M ARCH 2019 President’s Column: The Business Case for Good Bar Service Inside practices, you will meet sources outside your By J. William Manuel Same Judge, Different Court comfort zone. I can safely say that I have received Justice Kenny Griffis Spotlight I’m sure many of you have already dismissed NUMEROUS referrals due to relationships I 4 this column: “Why do I care how quickly a made through service with JYL, YLD, MS Bar bartender delivers Will an Old Fashioned?” Association and CABA. In addition, if you win Federal Judges Barbour While I could write many paragraphs on that the leadership lottery and become an officer of 6 and Ellington Retire touchy subject, I am instead talking about one of these organizations, you become known to participation in Bar activities. Over the last a large group of people. And known as someone few years, I have heard Firm Management who is trusted to lead an organization. Blockchain Explained Types, Millennials, and even old friends state In addition, clients and potential clients 8 their belief that service to a Bar organization these days are very interested in lawyers who is wasted time or not effective for business are involved in community service. I see more How to Observe Lent development. Not only does that statement and more Requests for Proposals that have bug me, in my humble opinion, it is patently questions asking about a firm’s community 11 wrong for numerous reasons. activities. I’ve had clients send me individual notes congratulating me on different positions Upcoming Events Bar Service IS Good I’ve had in Bar Organizations. Several have noted their past service in similar organizations. April 16 Business Development There’s an instant connection. CABA Membership Meeting The talking head business consultants will with Bench & Bar Judicial Panel Q&A tell you that there are numerous principles to Bar Service Provides a Unique Noon • The Capital Club developing business. Networking. Building Your Reputation/Brand. Interaction with Sources Opportunity to Interact with April 24 Outside Your Comfort Zone. All of these are also Judges Outside the Courtroom Diversity Panel Discussion and Networking Panel Discussion • 2 - 4pm core activities in serving in a Bar Association. Social • 4:30 - 6pm If you are on a committee, you will network As a younger lawyer, I was very intimidated Butler Snow every time you meet. If you do a good job on a by the robed figures behind the bench. However, committee project, you are building your brand The views expressed in the articles published are as a reliable and effective leader. Because most Continued on Next Page … solely those of the authors and do not represent Bar entities are made up of all sorts of different the views of CABA, its officers, directors, or staff. Open until April 10 OFFICER ELECTIONS Leadership Nominees Secretary-Treasurer Director–Post 3 Director–Post 4 Alicia Hall Margaret Cupples Ashley Hendrix Duck Clarence Webster Scott Murray Nakimuli Davis-Primer Elections will be held by electronic ballot, so watch your email for the slate and information about each candidate. I was fascinated to learn that there were Bar Service Is Just the You meet lawyers that you would never Bar functions where you actually got to rub Right Thing to Do run into otherwise (See Point 1). You get to shoulders with these men and women when do something besides drafting discovery or they weren’t swinging a gavel. Bar functions Even though we may not feel it every day, checking titles. You make a difference. Isn’t and Bar service give lawyers the opportunity being a lawyer is a very respected profession. that one of the reasons we all became lawyers? to learn about the personal side of our judges. And, usually, it is a fairly well-compensated So, the next time you hear someone While they obviously will not sway the issuing job. We should all be grateful that our hard dismissing the idea of Bar Service, I hope of justice simply because they met you at the academic work paid off in a law license. But one of these reasons comes to mind and Christmas party, the next time you appear in with this good job comes a responsibility to you encourage that lawyer to try a CABA front of them, you may feel more comfortable. give back to the community and the profession. committee or a MS Bar activity. I can almost In addition, judges have told me that Pro bono service through one of our fantastic guarantee they will find it rewarding. As for they admire lawyers who choose to give their Bar organizations is a great way to contribute. the other type of Good Bar Service, I hope time to Bar service. They recognize that we all So is serving on a Committee that engages in to see all of you at one of our next CABA have limited hours in a day and they respect a project to help those less fortunate, through social functions so we can raise a glass to the fact that a lawyer is volunteering to try food drives, education seminars or other being involved in the Bar. and better the profession. No one, even the activities. We also owe a debt to the younger Firm Management Types, can possibly feel lawyers coming behind us. Plus, it just feels that having a judge admire you is a bad thing. good to give back. CABA Members: Click Here to PAY DUES ONLINE! CABA February Membership Meeting Dr. Megan Clapton, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Mindful Therapy, spoke at our February 19, 2019 meeting at the Capital Club about the value of mindfulness in our professional and personal lives. CABA NEWSLETTER 2 2018 JUDICIAL ELECTIONS By Chris Shaw number spiked by the retirement of several in the District 1 seat; and long-term judges: William Singletary and • Former Hinds County District Attorney Seven new judges Patricia Wise (Chancery), Jeff Weill (Circuit), Faye Peterson defeated Joseph Sclafani in in the tri-county area and Bill Skinner (County Court). Veteran the District 4 seat. took the bench this Circuit Judge William Gowan retired from Judge Tomie Green was easily re-elected in January, joining the the bench in March 2018, prior to the end of District 2 over challenger Kimalon Campbell. largest number of his term. Judge Gowan’s post had been held Circuit Judge Winston Kidd had no opposition. statewide newly-elected since that time by Joseph Sclafani, appointed In Madison County, Dewey Arthur, former judges in Mississippi’s by Governor Phil Bryant to fill the remaining assistant district attorney for Madison and modern history. nine months of Judge Gowan’s final term. Rankin Counties, won the District 3 runoff Overall, 40 new Below is a summary of the results of the against Andy Stewart for the lone Circuit judges were elected across Mississippi during area’s judicial elections. Judge spot up for grabs. Fellow Circuit Judges the November 2018 judicial races. This number John Emfinger and Steve Ratcliff returned to includes 18 new chancery judges, nine circuit their seats unopposed in Subdistricts 1 and judges, 10 county court judges, and three new Court of Appeals 2, respectively. Court of Appeals judges. The new judges were Four new judges now sit on Mississippi’s sworn in on January 7. Court of Appeals, following the retirements of According to Mississippi Judicial College Justice Tyree Irving, Joseph Lee, and Eugene Chancery Court Executive Director Randy G. Pierce, a former Fair, as well as the appointment of Justice Griffis The Chancery bench in Hinds County chancery and state Supreme Court justice to the Mississippi Supreme Court. They are: also welcomed two new Chancellors with himself, this is the largest number of new • Judge Deborah McDonald of Natchez, November’s election: judges Mississippi has elected since the Judicial who replaced Judge Irving in District 2 • Crystal Wise Martin, who replaced her College came into existence. • David McCarty of Jackson, who replaced mother, longtime Chancellor Patricia “In my 25 years practicing, there has Judge Lee in District 4 Wise in Subdistrict 2; and never been a generational change of the bench • Anthony Lawrence of Pascagoula, who • Tiffany Grove, who defeated Monique like this,” said Philip Thomas, author of the replaced Judge Fair in District 5 Brown-Barrett in the November runoff popular Mississippi Litigation Review blog. • Cory Wilson of Jackson, who was appointed for Subdistrict 3 “Long time judges retired and new judges to replace Justice Griffis in District 3 Brandon attorney Troy Odom won the elected who may be on the bench for decades. Incumbent Court of Appeals Justices runoff to succeed retiring Rankin County Lawyers will be sorting out the nuances of Donna Barnes (District 1) and Sean Tindell Chancellor John Grant. Rankin County practicing before the new judges for a while. (District 5) returned to their posts without Chancery Judges John McLauren in Subdistrict The interesting question now is whether opposition, as did Mississippi Supreme Court 1 and Haydn Roberts in Subdistrict 3 had no there will be a similar round of retirements Justice David Ishee. A judge’s term on the challengers. Neither did Madison County’s by attorneys in private practice.” Mississippi Supreme Court and Court of three Chancery Court Judges, — Robert Clark, With the December 2018 retirement of Appeals is 8 years. III, Cynthia Brewer, and James Walker. former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice William Waller, four new justices now sit on the Mississippi Court of Appeals — three of them Circuit Court County Court by election and one of them by appointment Hinds County’s two new Circuit Judges Hinds County Court has one new County following Justice Kenny Griffis’s nod to fill are no strangers to winning elections, both Court Judge — Jackson lawyer Johnnie Justice Waller’s seat.