10 / 60
CBA ANNUAL MEETING
140th President to Provide Public Better
Access to Justice
By Peter Mierzwa
Editorial Board Member
O
utgoing President Hon.
Patricia Brown Holmes passed
the ceremonial Lincoln Gavel
to incoming President Daniel
M. Kotin in front of a capacity crowd of
about 300 who attended the Chicago Bar
Association’s 143rd Annual Meeting, June
23 at the Standard Club.
Holmes expressed her pride in being
the second African American female CBA
President after Justice Joy Cunningham.
She highlighted the many events and activi-
ties she lead that focused on diversity and
inclusion during her term.
Kotin recognized Holmes’ tremendous
accomplishments and provided her a com-
memorative gavel and flowers. But that
wasn’t all. Kotin had heard that Holmes
enjoyed Champagne, and he had one final
gift for her–a Dom Perignon gift basket.
After rousing applause for Holmes, the
stage was Kotin’s.
“For me, serving as president of the Chi-
cago Bar Association is one of the greatest
opportunities that I can imagine receiving
as a practicing lawyer here in Chicago,” said
Kotin, who will serve at the association’s
140th President. Access to justice initiatives
will be Kotin’s main focus in addition to
growing the CBA’s membership.
Kotin invited the attendees and the
broader CBA membership to join him in
making positive strides this coming year
by quoting former CBA President, mentor
to many of Chicago’s top lawyers and his
uncle–Philip H. Corboy: “I have no grand
illusions that we are going to change the
world during the next year. And I have
no great ideas that we are going to change
much of our profession. But with a little
luck, and with a little help from all of you,
we will make a dent in it.”
The Nominating Committee reported
that Thomas R. Mulroy would be First
Vice President, Steven M. Elrod would
be Second Vice President, Jesse H. Ruiz
would be Secretary and Maurice Grant
would be Treasurer. New members to
the Board of Managers are Alan R. Bor-
lack, Hon. Thomas M. Durkin, Hon.
Timothy C. Evans, Hon. Shelvin Louise
Marie Hall, Robert F. Harris, Michele
M. Jochner, Kathryn Carso Liss, Pamela
S. Menaker, Paul J. Ochmanek, Jr., and
Andrew W. Vail.
President Daniel M. Kotin greets Appellate Judge Shelvin Louise Marie Hall at the
Association’s Annual Meeting Luncheon. Phoot by Bill Richert.
10
JULY/AUGUST 2016