Federal Bar Association

The Northern District of Ohio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association co-sponsored a special CLE program, "Iron Lawyer Competition", on August 27, 2008 at the Carl B. Stokes U.S. Courthouse in Cleveland. More than 90 lawyers learned the art of the closing argument in a fun and innovative way. At the end of the closing argument presentation, attendees voted on who they thought delivered the best closing argument. The winner, named Cleveland's first "Iron Lawyer", will be announced in next issue of the Chapter's newsletter.

The chapter held its first Members-Only Networking Breakfast on Thursday, May 29. Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Smith, P.C. hosted this event at their office in Key Tower. The one-hour event gave attendees an opportunity to get to know other federal practitioners in an informal setting and to talk about their practices and possible networking opportunities. This event was created in response to information received from the FBA-NDOC membership survey. Those attending the breakfast have an opportunity to continue their exchange of dialogue by participating in an online discussion group. The discussion group is in full operation and is open exclusively to FBA-NDOC networking breakfast participants. Please see our calendar of events for the dates of future breakfasts.

On April 30th, 2008, members of the Chapter presented information about the C.A.R.E. program at a College Funding Step-by-Step workshop to be held at Cleveland State University. C.A.R.E., an acronym for Credit Abuse Resistance Education, is an outreach program designed to educate students about responsible spending and the importance of using consumer credit wisely. For more information about this program, please visit www.careprogram.us.

On April 7, 2008, the FBA Northern District of Ohio Chapter, joined by the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Women's Bar Association, the Norman S. Minor Bar Association, the Hispanic National Bar Association and the Asian American Bar Association of Ohio, co-sponsored and presented the Annual Greater Cleveland Bench-Bar Memorial Program. The memorial program brings together the members of the Greater Cleveland legal community to remember and pay tribute to our colleagues in the legal profession who have passed away within the last year. The event was held, as it was last year, in the atrium of the Howard M. Metzenbaum U.S. Courthouse.

The "A Book of Their Own" project was an outstanding success again this year, thanks to the efforts of judges, lawyers, court personnel, law firm staff, teachers, students, and other volunteers. Approximately 11,000 books were collected and distributed to students at seven Cleveland elementary schools. The students were thrilled to receive them. The project will continue in 2009, with a goal of collecting even more books for kids who might not have a book of their own.

On Thursday, October 25, 2007, the Northern District of Ohio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association installed its new officers for the upcoming year. The installation ceremony was at The Club at Key Center and was attended by more than 100 FBA members and friends, including a number of federal judges. Chief Judge James G. Carr attended and swore in the new officers; Judge Patricia A. Gaughan swore in new chapter president Anthony J. LaCerva.

On July 11, 2007, the Northern District of Ohio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association hosted its Fourth Annual Summer Associate/Law Clerk Reception. The event was attended by Judges Polster, Oliver and former Judge Matia, Geri Smith, Clerk of Courts, over 100 summer associates/clerks, and countless federal practitioners. At the event, Judge Polster welcomed the summer associates/law clerks and encouraged them to stay in Cleveland upon entering practice. In addition, Art Kaufman, Chapter President, and John Gerak, Membership Chair, encouraged summer associates/law clerks to join the Federal Bar Association and local chapter and become involved in the Young Lawyers Committee.

The event would not have been possible without the generous contributions of Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP, Berns Ockner & Greenberger LLC, Brouse McDowell LPA, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, Jones Day, McCarthy Lebit Crystal & Liffman Co. LPA, McDonald Hopkins LLC, Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, Roetzel & Andress LPA, Schottenstein Zox & Dunn LPA, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, Thompson Hine LLP, Tucker Ellis & West LLP, Ulmer & Berne LLP and Vorys Sater Seymour & Pease LLP.

For more information about membership in the Federal Bar Association or local chapter, call John Gerak at 216-479-6190.

We have a winner! Michael Ruehl, an 8th grader at Bay Middle School in Bay Village, is the winner of the Northern District of Ohio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association's first "A Book of Your Own" Scholarship. Michael collected almost 1,900 new and gently used books. Michael was introduced to the project by his mother, Connie Ruehl, who is a legal secretary at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP.

In order to get all of those books, Michael distributed flyers around his neighborhood indicating that he was involved in this book drive and requesting either gently used or new books to be donated.  Two weeks later, he went around the neighborhood and collected those books.  Michael then spoke with his school principal, and received permission to put flyers and a collection box in each homeroom at the Middle School. Again, in total, Michael collected 1,871 books.

In recognition of Michael's efforts, he recently received a $500 Scholarship check from the FBA, a Certificate honoring his accomplishment, and a personal, behind-the-scenes tour of the Carl B. Stokes United States Court House. The Scholarship and Certificate were presented to Michael by Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Hemann and FBA Chapter President Art Kaufman at an informal ceremony on April 24th.


Chapter President, Art Kaufman, presents award to Michael Ruehl