on a Philadelphia family of four earn- to recognize the importance of truly Center on Independence Mall? Are you ing $50,000 is now the highest among regional reinvestment and the DRPA is looking forward to the NBA All Star major cities in the nation — higher than busy seeding private investment on game in Philadelphia next year? New York, Boston or Washington. The both sides of the river. The results are There are a lot of things happening report bluntly states: “Philadelphia is a obvious and heartening. But other in Philadelphia these days, and there high tax city.” And it adds: “A continued obstacles still remain. When one sees are many reasons for us to feel good strategy of reducing the city’s tax rates the economy as a regional force, one about the city and the region. Recently is likely to enhance the tax base and comes to recognize how ridiculous our Bar leaders heard a report about technology-based knowledge econo- reduce the rate of job erosion in the New Jersey’s bona fide law office rule facts, issues and ideas affecting the my.” Of the 35 benchmark regions City.” This means the city has to hold really is. The rule doesn’t help anyone. region from the Metropolitan selected for analysis, Philadelphia the line on spending, keep working to It’s bad enough that it denies con- Philadelphia Policy Center. The Policy ranked among the top 10 in this attract investment and reduce local sumers a free choice in legal assistance Center is a collaborative effort between important high-tech measurement. taxes all at the same time. It’s not a but it also impedes commerce and sti- the Pennsylvania Economy League and And, the city has the amenities (arts, matter of can it be done or will it be fles growth. It’s particularly hard on the 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania. The culture, diversity, recreation and enter- done. It has to be done if we are to small and mid-size law firms that are idea is to create momentum for change tainment) to attract a young, talent- continue to compete in the new econ- actually small businesses. That’s why in the region that will help stimulate based workforce. On the amenities omy. This challenge means that the old we’re seeking to have this rule over- our economy (even in the face of an measure, Philadelphia again ranked in ways of doing things in Philadelphia turned and why we will continue this economic downturn) and improve our the top 10 among the major metropoli- will have to continue to change and effort. quality of life. tan regions examined. change at a more rapid pace than we For the business of the law, the sage For Philadelphia, there are more Yet, our region still has a long way have been accustomed to. of this report is simple: think regional- than a few bright spots in the report. to go to attract the talent, energy and Every one of us — every economic continued on page 3 For example, Philadelphia is now one private investment that it needs to sector and every county and town and of the major regions in the nation for keep pace with top-tier cities like city in the region — is in this together. what the Policy Center calls “the new Chicago, New York, Washington, We can no longer indulge in what the Bar Association Elected to ASAE Honor Roll Editor-in-Chief The Philadelphia Bar Association Supreme Court’s recent adoption of a powerful impact on everyday life, they Bruce H. Bikin, Esq. has been elected to the 2001 statewide code of civility. In announc- often go unnoticed by the general pub- Associations Advance America Honor ing the new code, Supreme Court Chief lic. Associate Editors Michael A. Cibik, Esq. Roll, a national awards competition Justice John P. Flaherty commended the This marks the third time the Glenn F. Rosenblum, Esq. sponsored by the American Society of Association for “making the subject of Philadelphia Bar Association has been Association Executives (ASAE) in professionalism a priority.” elected to the ASAE Honor Roll. Contributing Editor Washington, D.C. Now in its 11th year, the “The Philadelphia Bar Association’s Richard Max Bockol, Esq.