That evening, Louisiana State Chair James Brown hosted a cocktail reception at the hotel including strolling
around the event skillfully playing his violin. He even serenaded us with his version of “Danny Boy.”
The Tri-State Regional Meeting also took place in New Orleans. We joined Past President Sam Franklin and
his wife Betty, and Past President Rodney Acker and his wife Judy for dinner with a number of Fellows Friday
night. Rodney and I took an early morning flight to Houston, Texas to join the Texas Fellows and Past Presidents
David Beck and Doug Young for the Annual Texas Fellows Luncheon. Past Presidents Beck, Young,
Acker, and I awarded the National Moot Court Competition award to the Texas Tech Law School team which
was present along with the Dean of the law school and several administrators and professors from the school.
We returned in time for the Friday night reception
which featured the Muscle Shoals All Star Band.
Muscle Shoals, much like California’s Wrecking Crew,
consisted of talented studio musicians who supported
stars like Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, Alicia
Keys, and Gregg Allman out of the Fame Recording
Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. It was one of the
finest musical events we have ever attended. Fellow
Rick Hall’s father was one of the original members of
Muscle Shoals.
The General Session was opened by thoughtful comments
from Alabama State Chair Gaynor St. John,
Regent Bob MacKenzie, and Secretary Rick Deane.
Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell spoke about
tourism in the South and the Civil Rights movement.
CEO of the 2022 World Games Nick Sellers spoke
about the 2022 World Games this summer in Birmingham,
Alabama. It is an 11-day multi-sport event
organized with the help of the International Olympic
Committee. Author, chef, and owner of Highlands Bar
and Grill Frank Stitt of Birmingham, Alabama spoke
about his restaurant which was named the James Beard
2018 Best Restaurant in the United States.
The first speakers the next day were a panel consisting
of Fellow Chris King; Fellow Finis St. John,
Chancellor of the University of Alabama System;
Deputy Director of Athletics at University of Alabama,
Matt Self; and Executive Associate Athletics
Director at Auburn University, Rich McGlynn, who
discussed the name, image, and licensing (NIL) issues
facing collegiate sports and the future of paying
college athletes. Documentary filmmaker, author
and professor at Dillard University, Zella Palmer,
spoke about the evolution of Louisiana Creole Cuisine
followed by former U.S. Senator from Alabama,
Doug Jones, who spoke about guiding the White
House through the U.S. Senate confirmation process.
Past Presidents Doug Young and Rodney Acker and their wives
Terry and Judy, joined us for the final regional meeting in beautiful
Alaska. We all very much enjoyed our time with Regent
Carey Matovich, Alaska State Chair Neil O’Donnell, and our
Fellows and their spouses/guests. The speakers at the General
Session were Major General Randy “Church” Kee, U. S. Air
Force (Ret.) who served as Senior Advisor on Arctic Security
Affairs to the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Affairs. He
addressed global security issues in the Arctic in light of major
power rivalries, climate change, and the recent Russian invasion
of Ukraine. Former Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice
Dana Fabe and former Alaska Judge Elaine Andrews provided
tips on resolving difficult cases through mediation. Dr. Caroline
Van Hemert is an Alaska-based writer and wildlife biologist.
For six months, she and her husband traveled by row boat, ski,
foot, raft, and canoe across some of the wildest land in North
America. Journalist Larry Persily operates the Wrangell Sentinel
weekly newspaper in Southeast Alaska and addressed Alaska’s
oil-driven politics, its unique position without a state sales or income
tax while distributing oil-wealth savings dividends to the
public every year, and the inevitability that nothing good can
last forever. Executive Director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute
Judge Jeremy Fogel addressed the future of virtual proceedings
and cameras in the courtroom in light of the pandemic. The
final speaker was Jeff King who has won the 1,049 mile Iditarod
Trail Sled Dog Race four times. Jeff addressed the lessons
he has learned about determination, competitiveness, empathy,
and sportsmanship from more than 150,000 miles on a dogsled
over the past thirty-five years.
WHITE PAPERS
Thanks to all the Fellows who gave their time, talent and energy
in drafting various white papers. The Board of Regents approved
the following White Papers at the 2022 Spring meeting:
Q Statement on Virtual Proceedings in the Civil Justice System
by the Advocacy in the 21st Century Committee
QRemote Proceeding Advocacy by the Advocacy in the 21st
Century Committee
QTreatise on Electronic Evidence available for purchase
through Bloomberg by the Complex Litigation Committee
11 JOURNAL