COMMITTEE UPDATES

In order to have fruitful dialogue about the topics that affect the constituents of the legal profession, and our clients, such as race, religion, gender, class, sexuality, and meaningful, equitable representation, it is necessary that more than a few people – more than a few groups of people –participate and prioritize the community that we all share. The fact remains that conversations on these topics are indisputably difficult to have no matter where you fall in the “diversity spectrum.” What is also true, being the point and purpose of the Dialogue Over Debate discussion, is the fact that our growth, our goals, and our dreams for the legal community are not realized in a comfort zone or a safe space. Rather, they are realized and come to fruition in a BRAVE SPACE. It takes bravery to have difficult conversations, share personal experiences, and listen to others’ experiences for the purpose of understanding instead of responding. It takes bravery to admit there are things you hold implicit biases about. It takes bravery to learn something new, and have that knowledge change your perspective and approach. It takes bravery to effect change in a community and profession steeped in tradition. And it takes bravery to engage in dialogue over debate.

The YLS Diversity and Inclusion Committee charges our legal community to become more active and participatory in dialogues, and to create more opportunities for dialogues that can further build, restore, and advance our community in diversity, inclusion, and equity.

A special Thank You to: Dr. Schmidt and Dr. Brown for their expert facilitation of the discussion; Jernee Bramble and her team at Miles & Stockbridge for providing the space and refreshments for the discussion; to all of the participants who came to the discussion with open minds and prepared to do the work of having a dialogue; to the MSBA Diversity and Inclusion Committee to supporting the idea of this event, and to the following Bar associations for co-sponsoring this event: The Alliance of Black Women Attorneys, Inc., APABA MD, Bar Association of Baltimore City, Maryland Hispanic Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association, the Monumental City Bar Association.

Disclaimer: The statements in this article reflect the thoughts, reflections, and opinions of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of the author’s employer, or any organization the author may hold membership or affiliation.

A Panel Discussion produced by the Bench-Bar Section of the MARYLAND STATE BAR ASSOCIATION

MAY 24, 2023 |

The shift from bar to bench

Work/life balance on the bench

Upsides, downsides, & surprises and more

Administrative Law Judge Rachael Barnett

Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings & MSBA

Bench-Bar Section Chair

Panelists

Justice Angela M. Eaves Supreme Court of Maryland

Judge Dan Friedman Appellate Court of Maryland, At Large

Judge Douglas R. M. Nazarian

Appellate Court of Maryland, 2nd Appellate Judicial Circuit (Baltimore County & Harford County)

Judge Steven I. Platt (former)

Prince George’s County Circuit Court

Judge Lisa Hall Johnson

Prince George’s County District Court

Magistrate Kevin R. Hill

St. Mary’s County Circuit Court