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“Well, you can tell from this process that no one here got into this, this body, by faking anything. This process takes a year, sometimes more than a year. “Now you heard Justice Breyer today mention Groucho Marx. Groucho Marx said the secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, and if you can fake those, you’ve got it made. “It is reported that George Santos is claiming to be a Past President of the College, I can assure you we’re not going let him get away with it. There’s an investigation going on right now. “After tonight, you’ll receive a very handsome plaque that you’ll hang on your wall. If you watch the news on TV, some of the pundits have their College plaque right behind them so that every- one can see, see that they’re members of the Col- lege. It’s impressive and you’ll want to display it. I hope, in addition to displaying it, that you will get active in the College. We have something like for- ty committees, and these are the committees that do the work that make the College the important body that it is and make its contributions to the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and access to justice so vital in our two countries and our communities. Programs like what you have enjoyed the last two days are possible because of work done by these committees. Friendships are made on these committees. Referral sources are realized on these committees. But they’re vital to the work of the College and I submit to you, they’re vital to the work of our two countries and the preservation of our democracies. “We know that you inductees didn’t get here all by yourselves. Your spouses and friends have supported you, contributed to you, and are here to help you enjoy and celebrate this moment, this afternoon, and this evening, which are all about you. They know that like the singer and songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker, for you, the only way to know how much is enough is to work too hard and then back up. “But now, this afternoon and this evening, is your time, and we ask the spouses and friends to give you your space, let you have your moment in the sun, and then when you get home, it’s back to earth. The trash has to be put out, the dog needs to be fed, all the things of life still go on. “We’re so delighted to have you here with us. Justice Abella was right; in this profession we’ve been drawn to people, to real life, life’s issues, and not just abstract contexts. We, you, have chosen a career where we advocate for people, institutions, causes, and we make things real for juries, judges and the public. So thank you for all you do, for all you have done. Congratulations. Enjoy the evening, enjoy the afternoon, and Terri and I will see you tonight.” AFTER THE INDUCTION CEREMONY, CHRIS DAVIS GAVE THE INDUCTEE RESPONSE, ABRIDGED HERE: My law partner, Andy Coats, a Past President of the American College, cornered me last week and admon- ished me that for a good speech to be immortal, it doesn’t need to be eternal. But if you’ll indulge me just for a moment. You’re sev- enteen years old and you’re lying in a hospital bed at the National Institutes of Health Resort and Spa in Bethesda, Maryland, and a team of world-renowned neuro- surgeons is telling you unequivo- cally that unless there’s a miracle of God or science, you’re going to be paralyzed from the waist down and never walk again. You’re from a lower middle-class family in a central Illinois small farm town with a two-story farmhouse where all the bedrooms are upstairs. Lying there in that hospital bed, you don’t really imagine that someday you’re going to be inducted into the American College of Trial lawyers at the Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne, Florida. You know, I’m a big believer that in America anything is possible. This is a magnificent country. A few weeks ago, I got a phone call from Regent Don Folluo in Tulsa, who happens to be a close person- al friend of mine, and I could tell that he was rather excited, and he says, “Chris, are you sitting down?” I said, well, uh, yes, Dan, I said, in fact, I sat down about forty-one years ago. Dan knows that being a paraplegic isn’t as glamorous as it always seems. In truth, I was stunned. First there is a general sense of immediate inadequacy. What in the world have I done that would merit such an honor? And second, maybe even more so for me, I didn’t have an inkling that anything was going on. It was a complete surprise to me. When I think about the secrecy and the integrity of the process, I mean, there is more of a shroud of mystery of becoming a Fellow than there is to become a 32nd degree Mason. It’s a special pleasure that I appear before you on behalf of the class with quite an array of diversity. Everybody in the class, of course, is as extraordinary in their achievements or they wouldn’t be here. I’d like to introduce the class to you, but in doing so, I want to first start with a little of my story. SUMMER 2023 JOURNAL 62