Session II – The Judiciary and the Bar

The average citizen is more likely to be able to identify by name the Seven Dwarfs (of Snow White fame) than even a majority of the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court.  Nevertheless, their views of that institution – and, by extension, of the judicial branch in general, whether federal or state – are molded by predominantly critical statements served up on a regular basis by politicians and pundits.  The strictures of judicial ethics, however, impair the ability of judges to defend themselves from often unwarranted and unfair criticism and attack.  The organized Bar, which does not suffer from those same ethical constraints and which has a deeper understanding of how the judiciary functions as a champion of individual rights and liberties, is critical to defending the judiciary and educating the public.  This panel, moderated by Karen Burgess, Esq. (President-Elect of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers), will discuss ways in which the Bar can fulfill and improve upon that traditional role.