Every Superhero Has an Origin Story: What’s Yours?

President’s Message from the Winter 2024 issue of The Federal Lawyer

An effective superhero origin story explains in compelling fashion the starting point in what ultimately turns out to be a remarkable journey. That starting point could be learning that with great power comes great responsibility, discovering that there is no secret ingredient or going to law school. Our world today is filled with both fictional and factual heroes. While I do love a good Spiderman or Kung-Fu Panda movie, what has changed my life for the better has been the inspirational lives and actions of people around me. I have met many of these real-life heroes through the FBA.

Last week, I attended FBA meetings in Phoenix, Arizona, hosted by members of our wonderful Phoenix Chapter. While there, I learned the FBA origin story of Judge Alison Bachus. Following graduation from the University of Arizona College of Law, Judge Bachus clerked for then-Chief District Judge Stephen McNamee in Phoenix. Judge Bachus quickly learned that Judge McNamee was a wonderful mentor, an impressive jurist, and a committed FBA member. Judge McNamee made the Phoenix Federal Courthouse available for monthly FBA events. More importantly, he attended those events, and he brought his clerks along, even paying for them when there was a charge. Even now, when he presides over (almost all) the admission ceremonies to the district court in Phoenix, Judge McNamee makes sure he encourages new admittees to join the FBA.

U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan, Senior U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee, U.S. Magistrate Judge Alison S. Bachus, and Chief U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow. Photo by Lauren B. Tribble.

It was no coincidence that Judge Bachus invited Judge McNamee to swear her in as Arizona’s newest Federal Judge last year.

As Judge Bachus shared this story, with Judge McNamee at her side, she thanked him for making the FBA part of her life. Judge McNamee then shared his love for the FBA and its mission. It was a wonderful moment.

I first met Judge Bachus, pre-judge years, at a leadership training meeting in Washington, D.C. years ago. She immediately impressed me with her commitment to the FBA’s mission, her desire to improve as a leader, and her friendliness and sense of humor. I felt that day that she was a true leader with a bright future, and I was right.

Since that day, I have watched her serve the FBA in many positions, including Chapter President, Circuit Vice-President and Board member. Prior to her time as a judge, she was one of the FBA’s most important and effective advocates in our government relations work, especially with the White House.

And throughout her FBA and professional work, she has mentored many and exemplified the values of our wonderful organization. I have watched her build connections with federal practitioners and judges throughout the country who have become her friends. They have made her life and her career better.  She credits her involvement with FBA, and mentorship of FBA members such as Judge McNamee, as integral to her path to joining the federal bench.

I share this story not just because I have been a part of it, but because it is an example of how her story has become part of my story through the FBA.

As your President this year, I am emphasizing membership – both growing our membership and improving your membership experience. We are in the midst of our Countdown to Kansas City Challenge, through which we are inviting every one of our sections, divisions, professional chapters, and law student chapters to do three things: (1) grow by 10%; (2) increase our retention of existing members to 80%; and (3) develop a membership plan to achieve growth and meet the needs of our FBA members.

While I was in Arizona, someone asked me what makes the FBA grow. I hadn’t heard that question before. The answer to me is simple. There is no magic and no superpower involved. In fact, there is no secret ingredient.

Our membership grows best and grows fastest when one FBA member invites a colleague to an FBA event.

What is your FBA origin story? I am guessing that at some point in your life, an FBA member invited you to join us at an event. Consider how your life and your career have been impacted by that moment.

I hope your FBA experience has been positive enough that you now want to invite your friends and colleagues to join us. As you do so, you create an opportunity for that lawyer, judge, or law student to make their lives and their careers better by being part of an organization that does great things in the right way. Their stories can become part of your story and our collective FBA story.

Thank you for all you do for the FBA and our legal community!