SUMMER EDITION 2018 VOL. 27, NO. 4 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT BY: W. RALEY ALFORD III It is difficult to believe, but the-bench program to introduce our members to new we are in the home stretch Judges Kyle Duncan and Don R. Willett of the United of our 2017-2018 year. Our States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. We were Chapter has enjoyed a busy fortunate to have Judge Jacques L. Wiener, Jr., moderate and productive spring and the panel discussion with his new colleagues, and we early summer, hosting several hope that this program will be the first of many that focus successful CLE, social, and on developments at the Fifth Circuit. community-service programs. Judges Duncan and Willett are not the only new additions We could have taken a breather to the Fifth Circuit. In May, the United States Senate after the popular Federal confirmed Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt to the Fifth Circuit Practice Series in March, but we pressed on with CLE to a seat vacated when Judge Edith Brown Clement took opportunities of the highest quality throughout April senior status. Judges Engelhardt and Clement are both and May, beginning with our 26th Annual Judge Alvin past Presidents of our Chapter, and we are proud of their B. Rubin Symposium on April 19. This year’s program contributions to the federal judiciary and wish them well featured Judge Marsha S. Berzon of the United States as they continue to serve. Upon Judge Engelhardt’s Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and Stephen confirmation, Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown became P. Berzon, a former clerk to Judge Rubin. This year’s Chief Judge for the United States District Court, Eastern discussion, moderated by Chapter member Bill Ross, District of Louisiana. Chief Judge Brown is a longtime explored case publicity, recusal, and civility in the member of our Chapter’s Board of Directors and will practice of law in the age of social media and “fake become our Chapter’s President-Elect in August. We are news.” The highlight of this year’s program was hearing likewise proud of Chief Judge Brown’s accomplishments from Judge Rubin himself via archival footage that Judge and look forward to working with her to strengthen the Berzon obtained from the Federal Judicial Center. Many federal legal system in the Eastern District. thanks to Judge Stephen A. Higginson for his work in A busy CLE calendar did not detract from our efforts to organizing this year’s symposium. facilitate more informal interactions among our members Also in April, the Chapter presented a two-hour CLE and with the federal bench. In April, the Chapter’s focused on investigating and prosecuting art forgeries, Admiralty Law Committee sponsored a discussion of featuring Colette Loll, Founder and Director of Art Fraud current admiralty and maritime law topics led by U.S. Insights; Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of George Magistrate Judge Daniel Knowles, III, with attendees Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts; Tess Davis, Executive adjourning to a Wednesday at the Square concert in Director of the Antiquities Coalition; and Randy Deaton, Lafayette Square. In May, the Younger Lawyers Division FBI Special Agent with the FBI’s Rapid Deployment Art Crime Team. In May, the Chapter presented a meet- cont’d on page 2 EDITORIAL BOARD: PETER WANEK, COLIN CAMBRE, LARRY CENTOLA, ARTHUR KRAATZ MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT (CONT’D) hosted a snowball social on the plaza outside of the Hale New Orleans. Those efforts culminated with mock oral Boggs Federal Building before another Wednesday arguments at the federal courthouse on May 14. The at the Square Concert. The popular Lunch with Court students came well prepared, and it was rewarding to program continued with an April lunch hosted by U.S. see the students apply what they had learned about the Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Magner and a June lunch Constitution, the courts, and the legal profession. hosted by Judge W. Eugene Davis of the Fifth Circuit. Finally, in June, the Chapter presented its first Justice Building on the popularity of those events, lunches with Camp. This was a major new initiative for this year. the Court are scheduled with Magistrate Judge Knowles The idea was to build on the YLD’s civics-education in July and with U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey programs to provide opportunities to high-school in September. And a Lawyers who Lunch event is students throughout the Eastern District of Louisiana scheduled at the National WWII Museum on July 26 at 12 to learn about the federal legal system. Twenty-six noon. Continuing the tradition of FBA members meeting students participated in the three-day camp, and, by any over lunch to hear about local, non-legal subjects, the measure, it was a great success. We have much more lunch will feature a guest speaker from the museum information about the camp in this edition of the The discussing the Legacies of World War II. Advocate. Many thanks to Camp Committee Chair Paul Sterbcow, YLD Chair Scott Sternberg, Chapter Executive While our CLE and social programs have remained Director Amanda Kaiser, and all of the judges, speakers, strong and vibrant, the Chapter should be particularly panelists, federal employees, and Chapter members who proud of the additional effort that we have put forth volunteered their time. It was a remarkable effort, and the recently in the areas of community outreach and students and their parents expressed their appreciation in civics education. On April 4, the Chapter’s and the glowing terms. Younger Lawyers Division’s Philanthropy Committees hosted a Career Day at Crescent Leadership Academy. Looking forward, we have an active schedule for the Students had the opportunity to meet with more than 20 remainder of the summer, including the YLD’s annual professionals from across the city—including lawyers, Morning at the Federal Courthouse program geared to medical professionals, engineers, law enforcement law students and younger lawyers, and timely CLEs on officers, journalists, arts professionals, educators, and a admiralty, immigration, and practice in the Louisiana meteorologist. The Chapter worked with the school’s federal district courts. Please continue to check our board of directors and the local business community Chapter’s website regularly for program updates. to plan the program and recruit participants, further On August 23, we will host our Annual Meeting and increasing awareness of the Chapter and its commitment Awards Luncheon at The InterContinental New Orleans. to the community. Small group sessions allowed the Dean Erwin Chemerinsky will serve as our keynote professionals to address concerns specific to individual speaker, and we are thankful to Judge Mary Ann students, and YLD members were on-hand to conduct Lemmon for helping us to secure such a distinguished mock interviews for juniors and seniors who are speaker. At the Annual Meeting, I will pass the gavel to already preparing for college or the workforce. The Kathryn Knight. Kathryn is an outstanding lawyer with students were attentive and engaged. Career Day was a generous spirit, and I look forward to seeing what our successful because of the generosity of our members Chapter will accomplish under her leadership. who volunteered their time and the leadership of Chapter members Omar Mason and Annie McBride. Thank you for the honor of serving as President of your Chapter. Because of the work and dedication of our In addition to the Career Day at Crescent Leadership members, we remain the largest, strongest, and most Academy, YLD volunteers provided programming innovative FBA Chapter in the country. throughout the year in civics education and landmark cases for students at the International High School of JACK C. BENJAMIN, SR. (1928- 2018) BY: PETER J. WANEK On June 11, 2018, the New Orleans’ bar lost a gentle “giant” from its legal fraternity with the passing of Jack C. Benjamin, Sr. Jack was not only a devoted husband, father and grandfather, he was also a gentleman, scholar, community leader and renowned attorney. We sometimes hear the old adage about coaches being “a player’s coach.” Jack was a “lawyer’s lawyer.” A native New Orleanian, he attended Tulane University and Tulane University Law School on academic scholarships and remained active with his alma mater throughout his life. He understood the incredible gift he received with his scholarships to Tulane, and from that appreciation, always knew that he wanted to give back, not only to Tulane University, but also to his community. Throughout his life, Mr. Benjamin was mindful of his upbringing and extended his energies and efforts to better his community and those less fortunate members who were most vulnerable. He served on numerous alumni and advisory boards, including the Advisory Board of the Maritime Law Center, the Dean’s Advisory Board and as a leader of the Tulane Law School Inn of Court. He was President of the Visiting Nurses Association and served on the Board for nearly 40 years. He was instrumental in the formation of Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Orleans (CASA) and served on its Board for many years. He also was influential with the growth of Covenant House, where he was serving as a Board Member Emeritus at the time of his death. Mr. Benjamin received the Endowment Achievement Award from the Jewish Endowment Foundation and was a recipient of the Weiss Award from the New Orleans Council for Community and Justice (NOCCJ). During his two terms as President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, a city-wide crime forum was held and televised during “prime time” by every major television station. He also was the first Jewish Chairperson of the Archbishop’s Community Appeal and was a recipient of the Benemerenti Medal awarded by Pope John Paul II.