Law Day celebration draws full house from legal community

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LEGAL NEWS PHOTOS BY CYNTHIA PRICE

by Cynthia Price
Legal News

The Grand Rapids Bar Association (GRBA) and Thomas M.Cooley Law School joined together once again to celebrate Law Day, celebrated nationally on May 1, but scheduled in Kent County this year on April 30.

An overflow crowd came to honor a number of their own, enjoy each other’s company, and hear U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Patrick A. Miles speak on this year’s theme, “Realizing the Dream: Equality for All.”

After Patrick F. Geary, the cochair of the Law Day Committee, welcomed guests, the first order of business was recognition of those with 50 years in practice.

Stephanie Newton and Peter Kulas, both solo practitioners and officers of the Young Lawyers Section (Newton is the current chair), passed out the 50-year pins to those who could make the ceremony.

The recognition went to Glen V. Borre, John C. “Jack” Buchanan, James M. Flaggert, Edward B. Goodrich, Wallson G. Knack, Norman Kravitz, Roland L. “Bud” Roegge, Kent Vana, Thomas D. VanHattum, Carl E. Ver Beek, George L. Whitfield, and Philip F. Wood.

GRBA President T.J. Ackert, who acted as master of ceremonies for the event, noted that many of the awardees are still contributing their expertise to the legal community, and added that Bud Roegge had told him, “I’ve forgotten more about the law than you ever learned.”

The Liberty Bell Award, which goes to a non-lawyer citizen or non-profit “that has made an outstanding contribution to the cause of justice or to advancing public awareness of the Constitution and our legal system,” this year went to Jonathan Bradford of the Inner City Christian Federation.

Because Bradford could not be present, the actual award will be given at the GRBA Annual Meeting May 9, but John Byl of Warner Norcross, who had nominated him, spoke about ICCF’s wide-ranging contributions to social justice in Grand Rapids.

Ackert gave the President’s Award to Varnum’s Elizabeth Joy Fossel, based on her “special contributions and unique service...on behalf of or to the Grand Rapids Bar Association.”

The multiply-honored Fossel was likely eligible for a number of reasons, but the main one cited was her work in “realizing the dream” of equality for all in conjunction with the GRBA Managing Partners Diversity Initiative. Fossel is the Diversity Partner for Varnum.

Kris Vanden Berg, GRBA President-Elect, introduced the Hon. Sara J. Smolenski as this year’s winner of the Donald R. Worsfold Distinguished Service Award.

The Worsfold Award has gone to worthy recipients since 1989, including many whose names live on for other reasons: Floyd H. Skinner, after whom the local African-American Bar Association is named; John W. Cummiskey, namesake of the State Bar of Michigan pro bono award; John H. Logie, the long-time mayor of Grand Rapids.

Judge Smolenski’s famous sense of humor was well in evidence, and was met with laughter and applause.

The Marion Hilligan Award is given “to recognize contributions by a lawyer in public service to area governmental bodies or community organizations, reflecting greater individual responsibility in promoting public health and welfare through law.” Marion Hilligan was the first Associate Dean of Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s Grand Rapids Campus.

The current Associate Dean, Nelson Miller, sang the praises of this year’s winner, Donald Davis, who could not attend. Davis was the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan from 2008-2012. Miller noted that he had also received two Directors Awards and an I.R.S. Lifetime Achievement Award.

Patrick Miles, Don Davis’s successor, praised him as he took the microphone to give the keynote address. “Davis has been a stalwart in our office,” Miles stated.

Miles noted that this year is the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and used that as an illustration of how complex issues around equality can be, both legally and practically. He called for bold action to move the community forward.

Ackert followed up briefly by saying that so many of the attorneys who helped and mentored him, and whom he admired, were women, leading into his introduction of closing remarks by Tracey Brame of Cooley Law School.

Brame said, “I’ve been so embraced by this community, legal and otherwise; people have appreciated the diversity I bring, but also me as a person. I know that everything Pat has called you to do you can do.”

Watch for in-depth coverage of Law Day in upcoming issues.

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