Thank You!

This article by Hon. Karoline Mehalchick was originally published in the Summer 2026 issue of The Federal Lawyer.

What makes the Federal Bar Association so great? All of you.

Last September, I stood before you in Minneapolis at our Annual Meeting and Convention and addressed you for the first time as your National President. During those remarks, I spoke about actions being louder than words, about how the Federal Bar Association is proactive rather than reactive, about the profoundly important work the Association does in support of the federal bench and bar, and I thanked you for putting your faith in me to lead this organization. Nearly a year later, as my term as your president draws to a close, I am proud to say that the Federal Bar Association remains actively committed to its mission and purpose of supporting an independent judiciary and promoting the rule of law. Why have we been able to actively accomplish so much this year? Because of you.

Over the last year, through meetings and conferences and phone calls, I have been privileged and fortunate to meet many of the nearly 18,000 members of the Federal Bar Association. I have visited chapters, met with sections, attended conferences, and gotten to know so many of you. I met with members and chapters from New Orleans, Maine, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Chicago, and many places in between. In New Orleans, we applauded our largest chapter; in Maine, we supported a new chapter launch and its members joining our organization. In Chicago, we lauded the commitment to service exemplified by our members taking cases on a pro bono basis; in Philadelphia, we launched a renewed chapter in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In Harrisburg and Scranton, we applauded the work of mentors and mentees in the Middle District of Pennsylvania’s new mentorship program. Together, we celebrated old and new chapters and felt the reach of a national organization with immediate local impact. Our board of directors participated in civics education and service projects alongside chapter members in New Orleans and Philadelphia in conjunction with two of our board meetings.

In support of the Federal Bar Association’s government relations work, I traveled to our nation’s capital twice, first in February as part of the first Judges’ Fly-In event, bringing together seven federal judges and members of Congress to discuss issues of judicial security and independence, and again in March as part of the Federal Bar Association’s annual Capitol Hill Day. This year’s Capitol Hill Day resulted in a record number of meetings, connecting our members with members of Congress to educate and advocate for judicial security measures, funding for our federal courts, and the independent federal judiciary. This time spent with our government relations counsel and committee, members of Congress and their staff, and more of you – our members – was a perfect example of the Federal Bar Association’s nonpartisan government relations work making a difference, strengthening our connections on the Hill, and promoting the policy priorities of judicial security and funding for the federal courts.

In conjunction with Capitol Hill Day, our members gathered in Washington, D.C. for the annual Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition, and I was privileged to be part of the panel of judges for the final round of the competition. Our law student members competing this year were amazingly talented and clearly dedicated to understanding the nuances of legal argument and oral advocacy. They are a bright future for our profession. The competition was followed by Leadership Summit, two full days of programming dedicated to supporting new leaders of chapters and sections as they navigate their roles in our organization. The programming by you and participation by you made Leadership Summit a fantastic two days of networking, learning, and connection. My year also included being a part of the Indian Law Conference, where I met a number of you for the first time. That conference is an incredible gathering of nearly 700 attendees coming together to learn about the sovereignty and well-being of tribes across the country and the interplay of tribal, state, and federal legal systems. Most recently, I had the distinct honor of moving for the admission of thirteen of our members before the United States Supreme Court.

As I met with each of you this year, I was constantly reminded that the strength of the Federal Bar Association lies not only in our shared commitment to the rule of law, but also in the relationships we build within and across our chapters, our practice areas, our courts, and our generations of lawyers. We are a professional community grounded in civility, service, and mutual respect. Together, this year, we expanded our programming, mentorship, and engagement. We strengthened connections and support for the federal judiciary. Through community outreach and civics initiatives, we continued to educate students, lawyers, and the public about the Constitution, and our system of government and laws. This work is particularly meaningful this year as our nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This significant milestone gives us the chance to celebrate our country’s founding ideals and the principles that guide our profession–liberty, equality, due process, and the pursuit of justice. The work of the Federal Bar Association is essential to supporting these ideals and to promoting public confidence in the rule of law.

The Federal Bar Association occupies a unique place in the legal profession. Our organization plays an essential role in fostering professionalism and promoting excellence in federal practice. I am especially proud of the spirit of collaboration that defined this year. None of what the Federal Bar Association accomplished this year was the work of any one of us. It reflects the dedication of our phenomenal staff, executive committee, board of directors, circuit vice presidents, section leaders, committee chairs, chapter leaders, and members who consistently give their time and talent to advance the mission of the Federal Bar Association. It is your commitment to this organization that makes every event, every initiative, and every success possible.

As my term comes to a close, I am filled with gratitude for all of you. Thank you for your support, encouragement, and friendship throughout the year. Serving this organization is both an honor and a joy. I look forward to continuing to support the Federal Bar Association and to watching its continued growth and success in the years ahead, while strengthening the friendships and relationships that make the Federal Bar Association truly exceptional.

Thank you!