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2007 News Articles › Willis Smith & Willis Smith Jr. Ethics in the Profession Speaker
Article Date: Monday, January 01, 2007
Written By: Russell Rawlings
“Professionalism, not surprisingly, has been a recurring theme of the association throughout the ages,” notes the NCBA’s centennial history book, “Seeking Liberty and Justice.”
In keeping with, and in support of, that tradition, the Willis Smith and Willis Smith Jr. Justice Fund was established in 1988. Through a $100,000 gift to the NCBA Foundation Endowment, the presentation of the professionalism speech at the NCBA Annual Meeting is underwritten.
Previous speakers include:
1990 - Professor Michael Tigar, University of Texas School of Law and Chair, ABA Litigation Section
1991 - Professor Forest J. Bowman, University of West Virginia School of Law
1992 - Chief Justice Harry L. Carrico, Supreme Court of Virginia
1993 - Michael S. Josephson, President, Josephson Institute of Ethics, Marina Del Rey, California
1994 - Sam Dash, Chief Counsel, Senate Watergate Committee, Chevy Chase, Maryland
1995 -Thomas S. Clay, Altman Weil Pensa, Inc., panel discussion moderated by Rhoda Billings; speakers included Ed Gaskins and Joe Cheshire
1996 - Julius Chambers and Robbie Everett
1997 - Ambassador So. M. Linowitz,, Academy for Education Development, Washington, D.C.
1998 - Dr. Thomas K. Hearn, President, Wake Forest University
1999 - Alexander M. Sanders, Jr., President, College of Charleston
2000 - Major Gen. John D. Altenburg, Jr., Assistant Judge Advocate General, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.
2001 - Deborah L. Rhode, Chair, ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, Chicago
2002- Judge Jean Hoefer Toal, Chief Justice, S.C. Supreme Court
2003 - Leslie Griffin, Larry and Joanne Doherty Chair in Legal Ethics, University of Houston Law Center
2004 - “Thurgood Marshall’s Coming!” Periaktos Productions’ one-man play featuring T. Mychael Rambo
2005 - Steve Mikita, Assistant Attorney General, Utah
2006 - Chief Judge Deanell Reece Tacha, 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Lawrence, Kansas