Ohio State Bar Association
Committee on Fair and Impartial Courts
Agenda for September 19, 2008 meeting, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Location: OSBA Headquarters
I. Welcome and Introductions [5 minutes]
II.Committee Mission:
To bring together representatives of the Ohio legal community and leaders of other concerned disciplines to develop and implement an effective, consistent and results-oriented public outreach effort to help the public better understand the role of lawyers, judges and overall legal/judicial system.
III.Anticipated 2008 – 2009 Projects and Objectives – overview [5 minutes]
A.Mid-Term Evaluation Project [10 minutes]
1.Reminder of what it is. – [Ken Brown]
2.Action needed:
a.Follow up on how it has worked. Who doing it. How it has worked.
b.Invite other bar associations to try it.
c.Other?
3.Who would like to work on this.
B.Bicentennial Celebration of Ohio constitution – open discussion [10 minutes]
1.What should OSBA do
2.Use Law day as forum for activities?
3.Should the Committee get involved?
4.Special Issue of Ohio Lawyer regarding Ohio Constitutional Rights?
5.Youth program?
C.Law Day Project [10 minutes]
1.Date: First Week of May
2.Purpose: Draw attention to our system of laws; Pres. D. Eisenhower began this. - [Ken Brown]
3.What theme do we want?
4. Past Activities: a. H.S. Essay contest? – [add Scholarship?]
5.Need subcommittee to determine what to do.
a. Possibilities: Prepare sample speeches, handout materials, PR materials, School presentations, recommended forums; other
b.Piggy back on ABA – such as ______
c.Op. Ed. Pieces.
6.Involve New Lawyers Section – Chad Burton
D.Study and prepare report on what is proper and fair criticism of judges – [10 minutes]
1.Difference from Least Understood Branch Project
a. Least Understood Project designed to teach public about an independent judiciary
b. This will help define what is appropriate criticism v. improper criticism. It is a logical extension of The Least Understood Branch Project.
2.Objective: Convince journalists, public, academics, judges and lawyers what constitutes proper and improper criticism of judges[1]
3.Issues to be addressed
a.What is appropriate criticism and inappropriate criticism for trial judges and appellate judges?
b.What is appropriate way to convey that criticism?
E.Least Understood Branch Project/Public Outreach [10 minutes]
1.What it is?
2.Past activities [Ken Brown]
3.Should Committee take active roll in future?
F. Should Committee do CLE presentations? [10 minutes]
1.Proper constitutional interpretation?
2.Briefing and arguing Constitutional Issues?
3.Judicial Activism: What is it and is it good or bad?
4.Other
G.General [10 minutes]
1.Other suggestions?
2.Recruiting other people for committee
3.Work with Judicial Conference, Ohio Center for Law Related Education and Supreme Court to launch educational outreach?
IV.Future Follow Up [5 minutes]
A.Next meeting
B.Schedule for individual projects
C.List of sub-committee members
To join the meeting by telephone: DIAL 800-201-6800; ENTER PIN 142020#
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[1] Participants: (a) two trial judges; (b) two appellate judges; (c) two Supreme Court judges; (d) two law school professors; (e) two journalists; (f) two practicing civil lawyers; (g) two practicing criminal lawyers