I am now a seasoned, experienced president of the Massachusetts
Bar Association, having finished an entire month's tenure. And here
is my takeaway, so far.
First, I am awestruck by the overwhelming support and
encouragement that I have received from my friends and colleagues
in the legal community, as well as in my own circle of friends and
family. It's not that I didn't expect to be supported, but it has
been a wonderful feeling of communal investment in the MBA's
success, and in the initiatives that we take on this year. And it
occurred to me that this is a theme common to all of us - that of
unity, collegiality and camaraderie. These are three ingredients
that are of the utmost importance to success in any profession, but
most importantly in a tight-knit, often contentious-by-nature
profession.
As I expressed in my remarks at the President's Reception last
month, it is because of the MBA's unity with the bench and the bar
of the commonwealth that we finally have voir dire in
Massachusetts. Both the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys
(MATA) and the MBA worked long and hard to bring voir dire
to Massachusetts, and I think that everyone would agree that a fair
and impartial jury is the cornerstone of our system of justice.
"Voir dire," meaning "to speak the truth," is an
incomparable tool in rooting out hidden bias when properly
implemented.
In keeping with the MBA's commitment to educate our members and
also our pledge of unity, I have created a Voir Dire Task Force,
chaired by Marc Breakstone of Breakstone, White & Gluck. This
Task Force is a working group of dedicated and passionate
representatives from the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association,
the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, MATA and
the Committee for Public Counsel Services, as well as district
attorneys. They will synthesize input from the representative trial
bar for consideration by the Supreme Judicial Court's Voir Dire
Committee in establishing acceptable protocols.
The Task Force will also work closely with the MBA's Education
Committee chaired by the Honorable Bonnie MacLeod-Mancuso in
preparing a comprehensive program to offer to our members, free of
charge in January, which promises to be the go-to CLE training for
how to conduct voir dire in Massachusetts under the new
SJC protocols. It is extremely important, particularly at this
stage, to make sure that voir dire is taught and conducted
appropriately, effectively and efficiently, and we will have a
voice in ensuring that proper implementation.
The MBA continues to be the personification of unity in so many
ways. We see it at our own House of Delegates, where lawyers
representing virtually every area of practice in all corners of the
commonwealth, as well as diverse, affinity and specialty bars, have
a seat. We also see it with our incredible MBA members who
volunteer their time on our programs, and our dedicated staff who
keep our educational and volunteer opportunities relevant and
vibrant. And the MBA has a history of bringing the statewide legal
community together by partnering with our colleagues in other
associations to improve our system of justice. Our combined efforts
have led to additional court funding, judicial pay raises,
courthouse improvements and other advancements - and we'll continue
to work together.
Another initiative that I am excited to share is the MBA's
continuing role in advocating for increased compensation for
assistant district attorneys, CPCS attorneys and bar advocates. To
that end I was proud to accept an appointment by Gov. Deval Patrick
to his Commission to Study the Compensation of ADAs and CPCS
attorneys.
The Governor's Commission is yet another example of a unified
effort of defense lawyers and prosecutors to continue the road
paved by the MBA's Blue Ribbon Commission on Criminal Justice
Attorney Salaries created by past President Douglas K. Sheff, and
chaired by past President Richard P. Campbell. The Blue Ribbon
Commission's eye-opening May 2014 report entitled, "Doing Right by
Those Who Labor for Justice - Fair and Equitable Compensation for
Attorneys Serving the Commonwealth in its Criminal Courts," was the
jumping off point for the first meeting of the Governor's
Commission, which was held on Sept. 26.
The Governor's Commission is comprised of representatives of the
House and Senate, the Office of the Governor's Chief Legal Counsel,
the MBA, the Boston Bar Association, the Massachusetts District
Attorneys Association, CPCS, the Attorney General's Office and the
private criminal defense bar, and it is co-chaired by the Secretary
of Administration and Finance and the Secretary of Public Safety
and Security - another example of the MBA's commitment to a unified
effort toward a common goal.
I would also like to urge everyone to attend an event that I am
particularly thrilled about, and that is the MBA's Annual Bench-Bar
Symposium on Oct. 16. The MBA has the great privilege of hosting
the event this year, which will feature Chief Justice Ralph D.
Gants' historic first State of the Judiciary address. Chief Justice
Gants has been a long-time supporter of the MBA and has always been
very generous and enthusiastic with his time and his efforts in
making sure that bench and bar in Massachusetts continue to work
together toward common goals.
In closing, as I remarked at the recent President's Reception, it
truly does take a village, and the MBA is your village. We are here
to help you, and we have the resources and the commitment to
provide you with what you need to succeed. Please do not hesitate
to use these resources, or to become one of them!
My goal this year is to continue the tradition of the MBA as the
leader in charge to maintain a fair and independent judiciary,
access to justice and excellence in our profession. We do that by
offering education, opportunity, a strong partnership with the
bench, a respected voice on the Hill and unity with our fellow bar
associations throughout the commonwealth. I am proud to be a leader
at the MBA, and proud to be a lawyer.