By Robert M. Gubbins
Legal News
The Mid-Michigan chapter of the Women Lawyers Association held its 20 Annual Stell Scholarship award ceremony in honor of Judge David L. Jordon at the Kellogg Center on October 27, 2012.
Torree Breen, Chapter President, opened the ceremony introducing Hon. Carolyn Stell who was the "first female judge in the Ingham County Circuit, which paved the way for other female judges."
"It was a wonderful job being a judge," said Judge Stell, accepting the bouquet of flowers presented by Breen. "I really felt like I was making a difference in people's lives."
Stell commented on her days in the law, where she was considered an oddity because of her gender. "When I first looked for a job, every firm I went to asked me 'did you know that there are only 3 women lawyers in Ingham County?'"
She was told by the men of one firm that although she was well qualified, they weren't sure how their wives would accept a woman in the firm, which confused her since she was being judged by things she didn't do. "I am delighted to know that things are very different now and that there are so many women in the practice," she concluded.
Tish Vincent came to the podium to introduce Josephine Olabisi Ogboye, the Stell Scholarship winner. Ogboye, a third year law student at Michigan State University (MSU) College of Law, "has distinguished herself as a law student. She will graduate with honors in May, 2013, is a Senior Associate Member of the International Law Review and a finalist in the MSU Law Review Best Brief Competition."
She has been active in the local community; she began a group that volunteers once a month at the women and children's shelter in Lansing and coordinated an annual canned-food and clothing drive for the homeless. Her career goal is to "work within a community seeking justice for the repressed and to hold people accountable for their criminal acts."
Lori Pourzan of Legal Services of South Central Michigan introduced this year's honoree Hon. David L. Jordon, Judge, Ingham County's 54-B District Court. Judge Jordon, who is retiring this year, took the bench in January of 1990. He is best known, Pourzan noted, for his involvement with the Ingham County Veteran's Treatment Court, which began in March 2010. He is also a past president of the Ingham County Bar Association.
"And tonight," said Pourzan, "Judge Jordan and Judge Snell are celebrating their 32nd wedding anniversary. We congratulate them."
"I was privileged," said Judge Jordon, "to have the endorsement of the Women Lawyers when I ran for judge and I thank you for that and for this honor. The court and the job (of judge) has been a tremendous opportunity to do good in the community. The Veteran's Treatment Court is the best thing I have ever done."
The Carolyn Stell Scholarship Award was created to promote greater access to the legal system and to better serve the legal needs of women in the community. Its purpose is to provide financial assistance to women law students and to recognize the achievements of those students.
Published: Thu, Nov 1, 2012
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