Calendar of Events

CREATION OF THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL DIVISION OF THE WASHINGTON BAR ASSOCIATION
(Continued from page 1)

What made my establishment of a Washington Bar Association Judicial Council Division a most compelling imperative for me was the treatment of local black jurists by the media and other entities at the time.  I believed then as I do now that our local black jurists, regardless of position and tenure, whether state or federal, administrative, trial or appellate, needed an entity that they could call home for purposes of professional fellowship, comradery, solace, uplift, mutual support, and social intercourse under the auspices and protection of the then 75-year-old Washington Bar Association.  Black judges, in my experience at the time, had always been the target of unreasonable criticism to which they were unable to provide any defense because of the constraints imposed by being sitting judges.  It was my belief that the Washington Bar Association could protect its Judicial Council Division members by coming to their defense in a time of need, just as it had always tirelessly advocated for their appointment to the bench in the first instance. 

I also strongly believed that such an organized entity could additionally serve the broader legal and local community by providing the kind of exposure to the community that could be accomplished through community service activities long needed by the local populace.  For all the reasons hereto expressed, as President of the Washington Bar Association 10 years ago, I founded the Judicial Council Division of the Washington Bar Association with the stellar assistance and efforts of D.C. Superior Court Judges Arthur Burnett and Paul Webber and WBA Board member Gilbert Douglas.  Judge Burnett became the first and founding Chair of the then newly established Judicial Council Division. 

In closing, please know that it has been a source of continuing personal joy and pride in seeing the Washington Bar Association Judicial Council Division begin, grow, thrive and fulfill my dream of a strong, viable, organized entity of District of Columbia black judicial officers that can and do serve their own very special and unique needs, those of the legal profession and community, as well as provide an organized role model for black jurists nationwide.