Washington Lawyer - September 2019 - 46

COMMUNITY & CONNECTIONS

HAPPENINGS
FROM AROUND THE LEGAL COMMUNITY
By John Murph & Jeffery Leon
1

CCE HONORS JUSTICE ADVOCATES
AT ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER

On May 23 the Council for Court Excellence hosted the 2019 Justice Potter
Stewart Award Dinner, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the law, the legal system, the courts, or the administrative process
in the nation's capital. This year's honorees were (from left) Michele Roberts
of the National Basketball Players Association, Pauline and Charlie Sullivan of
Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants, and Mark E. Herzog of Sidley
Austin LLP.

FIRMS MARK PRIDE MONTH

To celebrate Pride Month, Steptoe & Johnson LLP hosted a discussion on June
13 featuring Judy and Dennis Shepard, the parents of Matthew Shepard, who
was killed in 1998 because of his sexual orientation. The Shepards talked about
the development of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, the passage of the
Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and how
lawyers can fight for justice for all marginalized communities. Pictured from left
to right are Steptoe associate Josh Oppenheimer, Judy and Dennis Shepard,
and Steptoe chair Philip R. West.

FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES PAY
TRIBUTE TO JAKE STEIN

The Washington, D.C., legal community came together on June 19 at the
E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse to celebrate the life of
Jacob A. Stein, legal legend and former president of the D.C. Bar, who
passed away on April 3. Stein was 94. He is fondly remembered for his
"Legal Spectator" column in Washington Lawyer that ran for 24 years.

D.C. BAR TEAM LACES UP FOR
LAWYERS HAVE HEART RACE

The D.C. Bar raced for heart health on June 8, participating in the 29th
Annual Lawyers Have Heart 10K, 5K and Fun Walk benefiting the American
Heart Association. This year's race raised over $1 million and drew more than
5,600 participants. Among those who represented the Bar were (from left)
Attorney/Client Relations Program Assistant Director Kathleen Lewis, Chief
Programs Officer Darrin Sobin, President Susan M. Hoffman, Chief Executive
Officer Robert J. Spagnoletti, Audio Visual and Conference Coordinator
Delonte Rogers, and Meetings and Events Specialist Ashley Greis.

On June 6 Nixon Peabody LLP marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall
riots with a panel discussion about the legal achievements the global LGBTQ
community has achieved since that galvanizing event in New York City in 1969.
The panelists, including (from left to right) Brian Whittaker of Nixon Peabody,
Michael Lavers of the Washington Blade, Drew Keller of Open for Business, and
Murray Scheel of Whitman-Walker Health Legal Services, also talked about the
remaining obstacles facing the community.

LIM ENDS TERM AS PRESIDENT;
HOFFMAN TAKES D.C. BAR HELM

On June 4 the D.C. Bar presented immediate past president Esther H. Lim
(left) with a caricature depicting her key achievements while leading the Bar,
a long-running tradition of the organization to mark the end of a president's
term. Lim also welcomed the Bar's new president, Susan M. Hoffman, at the
event. Hoffman officially began her term as the Bar's 48th president on July 1.

SUTHERLAND COMFORT WINS
BATTLE OF LAW FIRM BANDS

Sutherland Comfort, one of the 15 bands that competed in the 2019
Banding Together, a popular concert and fundraiser in the Washington, D.C.,
legal community, won first prize for raising the most money (more than
$28,000) for the nonprofit organization Gifts for the Homeless. The battle of
the law firm bands took place on June 20 at Black Cat. Sutherland Comfort,
representing Eversheds Sutherland LLP, includes band members (from left)
Meltem F. Kodaman, partner in the firm's corporate practice group, and Dan
Buchner, a firm alum.
46 WASHINGTON LAWYER

SEPTEMBER 2019

For full coverage of other D.C. Bar events, visit dcbar.org/news.

http://www.dcbar.org/news https://www.dcbar.org/

Washington Lawyer - September 2019

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