From the President: Looking Back on a Busy, Eventful and Productive Year

DBA President Denise Warner

In September I quoted United States Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, “What each of us must come to realize is that our intent always comes through.” I am pleased to report that I realized my intention as the 2009-2010 DeKalb Bar Association president to maintain the legacy of commitment that the past presidents of the DeKalb Bar Association have exemplified over the past 45 (now 46!) years.

Our CLE programs were second to none. A crowded room of attorneys joined DBA Treasurer Jack Fishman and CPA William Zachery at Carpe Diem in October to learn “How to Start and Run a Business.” More than 100 DBA members and DeKalb County citizens attended the “A View from the Bench: Professionalism in the Courtroom” CLE and public forum in February to increase their understanding of and respect for the rule of law, the legal process and the role of the legal profession.

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Introducing Cindy Harris – Our New Executive Director

by Amy Daldry

Cindy Harris

Let me formally introduce you to Cindy Harris, who has taken on the distinguished-sounding job title of executive director of the DeKalb Bar Association as well as the unglamorous job of keeping a group of attorneys on task. The job of executive director was aptly described by Katie Wood in her farewell article to Aubrey Jones as “a bit like herding cats.” After meeting with Cindy, I am confident that the DBA board has found us a great herder – er, director.

Cindy Harris comes to the DBA with a wealth of experience in managing people and organizing events. Having coordinated events for more than 16 years, she is savvy at interviewing vendors, negotiating vendor contracts, hiring and supervising employees, maintaining accounts payable and receivable, gathering and organizing data, as well as performing general office management duties.

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Preview: DeKalb Bar Luncheon June 24

Former DeKalb Superior Court Judge R. Keegan Federal Will Speak on
“The Times They Have Changed: A Historical Perspective of the DeKalb Law Practice”

Food service begins at 11:30 a.m.

Judge Keegan Federal, then and now

Judge R. Keegan Federal was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and grew up in Columbus, Georgia. He studied for the ministry at St. John’s Seminary, and attended Loyola University in New Orleans, received his undergraduate degree and his law degree, with honors, from Emory University. Judge Federal was admitted to practice in Georgia on June 14, 1966, at the age of 22. He began his trial practice at Shoob, McLain & Jessee in Atlanta, and worked with his mentors, Marvin Shoob (later judge, USDC, Atlanta), Willis Hunt (later chief justice, Georgia Supreme Court, and judge, USDC, Atlanta), and Jim Jessee from 1966 to 1968. During these same two years, Keegan pursued an MBA in Insurance Law at Georgia State University’s evening division.

Two years later Judge Federal was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Army and assigned to Ft. Gordon, Georgia, trying court-martial cases. From 1969 to 1970, Keegan served in Vietnam, and was awarded the Bronze Star. Keegan remained active in veterans’ affairs: he chaired Georgia’s Vietnam Veterans’ Leadership program, which conducted seminars for veterans starting a business, and he is a member of the Atlanta Vietnam Veteran’s Business Association, which honors fallen Vietnam veterans each Memorial Day with the placement of a bronze plaque at a ceremony in their memory. In 1970 he again found himself in private practice with Nall Miller & Cadenhead (now Nall & Miller) where he tried a number of injury and death cases. Two years later Judge Federal and his friend Fred Orr started Orr & Federal in Decatur, representing individuals and small- to-medium-size companies in a wide variety of legal matters.

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Mark that Calendar!

Meeting to Elect New FLS Board The Family Law Section chair has called an Annual Meeting to be held Thursday, June 3, 7:30 a.m., at the Old Courthouse to elect the new Board. Breakfast will be catered by Badda Bing.…

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The Litigator’s Playbook: No Loose Ends
and No Unanswered Questions

The Design of Convincing and Compelling Opening Statements

by Jeri Kagel, M.Ed., J.D.

As the trial begins, jurors feel as though they have just entered a foreign country. These strangers in a strange land are unsure how to navigate through their surroundings when suddenly someone stands up and talks to them, suggesting, “Follow me, I can help you find your way through this.” They begin to follow when suddenly someone else starts talking and motioning to them, “No, no. Follow me. My way through this is better.” In real life, your jurors have just listened to your, and your opposing counsel’s, opening statements.

Everyone, attorneys and witnesses, convey different parts of a story at trial – that story is your version of what happened and why. Opening statements are the first time you tell your story from beginning to end. Attorneys are much less dependent on “picking the right jury” when they spend time designing a convincing theme and presenting it in a compelling manner that initially engages, and makes the most sense to, a wide variety of jurors.

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