- This month’s newsletter is about leadership in the law. You have experienced the legal profession as a law clerk, private sector litigator, and now Judge, three distinct ways in which lawyers engage in leadership. How has your view of lawyers as leaders evolved through your career?
Answer: I have come to realize the importance of lawyers being what my law school called “servant leaders.” We are all servants to the law and, practicing litigators are, by definition, servants to others. Whether it be their clients or their bosses, lawyers are always answering to somebody. That is not to say that lawyers must do whatever their clients say—indeed, if clients were always right, they probably wouldn’t need their lawyers in the first place. In the end, the goal of the lawyer is to lead the client through the legal system and obtain a fair and just resolution to the client’s dispute.
- As a law clerk to Judge Loren Smith, you have an insider track on the Court and its cases. How has that helped you? How has the Court changed since you were a clerk?
Answer: It has been invaluable to have served as a clerk to Judge Smith. He has been a friend, mentor, and now colleague for the last 16 years and has been there for me in every major decision during that time. As for my current role, having the experience with the Court and its docket has allowed me to hit the ground running once I got here. The biggest change from when I was a clerk is all the new faces that are carrying the Court forward—the judges and staff. That said, one of the nice things in my early tenure is how many things have stayed the same from when I was a law clerk—from the long-time members of the Clerk’s Office to today’s senior judges who were all around when I was clerking.
- As a private practice attorney, you tried cases across the country. How has that prepared you to serve as a judge in the US Court of Federal Claims – a national court?
Answer: Trying cases around the country has shown me that there are a number of ways to do things that are different than the way we do things here in DC, and that we should not be stuck in our ways. As a judge with national jurisdiction, I hope to be served by this experience and welcome (within reason) the way things are done on “the American side of the Beltway.”
- What leadership role does the Bar play in the legal community?
Answer: While any Bar needs to be responsive to its members, it is also incumbent on the Bar to represent its members’ views and interests, particularly to the Court. As judges, we hold hearings and issue decisions, but get very little feedback from the lawyers. The Bar should be that conduit that allows our practitioners to raise concerns or provide the Court with feedback on how we may improve going forward.
- What is the leadership role of judges in the legal community?
Answer: First and foremost, I think judges lead by example and need to conduct ourselves in a calm and dignified manner to demonstrate to the litigants (and sometimes their lawyers) that although there is a real dispute, there is nothing to be gained from belligerent or abusive conduct.
Rapid Fire Round!
- Mac or PC?
Answer: Mac.
- Top-three songs on your Spotify/I-tunes playlist?
Answer: Whatever is on the radio.
- Orioles or Nationals?
Answer: Nationals.
- Favorite hidden DC treasure?
Answer: Rock Creek Park.
- Favorite DC “tourist” attraction: Cherry Blossoms in the Spring or Fireworks on the 4th?
Answer: Fireworks.
Membership
The Bar Association provides its members numerous educational opportunities and opportunities for practitioners to meet and interact with the judges of the Court and colleagues from both public and private practice for these purposes. Our members work closely with the Court’s judges to develop programs, contribute to revisions of the Court’s Rules, and organize a broad range of educational and other activities.
