Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 33
Page 34
Page 35
Page 36
Page 37
Page 38
Page 39
Page 40
Page 41
Page 42
Page 43
Page 44
Page 45
Page 46
Page 47
Page 48
Page 49
Page 50
Page 51
Page 52
Page 53
Page 54
Page 55
Page 56
Page 57
Page 58
Page 59
Page 60
Page 61
Page 62
Page 63
Page 64
Page 65
Page 66
Page 67
Page 68
8 Spring 2015 The Mississippi Lawyer Ole Miss Law graduation just recently. Likewise I had the opportunity to talk to our newest lawyers at both the Spring and Fall Bar Admission Ceremonies and this too was a joy. Melanie Henry organized a terrific five month bar leadership program for young lawyers chosen from around our state. With one exception moi the speakers were dynamic to say the least. Perhaps just a ham but I really enjoyed speaking to these younger lawyers too. Finally we held our annual Memorial Service at the Supreme Court building and this was a moving opportunity for me being allowed to give the Eulogy to family and friends that attended. As you can see these opportunities have truly been an honor for me. Through the year we have met bar leaders and their spouses from around the country. My wife Jan and I have created relationships that will last well beyond the bar year. I can honestly say that I have grown more in this short period of time than I thought possible. There were countless opportunities to experience learn- ing by the examples of these great leaders. While most of our opportunities to share knowledge came from bar leaders in our southern states we had the opportunity to experience the same from bar leaders from all around the country. Right here at home I have come to realize what a great legal community we have in MS. MS leadership within our Bar is impressive to say the least. We all know that our country suffers from access to justice issues on many different fronts. It is one thing to recognize the problem and another to really do something about it The MS Bar cannot cure the problem. It requires you and me to get involved because we care. The MS legal community is so much broader in its reach out to this issue than I ever realized. Besides the MS Bar you have the Young Lawyers Division contributing in a most meaningful way. They are in fact a most effective public service arm of the MS Bar. Then you have the work of the Magnolia Bar that branches out in many different directions with meaningful programs. There are our local bar associations across the State like the Capital Area Bar Association CABA dealing with these issues in their own locale. But this is just the tip of the iceberg Unfortunately we are a state rich in poverty a poster child for the critical need for access to our justice system by many underserved segments of Mississippis population. The MS Access to Justice Commission seeks to represent the many MS organizations that work to provide access to our judiciary in a meaningful way. There are organizations across our State that break down the needs in many different ways. I want each of us to know that the following organizations made up of people just like you and me ARE doing something about it The MS Volunteer Lawyers Project is an organization we all recognize as filling a critical need by pro- viding an option for legal services to the poor of our state. The bulk of pro bono services provided to the poor of our state comes from the hard work of North MS Rural Legal Services and Mississippi Center for Legal Services. Our two law schools are doing their part to provide legal services while at the same time giving students experience and opportunity to work with these underserved clients. The University Of Mississippi School Of Law has roughly ten practice areas within their Clinical Programs and also operates the Pro Bono Initiative as well as a clinical externship program. Mississippi College School of Law Clinical Programs operate the Mission First Legal Aid Office and the Family and Childrens Law Center which includes an Adoption Legal Clinic and their Public Service Law Center which coordinates an MC Law externship pro- gram. The Southern Poverty Law Center Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance Mississippi Workers Center for Human Rights Mississippi Center For Justice ACLU of MS Choctaw Legal Defense and the Catholic Charities Legal Assistant Clinic are significantly serving the needs of our poor and help in the ongoing struggle to provide access to justice to every Mississippian. Unlike my opening paragraph expressing goodbye in many different languages I hope that those of us who practice law in MS will speak a common language and find a common purpose to serve the public all of our public through the many avenues to provide access to justice in MS. Again many thanks for allowing me the opportunity to serve you this past year. It has truly been my pleasure I Adios and Hasta la Vista