CBA Record July-August 2017

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Travel bans, fake news, tweets at mid-
night, Russian hacking and criticism
of the legal system may recall Dick-
ens: “It was the best of times, it was the
worst of times, it was the age of wisdom,
it was the age of foolishness…” Our gov-
ernment’s executive branch’s criticism of
lawyers, judicial decisions, and individual
judges is inappropriate and, moreover,
dangerous‒it causes the public to suspect
the integrity of the judicial system.
Judges and lawyers have tough skins;
criticism comes with the job. Lawyers
have been criticized before, but today’s
attacks are much more serious. When
Shakespeare’s character, Dick the Butcher,
dreamed of a society where laws would not
be enforced so he would be able to act with
impunity, he said: “The first thing we do,
let’s kill all the lawyers.” But Shakespeare
was writing as a playwright, not as a gov-
ernment official.
What to do? Today, more than ever,
judges and lawyers need an effective bar
association. Lawyers and judges have
unique skills and needs. Recognizing
this, in 1874, Chicago lawyers formed
the Chicago Bar Association to support
one another, for camaraderie, and for
common education. Since then, the CBA
has remained relevant to thousands of
Chicago lawyers in all practice types and
areas.
The practice of law has become increas-
ingly challenging, rushed and stressful.
Today in particular, members of the CBA
need–and find–support from one another.
Our members work to maintain the dignity
of the profession, sponsor continuing legal
education programs, encourage collegiality
and promote the administration of justice.
These essentials will always be needed in
our practice no matter how the profession
changes.
The CBA has an excellent Executive
Director and a first-rate staff. The Board
of Managers, which decides Association
policy, is active. They oversee the Asso-
ciation’s operating budget, which comes
primarily from member dues and fees for
continuing legal education seminars.
That budget makes possible an enor-
mous range of activities and initiatives
that support the causes of truth and
justice. Members of the Association are
dedicated to making sure affordable legal
services are available; ensuring adherence to
strong ethical standards; improving public
understanding of and respect for the legal
system; encouraging diversity; satisfying
the needs of members; and promoting a
collegial atmosphere.
The practice of law can be especially
hard for newly admitted lawyers. Navigat-
ing the bridge from law school to a success-
ful practice is challenging. Years ago, the
CBA created the Young Lawyers Section to
help this group. Today our award-winning
YLS has 9,000 members and has become
one of the most active and effective sections
of any bar association in the country. The
section’s variety of committees and projects
give a young lawyer many ways to grow and
be connected.
8 JULY/AUGUST 2017
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
BY JUDGE THOMAS R. MULROY
The CBA Wants You
The Chicago
Bar Association
OFFICERS
President
Judge Thomas R. Mulroy
Circuit Court of Cook County
First Vice President
Steven M. Elrod
Holland & Knight LLP
Second Vice President
Jesse H. Ruiz
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Secretary
E. Lynn Grayson
Jenner & Block LLP
Treasurer
Maurice Grant
Grant Law LLC
Executive Director
Terrence M. Murphy
Assistant Executive Director
Elizabeth A. McMeen
BOARD OF
MANAGERS
Jonathan B. Amarilio
Alan R. Borlack
Hon. Thomas M. Durkin
Mark B. Epstein
Hon. Shelvin Louise Marie Hall
Robert F. Harris
Michele M. Jochner
Michael J. Kaufman
Daniel M. Kotin
Pamela S. Menaker
Paul J. Ochmanek, Jr.
Matthew A. Passen
Mary Robinson
John C. Sciaccotta
Helene M. Snyder
Andrew W. Vail
Greta G. Weathersby
Zeophus J. Wiliams