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Joint Family Law and Professionalism Committees' Joint Meeting
First Annual Professionalism Award

On April 19 th, 2005, the Towson Golf and Country Club was packed with Baltimore County and City attorneys. However, this was not the annual "Golf Outing." Rather, this was the premier event of the year, celebrating professionalism, that is, the Joint Baltimore City/County Family Law, Professionalism Dinner Meeting.

The leaders of the local legal community were well represented. Judges Bollinger, Cadigan, Finifter, and Levitz all looked particularly happy, having completed recent tours of Family Division. Judges Cox, Byrnes, and Norman now in the Family Division seemed to be enjoying their current tour. District Court Judge Alexandra Williams and spouse, Executive Council Member Dana Williams also attended. It was great to see Judges Carrion and Handy along with Master Panos from the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, along with David Diggs, the Baltimore City Family Law Chair and many other members of the Baltimore City Bar Association. Master Mary Kramer of Howard County, made a special effort to attend in support of the evening's honoree, Leon Berg. Masters Beck, Brown and Gilbert also joined the crowd of attendees. Family Law Committee past Chairs such as Lisa Mervis who inaugurated the "dinner" concept had to have been excited to see such a fantastic turn-out. Other past Chairs, including Melissa Gray, Bob Lazzaro, along with immediate past Chair Mike Lawlor joined the crowd of over 100 members. Past President Nip Jenkins along with current President John Gontrum were also in attendance.

The Family Law Committee, under the guidance of Suzzane Farace, has hosted a standing room only event each and every month since September 2004, but April's topic proved to be particularly inviting. The theme, "Professionalism," for the April meeting emerged as a result of a dialogue with Baltimore County's Professionalism Chair, Hon. Ruth Jakubowski. What really makes this topic so compelling is that there is a direct correlation between incivility and an individual's overall sense of well being. Everyone knows how awful one feels when courtesy is not employed at home and at the work place. Judges and Masters are particularly keen to the lack of effectiveness of unprofessional counsel. Clearly, enhancing the behavior of attorneys is crucial to overall success for the clients and comfort levels in the profession. While the topic was enticing, the keynote speaker, Judge Joseph F. Murphy, Jr. was the dynamic magnet for this extraordinary program.

Judge Murphy, a recipient of too many awards to list here, including the Baltimore County Bar Association Law Day Award, The Daily Record Excellence Award and most recently the St. Thomas More Many For All Season Award, was the perfect choice as the keynote speaker. Judge Murphy commented that the legal profession, unlike many other professions has a core feature, the resolution of conflicting ideas and views. Thus disagreement is at the cornerstone of the profession. Not surprisingly, this can, and sometimes does, lead to "Rambo-style" tactics by attorneys. Yet Judge Murphy also reports that this is the exception and not the norm. Attorneys are still the first to be called in times of crisis and often times they are expected to wear many hats, including that of the psychologist, mediator, social worker, and financial advisor. Attorneys and Judges have been and are still called upon to preclude "mob" justice as described in the book To Kill a Mocking Bird. Judge Murphy reported that while there will probably always be those "lawyer jokes," lawyers are called upon regularly to correct society's mistakes and to prevent injustice in large part because lawyers handle this responsibility so well.

Judge Murphy spoke of the many programs designed to enhance the profession including the MSBA Professionalism Course for new admittees that has been in place for many years. No doubt the Baltimore County Bar Association's many continuing legal education programs, not to mention the enhanced camaraderie of the members during the social hours at all of our events, fills the void for the more experienced practitioner. Increased knowledge of law makes the practice substantially more successful and good manners come easily when your opponent is also your table mate at the BCBA dinners.

Of course, one of the best ways to inspire others is by way of example, and Judge Murphy is a real champion of Professionalism in this regard. He did not report this, but Judge Jakubowski announced that Judge Murphy still handles his own Violations of Probation. This is extraordinary, in that he could have ( and most would have) delivered those cases to his replacement many years ago. It is widely known that Judge Murphy, in addition to his regular judicial assignments, is a frequent lecturer at our own morning Continuing Legal Education Programs, MICPEL, MTLA, MSBA and other events. Still he makes time to return phone calls and even respond to drop-in visits from other members of our bench. It was this high caliber conduct that motivated the Association, through Judge Jakubowski, to present Judge Murphy with an award of thanks in the form of a bottle of Chianti.

Another way in which the Baltimore County Bar Association has made a positive impact on the profession is through the establishment of the Baltimore County Professionalism Award. This Award was designed to recognize a Baltimore County Bar member who exemplifies civility, integrity and compassion. Not surprisingly, recognition of quiet good works is a key to this recognition. Nomination guidelines included the establishment of a reputation and tradition of professionalism, demonstration of a high degree of courtesy, personal and professional dignity, and encouragement through deeds of respect for the law and our legal system. A wide number of nominations were accepted by the Committee that undoubtedly had a tough job of determining who best exhibited these qualities.

Judge Jakubowski announced that the Professionalism Committee recommended that attorney Leon W. Berg be presented with this award. She read segments of a letter of nomination written by Kristine Howanski who had met Leon as opposing counsel in a recent case. Leon, who entered his appearance late in an extremely contentious matter could have used this to his advantage. Instead he worked extra hard to maintain the momentum of the case and made a particular point of returning phone calls to maintain regular dialogue. Kris noted that Leon truly exhibits the type of conduct that we all wish to have perpetuated.

Henry Myerberg seconded this nomination reporting that he had similar experiences with Leon. Henry had the good fortune of calling Leon for advice and always found Leon to be cheaper and way more accurate than Lexis, or Westlaw. Mike Lawlor, whose wife Chris came to cheer for Leon, also spoke glowingly of his many years of knowing Leon, both having started working at the same firm back when some of us were probably in pre-school. Leon's wife Donna and daughter Rebecca, also in attendance, told me that the Leon we know at work is also the same kind, caring, detail-oriented person around the home.

 
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