ARCHIVE
ANNOUNCEMENTS ARCHIVE
August 2010
The Law Library's Reels of Justice Film Series will present Legally Blonde on Saturday, August 22, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in the Lawrence Public Library Auditorium. The film stars Reese Witherspoon who plays a stereotypical California Blonde Valley Girl who chases her stereotypical BMOC boyfriend to Harvard where she wins her way into Harvard Law and, eventually, the hearts and minds of the Eastern Legal Elite with her special insights and fresh style in wardrobe and personality, not to mention a script with a Perry Mason ending. The program will include commentary by a member of our bar about the film and its portrayal of the legal system. The program is free and open to the public. The next film in the series will be The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, scheduled for screening in November.
Brown Bag CLE: Our next CLE program is on Thursday, August 19, 2010 from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Jury Assembly Room at the Douglas County Judicial Center. Rep. Paul Davis will fill us in on "Legislative Changes". Application for one hour of CLE credit (0 hours ethics) is currently pending. Our "Brown Bag" CLE's are free for members of the Douglas County Bar Association, $45.00 for non-members. Please email secretary@dgbar.org in advance if you plan to attend so we can have enough CLE affidavits on hand for attendees.
June 2010
Free Domestic Refresher CLE: Douglas County District Court Division 3 is hosting a Domestic Practice Refresher CLE on Friday, June 18, 2010 from noon to 1:30 in the jury assembly room. Judge Shepherd and Judge Pokorny will cover topics such as domestic law refresher, practice suggestions, alternative dispute resolution, dealing with a pro se litigant and more. Art Thompson will also do a Limited Scope Representation refresher. Materials will be provided at the CLE. Please RSVP to Branden Smith by email at branden@smithlegalllc.com or by telephone at 785-856-0780.
Free Ethics CLE: June's CLE will be held at noon in the Jury Assembly Room at the Douglas County Courthouse on Friday, June 25, 2010, just in time for you to fulfill your ethics requirement. Stan Hazlett, Kansas Disciplinary Administrator, will speak on "Recent Disciplinary Cases" so mark your calendars!
Journey to J.D., a new academic summer program at The University of Kansas School of Law, is an innovative program that provides current Kansas high school sophomores from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to learn more about the legal profession. Although all students from Kansas are invited to apply, this pilot program is aimed at select high schools, including Lawrence High School and Free State High School. Journey to J.D. will be June 6-12, 2010, held at the KU campus and all students will be housed in the residence halls. One of the program's goals is to encourage students from all socioeconomic backgrounds to participate. The only cost to the student for this week long program is a $50 nonrefundable deposit. It is hoped DCBA members will 1) help promote this opportunity to eligible students and 2) become a sponsor of the program. For more information, visit www.law.ku.edu/journeytojd.
May 2010
The DCBA Spring Party is on Thursday, June 3, 2010 starting at 5:30 p.m. (dinner to be served at approximately 6:00). Let's celebrate the beginning of summer with a Mexican buffet of soft/hard ground beef tacos, rice and beans, chips and salsa, Mexican beer, margaritas, wine and soft drinks and good conversation. Spouses and significant others are invited to attend and the cost is $10 per person. Please rsvp and remit payment to Jody Meyer, DCBA Treasurer, P.O. 1966, Lawrence, Kansas 66044, by May 25, 2010, to allow us time to plan for the food and drink. Location and other details will be emailed to DCBA members. If you can't find your email announcement, check with a colleague or contact the DCBA Secretary for details.
The Law Library's Reels of Justice Film Series will present
Dial M for Murder
on Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.
in the Lawrence Public Library Auditorium. The film, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, stars Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, and Robert Cummings. Ex-tennis pro Tony Wendice decides to murder his wife for her money and because she had an affair the year before. He blackmails an old college associate to strangle her, but when things go wrong he sees a way to turn events to his advantage. Her former lover, meanwhile, tries desperately to save her. The next film in the Reels of Justice Film Series is Legally Blonde, scheduled for screening in August, 2010. For more information, visit the Law Library's Film Series Page.
The DCBA Law Day Luncheon has been scheduled for noon Monday, May 3, 2010, at Maceli's Banquet Hall, 1031 New Hampshire Street. Lunch will be served, featuring several entrees, sides and dessert. Kansas Attorney General Steve Six will be the featured speaker.
Please RSVP on or before April 23, 2010, to Andy Bolton by email at abolton@pihhlawyers.com, by mail at 842 Louisiana Street, Lawrence, KS, 66044, or by telephone at (785) 843-0450. The cost is $25.00 per person, and may be paid by mailing to the above address, or at the door, checks payable to Douglas County Bar Association.
We are taking nominations for the Liberty Bell Award. The Liberty Bell Award is given to recognize a person or entity who has promoted better understanding of the rule of law, encouraged a greater respect for law and the courts, stimulated a sense of civic responsibility, and contributed to good government in the community. Please send nominations on or before April 15, 2010 to Andy Bolton at the contact information above.
The topic for this year's Legal Essay Contest, co-sponsored by the Law Library and DCBA, is: Constitutional Limits of Search and Seizure in Public Schools: What Should They Be? Deadline for entries is April 5, 2010. Contest rules and more information are available on the Law Library website. The Law Library Board has asked the DCBA to contribute at least $500.00 as co-sponsor. DCBA's contribution in 2008 was $200.00, and in 2009 was $270.00, raised by donations from our members.
March 2010
The DCBA Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the Wine Bar in the Oread Hotel at 1200 Oread Avenue. Tours will be provided after the election. Official business will be called to order at 6:00 p.m., including nomination and election of new officers. Anyone interested in being an officer is encouraged to check out the DCBA Bylaws and contact DCBA President Kenzie Singleton or email president@dgbar.org for more information.
February 2010
The Law Library's Reels of Justice Film Series will present
A Few Good Men
on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.
in the Lawrence Public Library Auditorium. The film stars Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Kevin Bacon whose uncle's cousin's son went to school with the brother of my fourth grade piano teacher's husband. Cocky JAG attorney Cruise has to step up his attitude as well as his game when he defends two young "Gitmo" Marines accused of waterboarding a Muslim terrorist... oh, wait, that's a different story. In this movie, the defendants are accused of murdering a fellow marine with a "code red". The defendants think it's a matter of honor, but Cruise goes with a Nuremberg defense, asserting they were acting under orders from base commander Nicholson, portrayed as the stereotypical military career officer who's lost touch with basic human values. "You can't handle the truth!" asserts Nicholson, in an ironic assessment of Hollywood's liberal mentality. Local attorney Martin L. Miller will add commentary on the film and its portrayal of the legal system. The screening is free and open to the public. The next film in the Reels of Justice Series will be Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 classic, Dial M for Murder, scheduled for screening in May. For more information, visit the Law Library's Film Series Page.
December 2009
The DCBA Winter Holiday Party is Thursday, December 3, 2009 in the Crystal Ballroom at The Eldridge, 701 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence. The party begins at 6:00 p.m. The cost is $35.00 per person. Dinner, beer and wine are included; there will be a cash bar for hard liquor. In addition to the usual festivities, we'll be acknowledging several members of the bar who retired this year for their service to the profession and community.
Please RSVP to douglascountybar@yahoo.com, and make payment to Douglas County Bar Association, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044.
JUVENILE PANEL ATTORNEY sought by District Court: Attorney with experience in juvenile law (child in need of care and juvenile offenders) wanted. Position carries one-sixth of the appointed-counsel juvenile workload in Douglas County District Court. Required: Kansas license and GAL training. Send resume and letter of application by Wednesday, December 9, 2009 to Judge Jean Shepherd, Douglas County District Court, 111 E. 11th St., Lawrence, KS 66044. Questions may be directed to Janet Majure, Douglas County District Court, 785-330-2810 (in-house extension 5810).
November 2009
The Law Library's Reels of Justice Film Series will present
Anatomy of a Murder
on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.
in the Auditorium at the Lawrence Public Library.
Jimmy Stewart defends a man charged with murdering a bartender. The defendant claims temporary insanity due to finding out the bartender beat and raped his wife. In the course of defense preparation, things turn into a tangled web that leaves Stewart wondering what's truth and what's lies. The 1960 film, directed by Otto Preminger, received seven nominations but no Oscars. Local attorney Martin L. Miller will add commentary on the film and how accurately (or inaccurately) it portrays the legal system.
For more information, visit the Law Library's Film Series Page.
October 2009
The 2009 DCBA Fall Party has been postponed from Thursday, October 1 to Friday, October 9, 2009 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the home of Rick & Debby Hird, 856 East 1150 Road, Baldwin, Kansas. The menu includes a selection of barbecued meats, sides, and desserts, along with an assortment of beer, wine and soda. Weather permitting, Rick and Debby have kindly arranged for fire pits, hayrack rides, a treehouse, and other entertainment for attendees. The cost is $20 per adult, $5 per child. Please RSVP in advance by emailing secretary@dgbar.org, and send payment to "Douglas County Bar Association" at P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044. An email announcement has been sent by email to DCBA members. If you didn't get it, there's a copy here, and you might want to use the online membership form to either join or update your membership information.
September 2009
The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas presents A Conversation with Federal Judges on Wednesday, September 30, 2009. The event will be held in Room 180 of the Robert J. Dole Federal Courthouse located at 500 State Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. The purpose of this event is to give local attorneys a forum to discuss issues of importance to the bar and an opportunity to get acquainted with the federal judges. CLE credit will be available to attorneys in Kansas and Missouri. Details here.
August 2009
The Law Library's Reels of Justice Film Series will present Philadelphia on Friday, August 28, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Lawrence Public Library. Denzel Washington portrays the attorney who represents a gay lawyer with AIDS, portrayed by Tom Hanks, who is fired by his law firm. Hanks garnered the 1994 Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in this gritty and moving film that "outed" the homophobic attorneys who fired Hanks on the pretense of personal safety for themselves and the other employees of the firm. Local attorney Martin Miller will provide commentary on the film. For more information, visit the Law Library's Film Series Page.
Mock Interview Program: The Office of Career Services at the University of Kansas School of Law is gearing up for the next Mock Interview program. Interviews will be held Monday-Thursday, August 10-13, 2009, 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm, at the Law School and Friday, August 14, 2009, 2-4 pm at the Edwards Campus in Overland Park. The program gives first-year law students an opportunity to "interview" for employment at a law firm. Each interview lasts about 20 minutes, with a 10-minute feedback session. Each volunteer will interview four students and fill out evaluation forms. Students receive a DVD of their interviews to further help them critique their performance. Boxed dinners are provided for volunteers. If you can help as a volunteer interviewer, please submit this online form. For more information, contact Karen Hester, Associate Director of Career Services, at 785.864.4357 or LaVerta Logan, Assistant Director of Career Services, at 785.864.4377.
June 2009
Brown Bag CLE Returns! Get one hour of CLE credit by attending Stan Hazlett's Ethics presentation on May 19 and another hour by attending Paul Davis' Legislative Update presentation on June 23. Both start at noon in the Judicial Center jury room, and are free for DCBA members, $45.00 for non-members. Please register in advance by emailing secretary@dgbar.org or calling Branden Smith at 856-0780.
May 2009
The Law Library's Reels of Justice Film Series will present Adam's Rib on Friday, May 15, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Lawrence Public Library. The film depicts the case of a woman on trial for shooting her unfaithful husband. Spencer Tracey and Katherine Hepburn portray the prosecutor and the defense attorney, who happen to be married to each other. Local attorney Martin Miller will provide commentary on the film. For more information, visit the Law Library's Film Series Page.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas presents A Conversation with Federal Judges on Friday, May 15, 2009. The event will be held in Room #PL 207A of the Topeka Federal Courthouse located at 444 SE Quincy Street. The purpose of this event is to give local attorneys a forum to discuss issues of importance to the bar and an opportunity to get acquainted with the federal judges. CLE credit will be available to attorneys in Kansas and Missouri. Details here.
April 2009
This year's Law Day Banquet, hosted by the Young Lawyers Section, will be 12:00 noon on Friday, May 1, 2009. The event will again be held at Maceli's Banquet Hall, 1031 New Hampshire Street. This year's Law Day theme is A Legacy of Liberty — Celebrating Lincoln's Bicentennial. Other highlights will include presentation of the Liberty Bell Award and presentation of scholarships to winners of the Legal Essay Contest.
As part of the Law Day 2009 event, the bar association needs attorneys and judges to speak to local junior high and high school students on Thursday, April 30. Lawrence Public Schools will not be in session May 1. Although Lincoln is this year's focus, speakers may address a variety of topics. One teacher in particular would like someone to speak about the consequences of having a criminal record, rights of individuals facing arrest, and an overview of the judicial process and juvenile justice system. If you can help out with a school presentation, contact Autumn Jones at ajones@douglas-county.com or at 832-5227 no later than Monday, April 20.
The cost to attend the Law Day Banquet is $20 per person. RSVP before April 23 to Andy Bolton by mail at 842 Louisiana St., Lawrence, KS 66044, by phone at 843-0450, or by email at abolton@pihhlawyers.com. More details are available in this PDF file. And be sure to visit our Law Day page for more information about this important annual event.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas presents A Conversation with Federal Judges on Wednesday, April 29, 2009. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Robert J. Dole Federal Courthouse located at 500 State Avenue in Room 180. The purpose of this event is to give local attorneys a forum to discuss issues of importance to the bar and an opportunity to get acquainted with the federal judges. CLE credit will be available to attorneys in Kansas and Missouri. Details here. (NOTE: According to the US District Court website, this event, as well as the waiting list for the event, is already FULL.)
The Douglas County Law Library and Douglas County Bar Association will again co-sponsor a Legal Essay Contest. The contest is open to Douglas County high school seniors who plan to advance their education after graduation. The 2009 essay topic is The Significance of Separation of Church and State in Our Government. Essay rules are available here and on the the Law Library website. Submissions will be graded by a committee of lawyers and judges. The winner will be invited to present his/her essay at the Law Day Banquet, and authors of the three best essays will be awarded cash scholarships.
The DCBA hopes to contribute $500.00 to the scholarship fund, and members are being asked for donations. Checks should be made payable to "Douglas County Law Library" and mailed or delivered to Kerry Altenbernd at Douglas County Law Library, Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 East 11th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044, or mailed to Douglas County Bar Association, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044.
A Return to Green, the second annual spring CLE from the University of Kansas School of Law, will be presented on Friday, April 3, 2009 at Green Hall, Room 104, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. The cost is $50.00 which includes course materials, parking and buffet-style lunch. Five hours of CLE credit, including two hours of ethics, are pending approval in Kansas and Missouri. Register online by Monday, March 23, at www.law.ku.edu/returntogreen, where you can also preview the speakers and presentations. If you have questions, contact Noelle Uhler, director of external relations, at nuhler@ku.edu or (785) 864-9281.
March 2009
The annual meeting of the Douglas County Bar Association will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. at Genovese Restaurant, 941 Massachusetts St.. Official "annual meeting" business will be called to order at 6:00 p.m., including nomination and election of new officers. Anyone interested in becoming an officer is encouraged to contact DCBA President Stephanie Wilson for more information.
February 2009
Nominations for election to the Douglas County Law Library Board of Trustees must be submitted by February 27, 2009. Five attorney trustees will be elected to serve two year terms beginning May 1, 2009. Self-nomination forms are available here and at the library.
The Law Library's Reels of Justice Film Series will present Incident at Oglala: the Leonard Peltier Story on Friday, February 20, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Lawrence Public Library. The documentary film depicts the case of Leonard Peltier, convicted of murdering two FBI agents during a standoff at the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota on June 26, 1975. Local attorney Martin Miller will provide commentary on the film. For more information, visit the Law Library's Film Series Page.
Symposium for CLE credit. The second annual KU Law Human Rights Symposium will be held Friday, February 6, 2009 at the University of Kansas School of Law. This year's symposium is entitled National Security Versus Individual Liberty: Whose Rights at What Cost? The speakers include renouned international law and human rights scholars and a lawyer who has represented Guantanamo detainees. The schedule and speakers' biographies are available in this pdf file. Six hours of CLE credit has been approved in Kansas. If you have any questions, you can e-mail Dana Watts at danaleighwatts@yahoo.com.
January 2009
DCBA membership dues were payable as of January 1. Fill out and submit the online membership form, then print it and mail with your check for $45.00 to Douglas County Bar Association, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.
Law Library Registration Fees were due January 15. A completed registration form and $10.00 payable to "Douglas County Law Library" should already have been sent to Clerk of the District Court, 111 East 11th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.
Mock Interview Program: The Office of Career Services at the University of Kansas School of Law is gearing up for the next Mock Interview program. Interviews will be held at the Law School on January 20-22, 2009 and at the Edwards Campus in Overland Park on January 23, 2009. The program gives first-year law students an opportunity to "interview" for employment at a law firm. Each interview lasts about 20 minutes, with a 10-minute feedback session. Each volunteer will interview four students and fill out evaluation forms. Students receive a DVD of their interviews to further help them critique their performance. Boxed dinners are provided for volunteers. If you can help as a volunteer interviewer, please submit this online form. For more information, contact Karen Hester, Associate Director of Career Services, at 785.864.4357 or LaVerta Logan, Assistant Director of Career Services, at 785.864.4377.
Kansas University Law School Dean Gail Agrawall has invited the bar to submit nominations for the Distinguished Alumnus Citation, the Law School's highest honor. Since 1964, the law school has recognized alumni "whose lives have benefited the community and whose noteworthy contributions through the years have brought honor to the School of Law." The Citation has been bestowed on Fifty-nine alumni whose exceptional achievements, dedication to excellence and commitment to public service have served as a benchmark for all KU Law alumni to follow. When submitting a nomination, include a brief statement explaining how your candidate meets the quoted criteria, and a description of the candidate's career and service history, including any previous honors. Submit nominations by e-mail to kulawoutreach@ku.edu. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 15, 2009.
Sally Pokorny will officially become Hon. Sally Pokorny, District Judge, at the swearing in ceremony in the Division 2 courtoom on January 15, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. There will be a reception afterwards at The Eldridge. Please RSVP by email to sdpokorny@yahoo.com if you plan to attend the reception.
Judge Murphy's Retirement Party is being held January 8, 2009 at the Alvamar Country Club. A social hour will be held at 5:30 p.m. with dinner to follow at 6:30. The cost is $40.00 per person. RSVP to Kenzie Singleton by phone at 357-6311 or by email at ksingleton@sloanlawfirm.com by Jan. 5 and specify steak or salmon entree. Read the invitation here.
December 2008
The DCBA Winter Holiday Party is Thursday, December 11, 2008 starting at 6:00 p.m. at David Brown's home, 1212 Vantuyl Drive. The cost is $30 per person and spouses and significant others are welcome. Please RSVP to douglascountybar@yahoo.com, and mail payment to Douglas County Bar Association, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044.
Prof. Michael Hoeflich will present Legal Ethics and E-Lawyering at Green Hall, Room 107, on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 from 12:30 p.m. - 01:30 p.m. and again on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 from 1:35 p.m. - 2:35 p.m. in Room 203. Attendance is free and earns one hour of CLE.
November 2008
The Law Library's Reels of Justice Film Series will present The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell on Friday, November 21, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Lawrence Public Library. The film depicts the true story of General Billy Mitchell and his fight for the Army's fledgling air corp in World War I. Despite showing impressive military capabilities, America's military commanders considered airplanes to be little more than carnival attractions. Mitchell is court-martialed after questioning the loyalty of his superiors for letting funding dry up while pilots died because of poor equipment. Mitchell is portrayed by Gary Cooper, who portrayed another WWI hero, Sergeant York. Local attorney Shelley Bock will provide commentary on the film and how it portrays the military justice system. For more information, visit the Law Library's Film Series Page.
Mock Trial Tournament Needs Judges: The University of Kansas Mock Trial Tournament is scheduled for November 7-9, 2008. Trials will be held Friday at 5:30, Saturday at 8:30 and 1:30, and Sunday at 8:30, and judges are needed. Each tournament typically has four trials that last from 1.5 to 2.5 hours. There are opening statements, presentation of evidence, and closing arguments. The rules used are slightly modified versions of the federal rules.
Email Branden Bell at bellmale@gmail.com to find out more, and/or let him know what rounds you can judge. If you know someone who might be interested in judging, please let them know about this event.
October 2008
A Kansas Law Review Symposium on "Law, Reparations, and Racial Disparities" will be presented on Friday, October 31, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at Green Hall, 1535 W. 15th Street, Lawrence, Kansas. The symposium will feature an outstanding panel of speakers from nationally ranked law schools and economics, sociology, and criminal justice departments. The symposium is free and requires no advance reservations. CLE credit has been applied for. For more information, contact Kelly Foos, Symposium Editor at kfoos@ku.edu or 766-2946 or download this symposium flyer.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas presents A Conversation with Federal Judges on Wednesday, October 8, 2008. The event will be held at the Robert J. Dole Federal Courthouse located at 500 State Avenue in room 180. The purpose of this event is to give local attorneys a forum to discuss issues of importance to the bar and an opportunity to get acquainted with the federal judges. CLE credit will be available to attorneys in Kansas and Missouri. Details here.
September 2008
This year's Fall Party is Thursday, October 2, 2008 starting at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $20 per person, and don't forget that (paid) guests are welcome! RSVP by emailing Rachel Monger or calling her at 842-2345 or, best of all, sending advance payment to Douglas County Bar Association, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044. Location and directions are provided via email, so be sure you're on the DCBA email list. If you're not, you can easily update your membership info online.
August 2008
DCBA Speaker's Bureau.The Douglas County Bar Association and the Douglas County Criminal Defense Bar made a determination some time ago to establish a speaker's bureau to provide informational programs on the law and justice system to civic groups or any organization that wishes to hear from us.
Anyone who is interested in participating as a speaker should let us know by contacting Sara at Collister and Kampschroeder at <collkamp@sbcglobal.net> or at 842-3126 or by fax at 842-3878, by August 15, 2008. Provide contact information for yourself, a general description of your experience as a lawyer or one who works in the judicial system, and provide a description of the subject about which you propose to speak and your objective in presenting the program. Volunteers who fail to provide this information will not be considered.
Keep in mind that the purpose of this program is educational. Use of the program to advertise the speaker's business or solicit business or clients for the speaker will result in removal from the group and the speaker will not be eligible to present further programs.
The 10th Circuit Bench and Bar Conference is scheduled for September 4-6, 2008 in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the Broadmoor Hotel. The United States District Court for the District of Kansas will be sponsoring events at the conference especially for the Kansas bench and bar. Kansas Karaoke Night is on Friday, September 5, starring the Kansas federal judges and members of the bar.�If you have an act and would like to sign up, register by e-mail to KSD_CMECF_Training@ksd.uscourts.gov and include the name of your act, the song you'll perform, and the participants' names. Check out this flyer and Chief Judge Vratil's invitation, and Judge Vratil's recent email to attorneys, and if you have any questions, contact Kim Leininger at (913) 551-5747.
Visit the KU Law School Career Services Office website and check out the newsletter highlighting diversity issues and events affecting the legal community, both locally and nationally.
Pro Tem Judge Position. The Douglas County District Court seeks a Kansas-licensed, practicing attorney as full-time judge of the Pro Tem Division. Full-time starting pay is $59,268 plus benefits. The position is available immediately and will be filled as soon as possible. Funding beyond 2009 is uncertain. Caseload may include juvenile offenders, child-support enforcement, parenting time enforcement, criminal first appearances or other cases. Send letter of application and resumé by August 22, 2008 to Linda Koester-Vogelsang, Court Administrator by fax (785-838-2455), email (lkv@douglas-county.com) or postal mail (111 E. 11th St., Lawrence, KS 66044). Note: This position was originally advertised in the spring but funding questions caused delay in filling position.
July 2008
The Law Library's Reels of Justice Film Series will present Kramer vs. Kramer on Friday, August 15 at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Lawrence Public Library. The movie is about a career man, Ted (Dustin Hoffman), who sweats and toils to provide a good life for his wife, Joanna (Meryl Streep), and son, Billy (Justin Henry), but Joanna decides she wants something more and leaves. So Ted, on top of having to hold down his day job, must also single handedly take on all the housekeeping and parenting responsibilities. He does a great job of it, dispelling the myths that men need women to run a home and that children need a mother. After Ted and Billy establish a comfortable routine and things are going fine, Joanna gets tired of gallavanting and figures she'll just march back in and take custody of Billy. Ted, however, fights her in court. Everybody except the judge and the screenwriter knows Ted and Billy would be better off without Joanna. But, the movie caves and ends up preaching that kids need both parents and mothers who abandon their families should be forgiven. An uplifting and inspirational movie except for the ending. The presentation will include commentary by a member of the bar. For more information, visit the Law Library's Film Series Page.
June 2008
Mock Interview Program: The Office of Career Services at the University of Kansas School of Law is seeking attorney volunteers for the next Mock Interview program to be held at the Law School on August 7, 11 and 12 and the Edwards Campus in Overland Park on August 8, 2008. The goal is to provide first-year law students the opportunity to interview with practicing attorneys. Each interview will be 20 minutes, with a 10-minute feedback session. Each volunteer attorney will interview four students. Evaluation forms will be available for the interviewer's use. Participating students will receive a DVD of their interviews to further help them critique their performance. A boxed dinner will be provided to each volunteer. If you can help as a volunteer interviewer one or more evenings, please submit this online form. If you have questions, contact Karen Hester, Associate Director of Career Services, at 785.864.4357 or LaVerta Logan, Assistant Director of Career Services, at 785.864.4377.
The ABA Young Lawyers Division Annual Meeting is August 7-10, 2008 in New York City. Expand your network, sharpen your legal skills, and debate important resolutions affecting the legal profession. More information is available at the ABA website.
May 2008
The first place essay in the first Douglas County Legal Essay Contest was written by Marianne Schroer, a senior at Baldwin High School. She was presented the first place scholarship for $1,100.00 at the Law Day banquet on May 1. Her winning essay is available in the Douglas County Law Library, and her name will be inscribed on a plaque which will contain the names of future first place winners. The second place scholarship for $850.00 went to Sarah Eberhart; and the third place scholarship for $500.00 went to Jodie Beuthien; both also Baldwin High seniors. The topic for this year's contest was "The Importance of an Independent Judiciary."
The Legal Essay Contest will be an annual scholarship competition for students who attend high school in Douglas County and who plan to continue their education after graduation. The contest is sponsored by the Douglas County Law Library and the Douglas County Bar Association. Details and rules for the 2008 competition can be viewed here.
The Law Library's Reels of Justice Film Series will present Sergeant Rutledge on Friday, May 16 at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Lawrence Public Library. The movie, set in the post Civil War frontier, portrays the court-martial of a black sergeant of the Ninth Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers) charged with raping and killing a white woman and murdering her father, his commanding officer. The 1960 film, considered by many to have been years ahead of its time, was directed by John Ford and stars Woody Strode as the accused Sgt. Braxton Rutledge and Jeffrey Hunter as defense counsel Lt. Tom Cantrell. The presentation will include commentary by prominent local attorney Shelley Bock. For more information, visit the Law Library's Film Series Page.
April 2008
This year's Law Day Banquet, hosted by the Young Lawyers Section, will be 12:00 noon on Thursday, May 1, 2008. The event will again be held at Maceli's Banquet Hall, 1031 New Hampshire Street. This year's Law Day theme is The Rule of Law: Foundation for Communities of Opportunity and Equity. Katherine Kirk will be the featured speaker and talk about her recent legal work in Jordan with her presentation, "The Rule of Law in Jordanian Society". Other highlights will include presentation of the Liberty Bell Award and presentation of scholarships to winners of the Legal Essay Contest. Be sure to visit our Law Day page for more information about this annual event.
The cost is $15 per person which can be paid at the door (advance payments also accepted) but please RSVP by April 25 if you plan to attend. Direct your RSVP to Rachel Monger by mail: 900 Massachusetts St., Suite 600, Lawrence, KS 66044, or by phone: 842-2345, or by email: secretary@dgbar.org.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas presents A Conversation with Federal Judges on April 23, 2008. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Robert J. Dole Federal Courthouse located at 500 State Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. The purpose of this event is to give local attorneys, who are members of the federal bar in Kansas, an opportunity to get acquainted with our federal judges and to provide a forum to discuss issues of importance to the bar. Click here for details.
Congratulations to Peggy Carr Kittel, our newest District Court Judge. Governor Sebelius announced her appointment on March 31, 2008, filling the Division 6 vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Six. Peggy is an active member and past President of the Bar Association. She has served as judge pro tem since 2001, and before that was an assistant district attorney.
Training on courtroom equipment: Judge Peggy Kittel and Janet Majure will present two training sessions on the new equipment in the Division 1 courtroom and the Hearing Room. Training sessions will include a demonstration from a recent trial, tutorial and instructions, hands-on practice, and handouts. Sessions will be held from noon to 1:00 on Thursday, March 27 and Thursday, April 3 at the Division 1 courtroom. After initial remarks, attendees will divide into two groups in the Hearing Room and Pro Tem courtroom for hands-on training. Contact Janet Majure or Erin Grisier at 330-2810, or email jmajure@douglas-county.com, by Wednesday, March 26, to make reservations. To read and/or print the official announcement, click here.
The United States District Court for the District of Kansas will implement electronic filing of sealed documents in criminal cases on April 1, 2008. Training to prepare for the changes is being provided for attorneys and staff who prosecute and defend criminal cases in federal court. Kansas and Missouri CLE credit for 1.5 hours is available. Follow these links for details about, and registration for, training sessions in Kansas City (March 24-25-26), Topeka (March 27-28) and Wichita (April 1-2).
The Douglas County Law Library and Douglas County Bar Association will co-sponsor the First Annual Douglas County, Kansas Legal Essay Contest. Open to Douglas County high school seniors, winners be awarded cash scholarships at the Law Day Banquet. It is hoped members of the DCBA will assist in this worthwhile program with donations to help fund scholarship prizes. Donations should be payable to "Douglas County Bar Association" and mailed to DCBA, Atten: Hatem Chahine, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044.
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March 2008
The Douglas County Bar Association Annual Meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, March 6, 2008 at Genovese Italian Restaurant, 941 Massachusetts Street on the second level. New officers for 2008 will be elected at this meeting. Nominations and elections will be held at 6:00 p.m. The Board of Directors will nominate a slate of candidates, and additional nominations may be made from the floor. Officers are elected by majority vote of the members present and voting at the meeting. If you are interested in being nominated as an officer by the Board, or adding other business to the meeting agenda, contact the KBA Secretary, Kenzie Singleton, by phone at 842-6311 or email secretary@dgbar.org.
February 2008
The Law Library's Reels of Justice Film Series and the Lawrence Public Library co-sponsor the screening of 1967's In Cold Blood on Friday, February 15 at 7:00 p.m. The film portrayal of Truman Capote's account of the slayings committed in Holcom, Kansas in 1959 by escaped convicts Perry Smith and Richard Hickock stars Robert Blake and Scott Wilson. There will be additional commentary by prominent local attorney and former prosecutor Martin Miller. For more information, visit the Law Library's Film Series Page.
January 2008
RENEW YOUR DCBA MEMBERSHIP by filling out the online membership form. After completing the on-line form, print and send it with a check for $45.00, payable to Douglas County Bar Association, to Douglas County Bar Association, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.
Due to increased costs of meetings and other functions, annual dues were increased by $10.00 for 2008. This action was taken by the President and Board of Directors in accordance with the Bylaws of the Association. We hope to continue to provide the same functions and offer some additional educational opportunities this year.
Mock Interview Program: The Office of Career Services at the University of Kansas School of Law is looking for attorney volunteers for the next Mock Interview program to be held at the Law School from Tuesday to Friday, January 22 - 25, 2008, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., or at the Edwards Campus in Overland Park on Friday, January 25, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. The goal is to provide first-year law students the opportunity to interview with practicing attorneys. Each interview will be 20 minutes, with a 10-minute feedback session. Each volunteer attorney will interview four students. Evaluation forms will be available for the interviewer's use. Participating students will receive a DVD of their interviews to further help them critique their performance. A boxed dinner will be provided to each volunteer. If you can help as a volunteer interviewer one or more evenings, please submit this online form. If you have questions, contact Karen Hester, Associate Director of Career Services, at 785.864.4357 or LaVerta Logan, Assistant Director of Career Services, at 785.864.4377.
SueAnn Fitch, CJA Supervising Attorney
U. S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
1823 Stout Street, Denver, Co. 80257
303.335.2846 (ph) 303.844.3733 (fax)
SueAnn_Fitch@ca10.uscourts.gov
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma and Oklahoma offices of the Federal Public Defender will present an eight hour program, Practical Matters for the Criminal Defense Practitioner in Federal Court (2007), on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 in Oklahoma City from 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The program will tentatively be held in the jury pool room at the U.S. Courthouse at 200 Northwest Fourth Street, Oklahoma City. CLE credit (general credits and one ethics hour/session) has been applied for in all six states of the Tenth Circuit, CO, KS, NM, OK, UT and WY. Registration is free and includes refreshments. Lunch will be on your own. The morning session will be devoted to trial court matters (plea bargaining, sentencing, vouchers and experts under the CJA) and the afternoon session will cover appellate matters (record building, issue spotting, appellate procedures & ethics). The conclusion of the program will be a scripted Q&A session with a panel of Tenth Circuit Judges. Anyone wanting to attend should RSVP by e-mail to the Tenth Circuit's CJA Supervising Attorney at SueAnn_Fitch@ca10.uscourts.gov so the needed space may be determined. A description of the agenda, subject outline and bios/credentials of the presenters is available here.
An all day CLE on Immigration Law Basics is being held on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at the Topeka Ramada Inn, 420 East 6th, Topeka, Kansas. It is offered by the Missouri-Kansas Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Eight hours of CLE credits, including 2 hours of ethics, is available. There is a charge to attend. For more information, contact Lauren Reinhold at 842-3222.
December 2007
JUVENILE PANEL ATTORNEY: Attorney with experience in juvenile law (child in need of care and juvenile offenders) wanted. Position carries one-sixth of the appointed-counsel juvenile workload in Douglas County District Court. Required: Kansas license and GAL training. Send resume and letter of application by December 19, 2007 to Judge Jean Shepherd, Douglas County District Court, 111 E. 11th St., Lawrence, KS 66044.
The Criminal Defense Panel Seminar will be presented on December 7, 2007 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is no charge, and participants will earn up to 8 hours CLE credit. Attendance is mandatory for attorneys wanting to serve on the 2008 criminal defense misdemeanor appointments panel. Attorneys who want to join the 2008 panel should submit a letter of application to Judge Fairchild as soon as possible. The judges will meet in December to review submissions and finalize the panel. Attorneys are reminded that panel membership should be viewed as a one year commitment (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31). Premature withdrawal from the panel risks loss of compensation for time spent on unfinished cases. Contact "Skip" Griffy if you have questions about the seminar. Click here for agenda.
The DCBA Winter Holiday Party is Friday, December 7, 2007 at David Brown's home, 1212 Vantuyl Drive, starting at 6:00 p.m. Dinner catered by Liz Carr will include a vegetarian lasagna, pork tenderloin with brandy and pears, chicken with artichokes and garlic, roast potatos, rice pilaf, butternut squash and grean beans, and several desert options. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and hors d'oeuvres will be available, as well as abundant camaraderie and holiday cheer. Kick off the holiday season by joining your colleagues for this traditional gathering. RSVP by sending $35.00 per person to Douglas County Bar Association, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044.
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November 2007
Our colleague, George Allen, passed away on September 5, 2007. He practiced law in Lawrence for over 40 years and was a long time member of the Douglas County Bar. A memorial service sponsored by the Bar Association will be held on November 30 from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Division 1 courtroom. Bar members are urged to attend this service. If you are interested in speaking at the service, please contact Hatem B. Chahine at jayhawkhatem@yahoo.com.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas presents A Conversation with Federal Judges on November 28, 2007. The event will be held in Room #PL 207A of the Topeka Federal Courthouse at 444 SE Quincy Street. The purpose of this event is to give local attorneys a forum to discuss issues of importance to the bar and an opportunity to get acquainted with the federal judges. Visit the CLE Training Class List at the U.S. District Court website to register for the event. CLE credit will be available to attorneys in Kansas and Missouri. Click here for details.
The Law Library's "Reels of Justice Film Series" continues at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 16, 2007 at the Lawrence Public Library, with a screening of Witness for the Prosecution, starring Charles Laughton, Marlene Dietrich, and Tyrone Power. Local attorney Craig Stancliffe will provide commentary on how the film portrays the justice system. The next film in the "Reels of Justice Film Series" will be In Cold Blood, scheduled for screening on February 15, 2008.
October 2007
Football Tailgating: On KU football home game days, the KU SBA sponsors a tailgating tent on the hill below the Campanile. Beer, soda, hamburgers and hot dogs, open to law students and alums, attorneys and their families. A $5 donation to the SBA is requested. It's a great spot for networking and visiting with colleagues and friends.
Judges Needed for KU Mock Trial Tournament: The University of Kansas Mock Trial Tournament is scheduled for Friday through Sunday, October 26, 27, and 28 in Frasier Hall and needs judges. Each tournament typically has four 'rounds,' each round being a trial that lasts anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Each team has three attorneys and three witnesses. There are opening statements, each side presents their case, and closing arguments. There are no motions arguments, and objections are limited to direct and cross-examination periods. The rules used are slightly modified versions of the federal rules.
Email Branden Bell at bellmale@gmail.com to find out more, and/or let him know what rounds you can judge. Food is being catered. If you know someone who might be interested in judging, please let them know about this event.
Round One - Friday: 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm (at the latest)
Round Two - Saturday: 8:30 am - 11:00 am (at the latest)
Round Three - Saturday: 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm (at the latest)
Round Four - Sunday: 8:30 am - 11:00 am (at the latest)
September 2007
The DCBA Fall Party will be at Jeff Heeb's farm on Friday, October 5 starting at 5:30 p.m. Members and their family or guests are invited to come out for good company and good food in a quiescent bucolic venue replete with rustic accoutrements, hay rides and country atmosphere. Live music will be provided by Rick Freedman's band The Heebie Jeebies. Feast catered by New Hampshire Street Bistro includes barbecued beef, pulled pork, veggie patties, hot dogs, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans and chips. Beverages: beer, wine, tea and lemonade. All this for only $15 per adult and $8 per child. Please RSVP by email and send a check to Douglas County Bar Association, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044.
The Solo & Small Firm Group has launched a "listserv", a/k/a mailing list or discussion list. Solo and Small Firm members who subscribe to the list can send email messages to the listserv address which automatically broadcasts (forwards) them to all subscribers, who may answer in similar fashion. A listserv is similar to a newsgroup or forum, except that messages are transmitted as email and are, therefore, available only to subscribers to the list. Other DCBA groups interested in setting up their own listservs should contact the DCBA webmaster. The Solo & Small Firm Group also has a section in the DCBA Forum as well as Google Groups.
Endangered Forum: The DCBA Forum has been hammered the past couple weeks by forum spammers. Consequently, a broad range of IP addresses (overkill, actually, that's broad enough to include many legitimate ISP's) have been "banned", and new registrations are held up pending confirmation. It is not expected that anyone will notice. If you're the rare lawyer who actually wants to use the Forum and finds yourself locked out, contact the webmaster. If anybody actually wants to keep the Forum online, this would be a good time to let the webmaster know. Otherwise, expect the Forum to disappear before long.
The Tenth Circuit and the CO-WY office of the FPD will present a four hour program "Doing a Criminal Appeal in the Tenth Circuit (2007)" on Tuesday October 2, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in Denver (exact location TBD). CLE credit (4 hours general credit) has been applied for in all six states of the Tenth Circuit, CO, KS, NM, OK, UT and WY. Registration cost is a nominal $10 and includes afternoon refreshments. Topics will includeTenth Circuit Local Rules & Procedures; CJA Vouchers & Appointments in the Circuit; Issue Spotting & Standards of Review, Briefs & Problems/Solutions. There will also be a scripted Q&A session with a panel of Tenth Circuit Judges. Anyone wanting to attend should (1) RSVP by e-mail to the Tenth Circuit's CJA Supervising Attorney: SueAnn_Fitch@ca10.uscourts.gov and (2) mail their $10 registration check to: Clerk of Court, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1823 Stout Street, Denver, CO 80257. Checks should be clearly marked with the phrase "10/2/07 CLE Program."
August 2007
The District Attorney's office will start moving to its new location on Monday, August 20. Message from District Attorney, Charles Branson.
PART-TIME ATTORNEY POSITION: Assistant Douglas County District Court Trustee. Part-time attorney position (20 hrs/week) responsible for enforcing and collecting child support and spousal support orders. Must be licensed in Kansas with experience in litigation of family law issues and specifically support matters and have excellent customer service skills with desire to serve the public. Starting salary $24,950, with insurance and benefits. Submit resumé, cover letter, and legal writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages) by August 10, 2007 to Katy Nitcher, District Court Trustee, 111 East 11th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044 or to knitcher@douglas-county.com. Complete job listing can be found at www.douglas-county.com/district_court/dctjobs.asp. EOE.
STAFF ATTORNEY, KU LEGAL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS: Full-time position consults, advises and represents students on legal matters, researches, negotiates, and supervises law student interns. Required Qualifications: JD from an ABA accredited law school, licensed to practice law in Kansas or have made application for admission pursuant to Kansas Supreme Court Rule 703 or have taken the July 2007 Kansas Bar exam, excellent written communication skills. $42,000 - $50,000. Priority will be given to applications received by August 26, 2007. Must complete on-line application at https://jobs.ku.edu (click on "Search Postings" then enter position number 00004077), and submit letter of application, resumé, legal writing sample, and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of three references to: Jo Hardesty, Director/Managing Attorney, Legal Services for Students, 312 Burge Union, 1601 Irving Hill Rd, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045. (785) 864-5665, Fax: (785) 864-5668. EO/AA Employer.
July 2007
From Ed Collister: Your Bench-Bar Committee meeting with the Judges is July 3, 2007. If anyone has any concerns that need to be addressed, please send them to <bench-bar@dgbar.org>.
June 2007
The bar is invited to a 50th Anniversary Party for Bill Pendleton. Join your colleagues for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres to toast 50 years of the practice of law by William B. Pendleton on Friday, June 29 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post, 3408 W. 6th St. in Lawrence. RSVP is not required but appreciated by phoning 785-843-3536 or emailing jdenton@pendletonandsutton.com.
Legislative Changes Seminar. Pick up 1 hour of CLE (approval pending) on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the Jury Assembly Room of the Douglas County Judicial Center. Paul Davis will be presenting. Feel free to bring your brown bag lunch.
May 2007
Something new at the Forum: A new Announcements Forum has been created for DCBA members and other responsible parties to post announcements about upcoming events, activities, and other matters of interest to the bar.
The Law Library's "Reels of Justice Film Series" continues at 6:00 PM on Friday, May 25, 2007, with a screening of 12 Angry Men, starring Henry Fonda at the Lawrence Public Library. Local attorney and member of the Law Library's Board of Trustees, Martin Miller, will provide commentary on how the film portrays the justice system. More information here.
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This year's Law Day Celebration, hosted by the Young Lawyer's Section, is on Tuesday, May 1, 2007. The event will again be held at Maceli's Banquet Hall, 1031 New Hampshire Street, at noon. The keynote address will be presented by Hon. Terry Bullock on this year's Law Day theme: Liberty Under the Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy. One of the Law Day highlights is presentation of the Liberty Bell Award, given in recognition of outstanding community service by a person whose efforts have promoted a better understanding of the rule of law, encouraged a greater respect for the law and courts, stimulated a sense of civic responsibility and contributed to good government in the community.
If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Kenzie Singleton by mail: Sloan Law Firm, 842 Louisiana St., Lawrence, KS 66044, phone: 842-6311 or email: secretary@dgbar.org. The cost is $15.00 per person. Payment may be made at the door.
Besides the luncheon and award ceremony, other Law Day activities include Classroom Visits. These are brief presentations to the local middle schools in social studies, history and government classes on Law Day. If you can contribute to this important feature of Law Day as a representative of your Bar Association, contact Rachel Monger.
The proposed Douglas County Public Education Committee began from an idea brought back from the 2006 National Inns of Court Meeting. The overriding theme for the conference was keeping the public educated about our democratic form of government, and how each branch plays an integral role in making democracy work. The idea is to work to maintain a well-informed citizenry. Attorneys can play a valuable role in this challenge to keep the public well-educated in order to keep our system of government intact as the framers intended. Read more here.
April 2007
Attention Douglas County Young Lawyers! Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 26, as the Kansas Bar Association Young Lawyers Section will be holding a Young Lawyers Social Event at The Wheel, located at 507 West 14th Street in Lawrence. The KBA YLS invites you to join them for fun, free pizza and drinks, beginning at 5:30 p.m. No RSVP is needed. Questions? Contact Melissa Doeblin, KBA YLS social co-chair, by e-mail at melissadoeblin@yahoo.com or by phone at (785) 296-8912.
KU Law School presents After Innocence, a documentary about the Innocence Project that won several awards at film festivals. After the film, a panel including Judge Fairchild, Jean Phillips (the head of the Defender Project), Attorney General Paul Morrison, the head of the Midwest Innocence Project, and a prisoner who was exonerated through the Innocence Project will discuss the movie. The presentation on On April 5, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. in room 204, Green Hall, has been approved for 3 hours of Kansas CLE credit (non-ethics). Admission fee is $25. For more information, contact third-year student Katie Gates at mkgates@ku.edu.
The Annual Meeting and Election of Officers of the Douglas County Bar Association will be held on Thursday, April 5, 2007 at 5:15 p.m. at the Eldridge Hotel in the All American Room. Besides conducting the annual business of the DCBA, members are, of course, invited to linger, mingle, snack and drink. Appetizers will be free, it will be a cash bar.
Official business of the meeting will begin at 6:00. The Board of Directors will offer the following slate of nominees:
- Hatem Chahine (current Vice President) for President
- Stephanie Haggard (current Secretary/Treasurer) for Vice President
- Kenzie Singleton (current Young Lawyers Section President) for Secretary/Treasurer
- Rachel Monger for Young Lawyers Section President
Nominations may also be made from the floor by any member present. If you are interested in becoming an officer, contact Stephanie Haggard prior to the meeting for information you might want to know about. Upon closing of nominations, officers will be separately elected by majority vote of the members present at the meeting.
March 2007
A Symposium on Genetically Modified Organisms will be presented by The Journal of Law and Public Policy at the University of Kansas School of Law on March 15, 2007, 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., at Green Hall, Room 104. The Symposium features six internationally recognized leaders in the fields of law, agriculture and chemical sciences presenting papers on the science, law and philosophy of GMOs, with policy recommendations for future GMO regulation. Among the topics to be discussed are:
- The populations who stand to benefit from genetically modified crops
- The environmental impact and sustainability of GMOs
- The regulation of GMOs in the European Union and United States
- The role of intellectual property in GMO regulation
Attendance is free of charge, but reservations are encouraged. 7.0 hours of CLE is available for attending the forum. For more information or to register, visit the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy. View brochure: front and back.
Consumer Law CLE. On March 2, 2007 the KBA Access to Justice Committee and the KTLA are sponsoring Under the Umbrella, a CLE seminar on consumer protection issues at the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association headquarters in Topeka. By offering a low cost ($89 for 7.5 hours including ethics) CLE in this field it is hoped to encourage more lawyers to join the pro bono and lawyer referral panels. This is a somewhat untapped area and provides an opportunity for recovery of attorney fees. Contact Kathy Kirk (785-749-1323) or register at the KBA website if you wish to attend. A brochure is available here..
February 2007
Did you renew your DCBA membership yet? Use the handy Membership Form to update your listing, then print it out and mail with your check for $35 payable to Douglas County Bar Association, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044.
The Law Library Registration Fee was due in January. Failure to pay this $10.00 fee results in suspension of court filing privileges, deactivation of Law Library key, and ineligibility to vote for or be elected to Douglas County Law Library Board of Trustees. To check your status and/or pay, contact the office of the Clerk of the District Court.
Regional Mock Trial Tournament Needs Judges. Washburn University is hosting a Regional Mock Trial Tournament on Feb. 16 (Friday) and Feb. 17 (Saturday). Ruling judges and scoring judges are needed for all rounds. Friday trials are 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 - 9:30 p.m.; Saturday trials are 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. Contact Steven Cann by email or phone (785) 670-2027 if you can help by serving as a judge for this challenging event.
Pick up two free hours of ethics CLE courtesy of KU Law School on Friday, Feb. 16, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Prof. Michael Hoeflich will present Plagiarism, Intellectual Property and Legal Ethics at the Law School, Room 203. The program is free and open to the public, no registration required.
— Todd Rogers, Director of Career Services, University of Kansas School of Law, 1535 W. 15th Street, Room 204, Lawrence, KS 66049 (785) 864-9257 tarogers@ku.edu.
January 2007
Mock Interview Program: The Office of Career Services at the University of Kansas School of Law is looking for attorney volunteers for the next Mock Interview program to be held January 24-26, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The goal is to provide first-year law students the opportunity to interview with practicing attorneys. Each interview will be 20 minutes, with a 10-minute feedback session. Each volunteer attorney will interview four students. Evaluation forms will be available for the interviewer's use. Participating students will receive a DVD of their interviews to further help them critique their performance. A boxed dinner will be provided to each volunteer. If you can help as a volunteer interviewer one or more evenings, please submit this online form. If you have any questions, contact Karen Hester, Associate Director of Career Services, at 785.864.4357 or LaVerta Logan, Assistant Director of Career Services, at 785.864.4377.
December 2006
The Douglas County Criminal Defense Bar Seminar will be held on Friday, December 8, 2006 in the Jury Assembly Room at the Judicial Center. Attendance at this seminar is mandatory for all lawyers serving on the criminal defense appointments panel, however, the seminar is open to all lawyers. The seminar is free and earns CLE. The seminar runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a lunch break (on your own) from 12:15 to 1:30. The Criminal Defense Bar will meet for lunch at Mass Street Deli, and other attorneys are welcome to join them. The Deli will provide a sandwich lunch at your own cost. RSVP to Skip Griffey at SG328@aol.com if you would like to attend the lunch. Click here to view or download a seminar brochure.
The DCBA Winter Holiday Party is Thursday, December 7, 2006 at David Brown's home, 1212 Vantuyl Drive, starting at 6:00 p.m. RSVP on or before December 1 for you and up to one guest by sending $35 $25 per person to Douglas County Bar Association, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044. Payment includes dinner catered by Liz Carr as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and, of course, abundant camaraderie and holiday cheer. Kick off the holiday season by joining your colleagues for this special event.
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September 2006
Formation of a Solo and Small Firm Subcommittee of the Douglas County Bar Association will be discussed at a Solo Practitioners Lunch on October 20, 2006 at the Free State Brewery, beginning at noon, in the upstairs meeting room. Please RSVP to Lauren Reinhold at 785-842-3222 or Reinhold@1040nh.com or to Jamie Harwood at 785-842-1581 or HarwoodLaw@sbcglobal.net if you plan to attend.
From Jamie Harwood: Hello Solo Practitioner Colleagues - We would like to propose the formation of a Solo and Small Firm Subcommittee of the Douglas County Bar. While many if not the majority of us in Douglas County fit into this definition and see each other periodically and informally offer support, many of us can benefit from a slightly more formal monthly lunch meeting for support and the sharing of information. Additionally, there are many solo practitioners who are not regularly practicing in the halls of the Douglas County Courthouse and it would allow those attorneys to get to know the general membership of the bar, leading to referral prospects for different specialties. This would be intended to add to our existing resources for networking - the monthly general bar meeting offers a wonderful social outlet; Inn of Court provides excellent education and mentoring; and the Criminal Defense bar focuses on a niche area of law. Likewise, the Solo and Small Firm Subcommittee would focus on a niche group of attorneys with specific concerns: resource sharing (sharing of materials/creation of a brief bank); discussion of marketing successes and failures; networking; mentoring; discussion of law practice management issues; discussion of office/computer equipment, software and supplies; and general discussion of local practice issues.
The Douglas County District Court seeks applications by Sept. 8 to fill a Guardian Ad Litem vacancy on the juvenile panel. Juvenile panel attorneys may be called upon to represent children or parents in child in need of care cases and in juvenile offender cases. Qualified applicants will have received 6 hours' guardian ad litem training during the last CLE year. The appointing judge has the option of allowing a new GAL to complete the training within six months of appointment. Please send a letter of application stating your GAL experience and training and a resume to Linda Koester-Vogelsang, court administrator, via email (lkv@douglas-county.com), fax (785-838-2455), or postal mail (111 E. 11th St., Lawrence, KS 66044). Current pay is $2003 per month.
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals is forming an attorney panel for criminal defense lawyers specifically interested in accepting indigent defendant appointments at the appellate level. It is the Court's hope that the qualified panel selected through an application/review/recommendation process will be geographically diverse and able to assure that each counsel receives enough appellate CJA appointments to keep their specialized skills and knowledge up-to-date. The Court hopes to complete the applicant review and selection process by mid-fall 2006.
The Tenth Circuit encourages attorneys to consider applying for its appellate attorney panel. Interested applicants should carefully review the 12/16/05 Memo on the Court's website regarding the CJA appointment process. Application materials are available here.
The DCBA Fall BBQ Party is at Jeff Heeb's farm on Friday, September 8, 2006 starting at 5:30 p.m. Members and their family or guests are invited to come out for good company and good food in a quiescent bucolic venue replete with rustic accoutrements. The cost is $20 per adult and $10 per child. Please make your reservations by August 31 by mailing a check, payable to Douglas County Bar Association, to Douglas County Bar Association, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044.
August 2006
Mock Interview Program: The Office of Career Services at the University of Kansas School of Law is sponsoring a Mock Interview program from August 29 - September 1, 2006, 6:00-8:00 p.m., to prepare students for fall on-campus interviews. The goal is to provide students an opportunity to interview with a practicing attorney. Interviews are 20 minutes, with a 10-minute feedback session. Each volunteer attorney is asked to interview four students. There is an option for a team of two attorneys to jointly interview students. Each volunteer will be treated to a boxed dinner. If interested in participating, please complete the sign-up form and return it via fax (785.864.5701) or email (khester@ku.edu ) by August 14, 2006.
The Douglas County Law Library kicks off its Reels of Justice Film Series at 6:00 PM, Friday, August 25, 2006 with Inherit the Wind, starring Spencer Tracy, Frederic March, Gene Kelly, Dick York, and Harry Morgan. This free film series sponsored by the Law Library is shown in the Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, and will include commentary on the main theme of the film and the accuracy of its portrayal of the legal system. Future presentations: The Caine Mutiny, Friday, November 17, 2006; To Kill a Mockingbird, February 2007; and 12 Angry Men, May 2007. Watch for further details and future announcements in the Law Library Newsletter. If you're not a subscriber, visit the Library's Newsletter Page for instructions to get a free subscription.
May 2006
The American Bar Association (ABA) and the National Child Welfare Resource Center will present Improving Outcomes for Older Youth: What Judges and Attorneys Need to Know on Monday, June 8, 2006 at the Holiday Inn Holidome in Topeka. This 5.5 hours of free family law CLE is for judges, prosecutors, guardians ad litem, attorneys for parents, SRS attorneys, social workers, and others. Online registration is encouraged at www.kscourts.org/rt2006. Additional information and registration form available here.
The 2006 Kansas Bar Association Annual Meeting, with the theme "Professionalism, Progress, and Pride", will be held June 8-10, 2006 at the Overland Park Marriott, located at 10800 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66210.
The DCBA Spring Party is on Thursday, June 1, 2006 starting at 5:30 p.m. Please RSVP for you and a guest by Thursday, May 25, 2006 by sending a check for $15.00 per person to the Douglas County Bar Association at P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044. Be sure to specify if you want a vegetarian meal. Location, address and map to the party are contained in the May 6 and May 25 Bar Association Newsletters that were emailed to DCBA members. If you can't find your newsletter, check with a colleague or contact the DCBA Secretary for details.
Family Law Seminar. Perfect your family law skills! Please join us for a 1 hour CLE ( approval pending) on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the Jury Assembly Room of the Douglas County Judicial Center. The Honorable Jean F. Shepherd will be presenting. This program is brought to you by a joint effort of the Douglas County Bar Association and our local Inn of Court and it is free to any member of either group. Please feel free to bring your own brown bag lunch.
Bench Bar Meeting: May 2, 2006, 12:30 p.m. This is a closed meeting. Attorneys, please direct any concerns regarding the judges, including processing criminal cases, pay on misdemeanor cases, juvenile panel,operations of the clerk's office, policies of the District Attorney's office, CSO's, the trustee's office, civil case problems, etc., to Ed Collister or Angie Stoller. They can be reached at 842-3126. If you have an issue unique to young lawyers, as Kenzie Singleton is the president of the young lawyer section, please direct your issue to Kenzie Singleton. Bench bar meetings are held on the first Tuesday of odd months.
The Law Day 2006 Luncheon will be on Monday, May 1, 2006 at Maceli's Banquet Hall, 1031 New Hampshire Street. Paul Davis will be the speaker on this year's theme, Liberty Under the Law: Separate Branches Balanced Powers. The Liberty Bell Award will be presented to an outstanding member of our community.
Lunch will include Herb & Garlic Beef or a vegetarian option and the cost of the lunch is $20.00. Please RSVP with a check, payable to Douglas County Bar Association, to Kenzie Singleton, Hawkins & Singleton, 3300 Mesa Way, Lawrence, Kansas, 66049 by April 20, 2006, and let her know if you want the vegetarian lunch. If you have questions, e-mail Ms. Singleton at KenzieSingleton@hotmail.com.
April 2006
The Young Lawyers Section of the Kansas Bar Association invites you and your spouse or guest to attend its first Barrister's Ball and Silent Auction on Saturday, April 22, 2006, celebrating the memory of Justice Robert L. Gernon. The event will be held at the Topeka Country Club, 2700 SW Buchanan St., Topeka, Kansas. Cocktails and silent auction begin at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7:00 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Kansas Bar Foundation Justice Robert L. Gernon Memorial Scholarship Award. Tickets ($50 single, $75 couple) are available by calling the KBA at (785) 234-5696. Black tie optional.
The April art exhibit at the Douglas County Law Library is clay masks by Joe Sutcliffe. According to the artist, he started making clay masks as a result of travels to Africa, Brazil, Australia, and China. In addition to clay masks, Mr. Sutcliffe is also a photographer, and a collection of his work can be seen at the artist's website.
When visiting the Law Library website, be sure to see the Judge Louis Carpenter biography compiled by librarian Kerry Altenbernd.
March 2006
Trial Advocacy Seminar. Would you like to perfect your skills in the courtroom? Please join us for a 1 hour CLE (approval pending) on Friday, March 31, 2006 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the Jury Assembly Room of the Douglas County Judicial Center. The Honorable Michael J. Malone will be presenting. This program will be geared toward the less experienced trial attorney and will cover general trial advocacy topics such as how to properly introduce exhibits in the courtroom and how to impeach a witness with prior testimony. This program is brought to you by a joint effort of the Douglas County Bar Association and our local Inn of Court and it is free to any member of either group. Please feel free to bring your own brown bag lunch.
The 2006 Annual Meeting of the Douglas County Bar Association on March 2 saw the election of new officers. Angela Stoller was elected President, Hatem Chahine Vice-President, Stephanie Haggard Secretary-Treasurer, and Kenzie Singleton was elected President of the Young Lawyers Section.
The Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy 2006 Symposium on March 14, 2006 is entitled "Does Institutional Groundwater Management Work?" The symposium promises to provide a current evaluation of the state of groundwater management in Kansas. The symposium will be presented at the Burge Union on the campus of the University of Kansas. The event is free and will provide 7 hours of Kansas CLE. You may download a brochure, also available at the University of Kansas School of Law website at www.law.ku.edu under the Upcoming Events listings.
The Douglas County Bar Association Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. at the Mass. Street Deli, 941 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, Kansas. The agenda will include election of officers and such other business as may be conducted at such meeting as provided in the bylaws (has anybody ever actually seen the bylaws?).
Law Library: The Art Gallery exhibit for March is paintings by Kansas City artist Sandra Van Tuyl.
February 2006
Probate Law CLE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. The local Inns of Court and the Douglas County Bar are hosting a one hour Probate CLE (credit approval pending) presented by Honorable Jack Murphy on February 28, 2006 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the Jury Assembly room at the Judicial Center. Attendance is free for members of our local Inn and the Douglas County Bar. Please RSVP to Stephanie Haggard at sjh@jayhawk-law.com.
Mock Interview Program: The Office of Career Services at the University of Kansas School of Law is looking for attorney volunteers for the next Mock Interview program to be held February 8-10, 2006, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The goal is to provide 24 students (8 per night) a mock interview with a practicing attorney to help prepare for fall on-campus interviews. Each attorney will interview four students. Interviews are 20 minutes with a 10 minute feedback session. A boxed dinner will be provided to each volunteer. If interested, fax (864-5701) or email (khester@ku.edu ) the signup form. If you have questions, contact Karen Hester, Associate Director of Career Services, at 864-4357 or LaVerta Logan, Assistant Director of Career Services, at 864-4377.
Official Announcement (.pdf) | Official Announcement (.doc)
Signup Form (.pdf) | Signup Form (.doc)
January 2006
Collaborative Law Seminar: San Francisco attorney Pauline Tesler, a nationally recognized collaborative law practitioner and author, will present a two day training seminar January 27-28, 2006 at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel, 6100 College Blvd. in Overland Park. Information about the seminar, sponsored by the Collaborative Law Institute of Kansas, is contained in the registration form which can be downloaded with the following links: <MS Word (.doc) format> or <Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format>. Questions about the seminar can be emailed to Tamara Hatheway (thatheway@kc.rr.com), Elizabeth Hill (Elizabeth@hilllawfirm.com) or DCBA member Jane Eldredge (jeldredge@barberemerson.com).
Family Law CLE January 12, 2006: This seminar has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
New Court Security. Visitors entering the Judicial Center will be required to pass through the security station at the west entrance before entering court and office areas. The security station includes walk-through and hand held metal detectors, an x-ray machine and a work station for officers assigned to the station. Additional information is contained in this Sheriff's announcement.
2006 Law Library Registration Fee of $10.00, was due January 15, 2006. Remit payment to the Clerk of the District Court, Judicial Building, 111 E. 11th St., Lawrence, KS 66044.
DCBA 2006 dues are $35.00 and were due January 31, 2006. Remit payment to the Douglas County Bar Association, PO Box 1966, Lawrence, Kansas 66044. Be sure to update any information such as address, phone, and email address using the membership form on this website.
November 2005
Holiday Party: The annual Douglas County Bar Association Holiday Party will be Thursday, December 1, 2005, beginning at 6:00 p.m., at the home of David Brown and Mary Klayder, 1212 Vantuyl Drive, Lawrence, Kansas. DCBA members and a guest are cordially invited. Good eats, good company, and KU basketball on David's big screen! Click here for menu catered by Liz Carr. All this for only $12.00 per person. RSVP by November 30 with payment to Douglas County Bar Association, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044.
Directions: 15th Street west to Inverness. Turn right on Inverness (north, if you find Inverness going south, you are going the wrong direction). Take the second right off Inverness, that is Vantuyl Drive. The street curves around to the left. Go past the cul-de-sac on the right. It is the first house on the street that actually faces Vantuyl, but is up on a hill. There are stone pillars topped by lights at the end of the drive. There are signs with the house number, 1212, on the pillars. There is a limited amount of parking at the top of the drive. Those with problems walking should park up the hill, and all others please park on the street. MAP
On Thursday, November 3, the Third Annual Legal Career Options Day will be sponsored by the University of Kansas School of Law's Office of Career Services at the Kansas Union Ballroom from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This event will expose law students to the wide range of legal careers available to law school graduates. Attorneys from all areas of the law have been invited, including private practice in small to large firms, government service, business and corporate counsel, public interest organizations, and the judiciary. From 5:00 to 6:30 students will circulate to visit with attorneys at their tables for insight and discussion. From 6:30 to 7:30 participants will enjoy an informal catered reception. Additional information is contained in the official announcement. Attorneys who can participate in this networking event are asked to send an RSVP form by Friday, October 21, 2005. If there are questions, contact Assistant Director LaVerta Logan by email or by phone at 785-864-4377.
The Kansas Law Review will host its 2005 Symposium at the Burge Union, 1601 Irving Hill Rd., on Thursday, November 3 starting at 9:00 a.m. The topic is Secrecy and Transparency in Dispute Resolution. The presenters, who come from academia and the bench, will address the tension between secrecy and transparency in a variety of dispute resolution contexts -- the courts, mediation, and domestic and international arbitration. The sponsors of this program have applied for 6.0 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credit in Kansas and Missouri. Persons wishing to receive CLE credit can register at the door and obtain materials. Continuing Mediation Education credit is also available. There is no charge or need to pre-register. For more information, please contact David C. Roby, Law Review Symposium Editor, at (785) 864-3463 or droby@ku.edu.
October 2005
On Wednesday, October 26, Leslie Miller and Emily Donaldson of the Stevens & Brand law firm will present "Elder Law: An overview for seniors and adult children of aging parents." This is the second installment of the Douglas County Law Library's Public Education series. The 45-minute presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Lawrence Public Library Auditorium and will be followed by a question and answer session. It is free and open to the public.
Fall Bar Party: The DCBA Fall Party is at Jeff Heeb’s farm on Friday, October 7, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. Dinner to be served around 6:00 p.m. will be prepared on site by Don’s Steak House. Entrée choices are KC strip steak or chicken, with green salad, baked potato, and dessert. Iced tea, soda, beer and wine will be provided. Families and significant others are welcome to come on out for good company and good food in a quiescent bucolic venue replete with rustic accoutrements including hay rack rides courtesy of the host.
The cost is $18.00 per adult and $9.00 per child. If you plan to attend YOU MUST RSVP by Friday September 30 INCLUDING PAYMENT AND ENTRÉE CHOICE if eating dinner. Make payment to Douglas County Bar Association, P.O. Box 1966, Lawrence, KS 66044.
An email with directions to the farm will be sent Monday, October 3 to those with reservations, so it’s a good idea to include your email address with your RSVP. If you know any colleagues who didn’t know about the September 1 party, please refer them to this announcement and encourage them to be sure they’re on the DCBA email list. A good way for them to do that is to send in a membership form. Any questions, contact DCBA Secretary Hatem Chahine by phone at 979-1850 or by email.
Access to FullCourt, the Douglas County District Court's public records system, is now available in the Law Library. There is a new workstation in the Library dedicated to FullCourt access. It is available to all Library users during public hours and 24/7 to registered attorneys with keys. Visit the Douglas County Bar Library website or email the librarian for more information.
September 2005
Mock Interview Program: The Office of Career Services at the University of Kansas School of Law is looking for attorney volunteers for the Mock Interview program September 7-9, 2005, 6-8 pm. Mock interviews are 20 minutes with a 10-minute feedback session. Each volunteer attorney will interview four students. Dinner will be provided for all volunteers. If interested, fax (785.864.5701) or email (khester@ku.edu ) the signup form. If you have questions, contact Karen Hester, Associate Director of Career Services, at 785.864.4357 or LaVerta Logan, Assistant Director of Career Services, at 785.864.4377.
There is a Bench Bar Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 6, 2005, at 12:30 p.m. Hopefully you know where. If anyone has any comments or complaints for the meeting, email Ed Collister, collkamp@sbcglobal.net.
It's Summer Party time!! Email was sent to DCBA members with details about our host and location. If you did not get an email, contact DCBA Secretary Hatem Chahine at 979-1850 or by email, and be sure to update your email address for our records.
The party is on Thursday, September 1, 2005, at 5:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. by Downtown Catering. Dinner is a choice of brisket, mashed potatoes, mixed green salad and dessert or a vegetarian meal which includes lettuce wraps. Iced tea, water, beer and wine will be served. Members with or without their significant others are welcome to attend.
IF YOU WANT TO EAT YOU MUST RSVP WITH $12.00 PER MEAL PAYABLE TO "DOUGLAS COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION", P.O.BOX 1966, LAWRENCE, KS 66044, WHICH MUST BE RECEIVED BY AUGUST 30, 2005. BE SURE TO SPECIFY CARNIVORE OR VEGAN WITH PAYMENT.
August 2005
KU Law is sponsoring a FREE CLE program on Tuesday, August 9 from 4:00-4:50 p.m. in room 203 of the Law School. Mike Hoeflich will speak about legal, political, social, and moral issues which arise when American companies and individuals do business in foreign countries and such business involves activities which are not acceptable in the United States. Among the types of activities to be discussed are prostitution, exploitation of child labor, unfair labor practices, etc. The program has been approved for 1 hour of ethics credit.
—Info courtesy of Todd Rogers, Director of Career Services, University of Kansas School of Law, 1535 W. 15th Street, Room 204, Lawrence, KS 66049 (785) 864-9257.
July 2005
Family Bowling Night: DCBA members, their spouses/partners/significant others and/or children are invited to enjoy an evening of bowling. The event will be held on Thursday, July 21, 2005 beginning at 6:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a fun evening with other friends and family of the Douglas County Bar. The event will be held at the Jay Bowl, located in the lower level (1st Floor) of the Kansas Union. Contact the secretary (Hatem Chahine) if you have any questions. Shoe rental and bowling costs will be covered.
The Judge Hugh Means American Inn of Court cordially invites you to consider applying for admission for the upcoming year. The American Inns of Court is a unique organization committed to creating more effective advocates and counselors by allowing less experienced attorneys to work side-by-side with the most experienced judges and attorneys in their community. Click here for more information.
May 2005
The Young Lawyers Section of the Douglas County Bar Association will host a luncheon at Maceli's Banquet Hall at 1031 New Hampshire Street on May 2, 2005 in celebration of Law Day. You will enjoy a presentation by Pedro Irigonegaray, a prominent litigator, regarding this year's Law Day theme, The American Jury: We the People in Action. Make your reservations no later than April 22, 2005 by sending payment in the amount of $22.00 per person to Stephanie J.Haggard, 1040 New Hampshire Street, Lawrence, Kansas, 66044. Please make checks payable to Douglas County Bar Association.
The Young Lawyers Section of the Douglas County Bar Association requests your nominations for the Liberty Bell Award which will be presented at the Law Day luncheon on May 2. This award acknowledges outstanding community service. The nominee may be a lawyer, layperson, or organization. Please think about who in our community has promoted a better understanding of the rule of law, encouraged greater respect for the law and the courts, stimulated a sense of civic responsibility, or contributed to good government in the community. In addition to the nominee's name and contact information, include a statement of why the nominee deserves the award. Mail your nominations to Stephanie Haggard, 1040 New Hampshire St., Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 842-0738, or .
April 2005
The Douglas County Bar Association will hold its 2005 Annual Meeting at Mass Street Deli, Lawrence, Kansas on Thursday, April 7, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. The following slate of officers for the 2005-2006 year will be presented: President – Charles Branson; Vice-President – Ken McRae; Secretary/Treasurer – Hatem Chahine; Young Lawyers Section President – Stephanie Haggard. In addition, the following issues will be addressed: (1) Ratification of the officers’ decision to email notification of the 2005 annual meeting; (2) Ratification of holding the annual meeting the first Thursday in April, rather than the first Thursday in March; (3) Amending the bylaws to allow for email notification of annual meetings; (4) A nomination to elect Charles Whitman to the Board of Directors for an additional term to take the place of Todd Crenshaw; (5) Election of the Board of Directors for 2005-2006; (6) Nomination of the officers for 2005-2006.
New Topics in the Forum. A classified ads section has been added to the DCBA Forum. Simply register at the forum and you can post messages about items for sale or wanted, office space, etc. Other new sections include Judge Hugh Means American Inn of Court and Law Day and/or Liberty Bell Award for people who may be interested in discussing news, events and issues concerning those topics.
Please visit the Law Day page. If you can provide information about other past recipients of the Liberty Bell Award, please or .
The Links and Resources pages have been reorganized with many new links added. You may find these pages to be a quick and ready portal to useful sites.
March 2005
This week we lost a very dear member of our bar association. If you wish to attend services for Justice Gernon please take note of the following information: A Mass of Christian Burial for Justice Gernon will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2005, at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 6001 Bob Billings Parkway, in Lawrence. A burial will follow at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Hiawatha. In addition, a Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.on Friday, April 1, at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church, with a wake to immediately follow.
February 2005
You are cordially invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony for Stephen N. Six as District Judge for the Kansas 7th Judicial District.
The ceremony will be at 2 o’clock in the afternoon on February 4, 2005, in the Division 2 Courtroom of the Douglas County District Court, 111 East Eleventh Street, Lawrence, Kansas.
A reception will follow in the Division 6 Courtroom.
January 2005
The Bar Association will gather at Teller's Restaurant at 746 Massachusetts Thursday evening, January 6, instead of The Bella Lounge. When you arrive please proceed to the 3rd Floor. The Bar will still carry a limited tab, but you need to order from the cocktail server assigned to our group.
The 2005 Law Library Registration Fee is due January 1, 2005. Be sure to get your $10.00 payment to the District Court Clerk's Office by January 30, 2005 to avoid suspension of filing privileges.
December 2004
Holiday Party: Our annual Douglas County Bar Association Holiday Party will be Thursday, December 2, 2004, beginning at 6:00 p.m., at the home of David Brown and Mary Klayder, 1212 Vantuyl Drive, Lawrence, Kansas. If you plan to attend you must remit payment in the amount of $12.00 per person no later than November 30, 2004. You may send your payment to the Douglas County Bar Association, PO Box 1966, Lawrence, Kansas 66044. Each member may bring a guest. The menu, by Liz Carr Catering, includes:
- Crab and artichoke tartlets
- Import cheeses, sausages, olives and tortellini
- Pork tenderloin with Cranberry-port sauce
- Chicken breast with a walnut crust and a maple Dijon sauce
- Vegetarian entrée of butternut squash and broccoli with rice
- Potato gratin with gruyere and caramelized onions
- Winter vegetable medley
- Rolls, bread and butter
- Pumpkin-praline cheesecake
- White and dark chocolate bread pudding with rum sauce
- Assorted holiday cookies
- Domestic and Import Beers
- Merlot
- Chardonnay
- Coffee
Directions to the party: 15th Street west to Inverness. Turn right on Inverness (north, if you find Inverness going south, you are going the wrong direction). Take the second right off Inverness, that is Vantuyl Drive. The street curves around to the left. Go past the cul-de-sac on the right. It is the first house on the street that actually faces Vantuyl, but is up on a hill. There are stone pillars topped by lights at the end of the drive. There are signs with the house number, 1212, on the pillars. There is a limited amount of parking at the top of the drive. Those with problems walking should park up the hill, and all others please park on the street.
October 2004
The Bar Association has planned a special gathering for October to be held at the farm of Jeff Heeb. Dinner will be cooked on site by Don's Steak House, and Jeff will be providing Hay Rack Rides. Families and "significant others" are welcome.
The party will be held on October 8, at 5:30 p.m. THIS IS THE SECOND FRIDAY, NOT THE NORMAL FIRST THURSDAY!! Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. Dinner will include Kansas City Strip or Chicken, green salad, baked potatoes, and desert. Iced tea, soda and beer and wine will also be served.
IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND YOU MUST RSVP BY REMITTING PAYMENT TO THE DCBA, PO Box 1966, Lawrence, Kansas 66044. YOUR PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY OCTOBER 1, 2004. The cost is $18.00 per adult and $9.00 per child. YOU MUST INDICATE WHETHER YOU PREFER STEAK OR CHICKEN. IF YOU DO NOT REMIT PAYMENT A MEAL CANNOT BE RESERVED FOR YOU.
An email with directions to Jeff's farm will be sent to those who have confirmed attendance.
