The
Northern District of Ohio Chapter's "Brown Bag Lunch"
Series
Beginning in 1998, the
Northern District of Ohio Chapter began what has become one
of its most well-received continuing programs -- the "Brown
Bag Lunch" series. The Chapter's "Brown Bag Lunches"
provide an opportunity for our members to meet, have lunch
with, and ask questions of the members of our local federal
judiciary in an informal setting. The programs are
offered as an added benefit to our Chapter members
(including member discounts on the modest registration fee
and/or free registration to new members), although
registration is generally open to all through announcements
distributed by the Chapter via e-mail to our members,
notices on the Chapter and FBA websites, and postings
placed on the Northern District of Ohio district court and
bankruptcy court websites.
The format of the "Brown Bag Lunches" is simple, and has
remained the same throughout the series' history.
Each program, usually held in the courtroom of the featured
judge, begins with a boxed lunch provided to the attendees
as part of their registration (thus, the "Brown Bag" part
may be a bit of a misnomer). While seated at the
counsel tables, in the jury box, and throughout the
courtroom gallery seating, the registrants and the judge
have an opportunity to meet and talk with one another
before the presentation element of the program
begins. After a brief introduction by a Chapter
member, the floor is then turned over to the judge to share
thoughts, offer insights, recount significant career
milestones and events, or to otherwise present whatever he
or she wishes to say to the gathered audience. Often,
the audience is treated to a few war stories as well.
The program closes with what many consider the most
valuable part, a question and answer session between the
judge and the attendees. It is during these sessions
that we federal practitioners get to know a little more
about our judges and their concerns, and in turn, the
judges get to learn a little more about us and what is on
our minds. In addition to being educational the
programs are fun too, as attested to by both our local
bench and bar.
Since the initiation of the "Brown Bag Lunch" program
series, it has been the Chapter's goal to offer three or
four such programs per year. Some of the Chapter's
past "Brown Bag Lunch" program speakers have been:
1998:
Judge Dan Aaron Polster, United States District Judge for
the Northern District of Ohio (December 11, 1998)
2000:
Federal Law Clerks of the U.S. District Court for the
Northern District of Ohio (August 22, 2000)
2001:
Judge Dan Aaron Polster, United States District Judge for
the Northern District of Ohio (March 9, 2001)
Judge Lesley Brooks Wells, United States District Judge for
the Northern District of Ohio (June 5, 2001)
Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr., United States District Judge for
the Northern District of Ohio (originally scheduled for
September 11, 2001, later moved to October 30, 2001)
2005:
Judge Dan Aaron Polster, United States District Judge for
the Northern District of Ohio (February 10, 2005)
Judge James Gwin, United States District Judge for the
Northern District of Ohio (May 5, 2005, joined by Judge
John Adams, United States District Judge for the Northern
District of Ohio)
2006:
Judge Christopher A. Boyko, United States District Judge
for the Northern District of Ohio (July 27, 2006)
2007:
Judge Dan Aaron Polster, United States District Judge for
the Northern District of Ohio (February 14, 2007)
Judge Kenneth S. McHargh, United States Magistrate Judge
for the Northern District of Ohio (April 5, 2007)
Judge Jack Zouhary, United States District Judge for the
Northern District of Ohio (June 4, 2007)
Judge David D. Dowd, United States Senior District Judge
for the Northern District of Ohio (August 27, 2007)
Judge Peter C. Economous, United States District Judge for
the Northern District of Ohio (December 3, 2007)
2008:
Judge Nancy A. Vecchiarelli, United States Magistrate Judge
for the Northern District of Ohio (February 5, 2008)
Judge Kathleen McDonald O'Malley, United States District
Judge for the Northern District of Ohio (July 2, 2008)
Judge Karen Nelson Moore, United States Circuit Judge,
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (October 7, 2008)
Judge Sara Lioi, United States District Court, Northern
District of Ohio (December 19, 2008)
2009:
Judge Patricia Gaughan, United States District Court,
Northern District of Ohio (April 22, 2009)
Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr., United States District Court,
Northern District of Ohio (July 30, 2009)
Judge Dan A. Polster, United States District Court,
Northern District of Ohio (November 5, 2009)
2010:
Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the
Northern District of Ohio (February 5, 2010)
Judge Deborah L. Cook, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth
Circuit, and Judge Sara Lioi, U.S. District Court, Northern
District of Ohio (June 21, 2010)
Magistrate Judge George J. Limbert, U.S. District Court,
Northern District of Ohio (July 15, 2010)