www.fbamich.org FBAnewsletterFall 2010 Federal Bar Association - Eastern District of Michigan Chapter - 52 years of service to our Federal Bench and Bar Rakow Awards/ President’s Column Historical Society Luncheon Laurie Michelson The annual joint luncheon of the Chapter and the His- torical Society of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern I left the Gilman luncheon last District of Michigan will be held on Thursday, November April with such a good feeling. 18, at the historic Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in downtown We knew about Doug Mullkoff’s Detroit. A reception begins at 11:30 a.m. with the luncheon dedication to his criminal defense work and it was moving to listen starting at noon. to him speak with such joy and The program will feature the presentation of the Fed- passion about it. It was equally inspirational to listen to eral Bar Foundation’s annual Rakow Scholarship Awards Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and his hopes and dreams for to students from each of Michigan’s law schools and a very our wonderful City -- and to think special Historical Society program featuring Ross Parker, about the life he put on hold to author of the book Carving Out the Rule of Law: The try to bring all of us better days. History of the United States Attorney’s Office in Eastern It was with this renewed sense Michigan, 1815-2008. Ross Parker was the chief of the of pride that I went immediately criminal division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit to the airport to catch a plane to for 8 years and an AUSA for 28 years in that office. Washington, D.C. for a 2-day training program put on Since 1969, the Edward H. Rakow Scholarship Fund by the National FBA for the incoming Presidents of the has been administered by the Federal Bar Foundation of local chapters. Detroit, honoring Mr. Rakow’s contributions to the legal It was not long after introducing community and recognizing his central role in the founding myself and the Chapter I was from of the Chapter more than 50 years ago. The Foundation that the typical refrains started – you awards an annual scholarship to a student from each Michi- live in Detroit? Why? Are there any gan law school who demonstrates outstanding scholarly jobs in that City? Don’t you worry about getting members? These achievement in securities law. If a securities law course is questions come not from personal knowledge and experi- not available, then the award goes to an outstanding student ences, but media-driven perceptions. So I view gather- in corporations or business law, as determined by the dean ings like the Training Program as opportunities to educate of the law school. For more information about Mr. Rakow the rest of the country about the benefits of practicing law and the Scholarship in the metropolitan Detroit area. And, frankly, the focus of INSIDE THIS ISSUE Awards that honor the Program made this easier than I anticipated. There New AUSAs pg. 2-3 his memory, visit the are several core elements that the speakers all identified Chapter’s website, as necessary to create a successful FBA chapter. The State of the Court Luncheon pg. 3-4 click on “Newslet- E.D. Michigan Chapter excels in ALL of them – and that ters” and download has to be considered a positive by future lawyers making Diversity Committee & decisions about where to practice: CLEO Summer Program pg. 4 the Summer 2008 edition. • Participation by the Judiciary: it was repeated Judicial Intern Program pg. 5 For more infor- over and over, “If you can find a way to get your judges Supreme Court Preview mation about this involved, people will come to your events.” I suspect there pg. 5-6 luncheon or the lun- are not many other chapters where the Bench: (1) pro- Spotlight on Porter pg. 7 cheon series, please vides financial support for the programs and Newsletter; contact Thomas M. (2) holds numerous Executive Pro Bono Honorees pg. 7-8 Board and Committee Chair/Li- Schehr, Chapter Pro- Dave Weaver pg. 8-9 aison positions; (3) meets with WINNER gram Chair, at (313) the officers yearly; (4) headlines 8 YEARS Law Clerk List pg. 9 568-6659 or by email most programs; and (5) fills a National FBA Officers and Directors pg. 9-10 at TSchehr@dyke- seat at virtually every table of the Outstanding ma.com. Tickets are events. N e w s l e t t e r Committee List pg. 10-12 $25.00 for members A w a r d Calendar of Events pg. 11 and $30.00 for non- (continued on page 2) members. 1 New AUSAs President’s Column (continued) • Chapter Communications: Incoming Presidents were told, “You have Over the last five months, to find a way to communicate with the membership.” For the past eight years, the United States Attorney’s the national FBA has recognized our Newsletter as a recipient of its Outstanding Office has welcomed 12 new Newsletter Award. Members do not have to attend all events to know what is hap- Assistant United States At- pening within the Chapter and the community. Our new monthly “E-Blast” not only torneys. Commenting on the previews upcoming FBA events, but also showcases the activities of the Affinity Bar new members of her staff, organizations. The FBA website (www.fbamich.org) provides even more detailed U.S. Attorney and former information about events, easy sign-up capability and everything you want to know Chapter President Barbara about the organizational structure of the Chapter. McQuade stated that the • Programming: We were told that “It is the quality of the programming that Office’s “goal has been to most attracts and retains members.” With close to 30 Committees run by over hire excellent attorneys from 50 co-chairs and liaisons, there are, every year, programs and events that cover diverse backgrounds.” The virtually every substantive area of federal practice; constant efforts to improve our new hires fit that goal. diversity; much needed provision of pro bono services; and fun social events where Lynn Dodge joined the the bench and bar can interact less formally. Civil Division, Defensive For a myriad of reasons, the members of our Chapter chose to reside and practice law in the Eastern District of Michigan. There are several simple things we can do Litigation Unit, after having to try to convince others to do the same: served as a Special Assistant • Alleviate law student migration: It would be tremendously helpful if the U.S. Attorney since 2007. top-ranked law school in the State followed the lead of the other local law schools During that time she also and encouraged the student body to stay and practice in the Detroit-area. Our Law worked as an Assistant Clini- Student Committee works closely with the student chapters and utilizes the law cal Professor for the Univer- school motion days to talk to the law students about the diverse and challenging sity of Detroit Mercy School work that this area has to offer as well as the much greater likelihood of experienc- of Law. Lynn is a former ing collegiality with peers and judges in the Midwest than on either coast. Administrative Law Judge in • From judicial law clerks to law firm law clerks: The federal judges attract Washington, D.C. She gradu- the very best law students who spend several years honing their legal research and ated from the University of writing skills and learning how to practice in federal court. They are every law firm’s Detroit Mercy School of Law dream associate – including the top national law firms that do not recognize any and the University of Michi- local boundaries. We appreciate any encouragement the judges, career clerks and gan. Lynn is also a Chapter judicial staffs give to the clerks to continue their legal careers in Michigan. Working member. to retain the law clerks is also one of the charges of the Chapter’s Law Clerk Com- Eric Doeh joined the mittee. Drug Task Force. Eric pre- • Let’s not be our own worst enemy: When we work on cases with lawyers or clients in other jurisdictions, let’s say positive things about our City. As Mitch viously worked for the Wayne Albom aptly explained: County Prosecutor’s Office Maybe you ask, as I get asked all the time, “Why do you stay there? and as a prosecutor at the Why don’t you leave?” Maybe because we like it here. Maybe because this District of Columbia Office of is what we know: snow and concrete underfoot, hardhats, soul music, lakes, Attorney General. Eric was hockey sticks. Maybe because we don’t see just the burned-out houses; we born in Liberia and came to also see the Fox Theater, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Whitney restaurant, the United States at the age the riverfront that looks out to Canada. Maybe because we still have seniors of 11. He is a graduate of who call the auto giant “Ford’s”, like a shop that’s owned by a real human being. Maybe because some of us subscribe to Pastor Covington’s words, Cleveland-Marshall College We are somebody because God loves us, no matter how cold the night or of Law at Cleveland State hard the mattress. Maybe because when our kids finish college and take University and the University that first job in some sexy faraway city and a year later we see them back of Michigan. home and we ask what happened, they say, “I missed my friends and fam- Andrew Goetz joined ily.” And we nod and say we understand.