Reflections from Judge Royce C. Lamberth
2024-05-17 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Judge Royce C. Lamberth will reflect on his distinguished career as a federal judge, chief judge, FISA court judge, and now senior judge. He will share lessons learned and other observations from some of his many cases. Ashley Akers, Younger Lawyers Division Chair, will moderate.
Hosted by the Federal Career Service Division, the Younger Lawyers Division, the Judiciary Division, the Senior Lawyers Division, and the District of Columbia Chapter.
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About the Speaker
Senior Judge Royce C. Lamberth
Royce C. Lamberth was appointed United States District Judge for the District of Columbia on November 16, 1987. He served as Chief Judge from May 1, 2008 to July 15, 2013, at which time he became a Senior Judge.
Judge Lamberth, a native of San Antonio, Texas, graduated from the University of Texas, receiving a B.A. degree in 1966 and from the University of Texas School of Law, receiving an LL.B degree in 1967. He served as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the United States Army from 1968 to 1974. After service at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and in Vietnam, Judge Lamberth served in the Litigation Division of the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Army at the Pentagon from 1971 to 1974.
Judge Lamberth served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1974 to 1987. He was Chief of the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office, 1978 – 1987.
Judge Lamberth is married to the former Janis K. Jost of San Antonio. He is a former Chairman of the Federal Litigation Section of the Federal Bar Association, and a member of the American Bar Association and the Bar Association of the District of Columbia, and the District of Columbia Bar.
Judge Lamberth is also a former Chairman of the Professional Ethics Committee of the Federal Bar Association. The Federal Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct for Federal Lawyers, finally approved in October 1990, were drafted by Judge Lamberth’s Committee.
Judge Lamberth was appointed by Chief Justice Rehnquist to be Presiding Judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court on May 19, 1995. That appointment ended May 19, 2002.
Judge Lamberth served as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from May 2008 to July 2013. He also served as a member of the Judicial Conference’s Committee on Automation and Technology from 1990 to 1996, and from 2003 to 2008, served as Chairman of the Judicial Conference’s Committee on Inter-Circuit Assignments. Chief Justice Roberts appointed him to again Chair the Inter-Circuit Assignment Committee, effective October 1, 2013.
About the Moderator
Ashley Akers, Younger Lawyers Division Chair
Ashley Akers is a Trial Attorney at the Department of Justice in the Civil Division, Commercial Litigation section in Washington, D.C. She handles an array of matters filed in the Court of International Trade, Federal Circuit, D.C. District Court, and Court of Federal Claims. Akers has argued nearly 20 federal appellate cases and has tried 15 jury and bench trials. As part of her trade practice, she runs the Department’s Trade Fraud Task Force. For the last two years, Akers has also worked with the D.C United States Attorney’s Office prosecuting criminal cases. She graduated law school in 2016 and clerked on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Akers previously served as the Chair of the Law Students Division and as Chair of Membership.
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Registration Fees

FBA Member: $0
Nonmember: $75

Live Captioning: Closed captioning is available for all virtual webcasts.

Internet Requirements: Virtual programs require suitable internet strength to stream online panels. A minimum internet connection of 800 Kbps is recommended for an optimal attendee experience. Test your connection here.

CLE
Please note CLE will not be offered for this event.

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A: Each webinar will have a unique link to watch the live broadcast. Registered attendees will receive login instructions via a calendar invitations 24 hours prior to the webinar.
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By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communication from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
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By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact sections@fedbar.org

Webinar: Optimizing and Preserving Wellbeing While Practicing Law
2024-06-12 14:00 - 15:00
Young lawyers experience various pressures as they begin to practice law. When met with sufficient resilience and a repertoire of life skills to skillfully respond to the challenges that come their way, their experience can be affirming and a source of great personal and professional fulfillment. Disconcerting levels of mental health struggles, career dissatisfaction, and feelings of stress point to the importance of addressing these concerns with insights and tools to help attenuate their deleterious effects.
This program introduces participants to a set of tools to help bolster their ability to meet the challenges they are experiencing at this time in their lives and are likely to encounter across the arc of their careers. The panel will introduce mindfulness insights and practices that can be helpful for emotional regulation, training attention, and perceiving people and events with greater clarity. Through the sharing of personal stories, participants will be reminded of the importance of self-care and that they are not alone in their quest to do well while encountering the many challenges that run through the legal profession.
Presented by the Judiciary Division and Younger Lawyers Division.
[Register Now!]
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

About the Presenters
Prof. Scott Rogers, Founder & Director, Mindfulness in Law Program, University of Miami School of Law
Scott Rogers, M.S., J.D., is founder and director of the University of Miami School of Law’s Mindfulness in Law Program, which he founded in 2010, where he teaches Mindfulness in Law, Mindful Ethics, Mindfulness and Negotiation, Mindful Leadership, and Mindfulness and Motivating Business Compliance with the Law. He is co-founder and co-director of UMindfulness, the University of Miami’s Mindfulness Research & Practice Initiative, and co-president of the Mindfulness in Law Society.
Professor Rogers is creator of Jurisight®, one of the first CLE programs in the country to integrate mindfulness and the law and broke ground introducing neuroscience research along with contemplative practices in the legal context. For more than a decade, Professor Rogers has been co-investigator on numerous grants involving neuroscience research exploring the enduring brain and behavior changes that may accompany mindfulness-training programs in high-stress, high consequence professions.
A nationally recognized leader in the field of mindfulness, since 1992 Professor Rogers has taught mindfulness to thousands of legal professionals including lawyers, judges, law students, judicial law clerks, law faculty, and mediators, and, he has introduced mindfulness to physicians, parents, firefighters, accountants, athletes, business leaders, financial advisors, therapists, and educators. He founded the Mindfulness in Law Joint Task Force of the Dade County Bar Association and Federal Bar Association (South Florida Chapter). In 2012 Professor Rogers was awarded the Sookie Williams/DBR Award for Exemplary Service to the Miami-Dade Legal Community,” and in 2015 Professor Rogers was awarded the “Law Faculty Professionalism Award” by the Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism. He is the 2018 receipt of the Mindful Kids Miami “Ambassador of Mindfulness” award for his more than 20 years of service sharing mindfulness with parents, teachers, and children.
Professor Rogers has published numerous law review articles and chapters and peer review scientific publications. He is the author of six books including “The Six-Minute Solution: A Mindfulness Primer for Lawyers,” “Mindfulness for Law Students,” “Mindful Parenting,” “Mindfulness and Professional Responsibility,” “Elements of Mindfulness,” and the recently released “The Mindful Law Student: A Mindfulness in Law Practice Guide.” He lectures across the country, speaks at law and scientific conferences, appeared on television, radio, podcasts, and has been interviewed in newspapers and magazines for his work on mindfulness.
Professor Rogers is columnist for the Florida Bar News and the ABA Journal where he authors the “The Mindful Layer” and the “Mindfulness 101” columns. His work at the University of Miami School of Law appeared in the Wall Street Journal, and his research has been reported on in the New York times. Professor Rogers lives in Miami Beach.
Javier Lopez, Partner, Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton
Javier Lopez is a partner, and co-chair of complex and commercial litigation. He served as Managing Partner of the firm throughout 2020 and 2021. Javier has particular expertise in both U.S. federal and state courts. He has represented many high-profile corporations and individuals in contract and business disputes, commercial transactions, and intellectual property matters. He has handled trials and appeals on both the state and federal levels. His recent verdict in a “bet the company” litigation that resulted in a six-week jury trial ended with one of the top ten largest jury verdicts in the State of Florida and one of the top 100 verdicts in the United States which was for almost $37 million.
Javier handles some of the firm’s largest and most complex litigation matters. He has particular expertise in filing and defending claims involving businesses, financial institutions, accounting firms, individuals and others for participation in fraudulent schemes, breaches of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, individual and class actions involving deception and false advertising, and representing individuals and large companies in contract and shareholder disputes. Javier frequently serves as an attorneys fee expert as he is certified by the National Association of Legal Fee Analysis (thenalfa.org). He has a passion for civil rights and is frequently appointed by courts to represent the interests of the less fortunate against government entities and law enforcement.
Javier is also humbled to have been appointed as Co-Lead Counsel to the Economic Loss and Property Damage Track in the Champlain Towers South Collapse Litigation, in Miami-Dade County state court before the Honorable Michael Hanzman. This complex litigation, in the aftermath of the devastating Champlain Towers collapse tragedy claiming 98 souls and 136 property units, has been one of the most important and impactful cases of Javier’s career and garnered worldwide importance. The resolution of this matter with over $1.3 billion going to the victims was one of the highest settlements in the country in 2022.
Chambers USA has ranked Javier since 2021 for Litigation: General Commercial and described him as “a highly effective oral advocate” and “an experienced litigator who leads an excellent team.” As featured in The Miami Herald, he was selected by peers as one of South Florida’s 2024 Top Lawyers. Florida Super Lawyers magazine named him a “Rising Star” from 2010-2020, and as a “Super Lawyer” from 2022 forward. He was recognized as a “Rising Star” by the Daily Business Review and a “Top 40 Under 40” by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He was elected to the Cuban American Bar Association’s Board of Directors in 2009, and served as its President in 2017. Javier was honored as a Golden Angel for his support of the Jackson Memorial Foundation through JUNTOS, the philanthropic foundation he co-founded. Since 2005, he has been a member of the Harvard Alumni Association’s Interviewing Committee. He is also a Miami Art Studio (MAS) advisory Board Member.
Prior to joining Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton, Javier was a legal clerk in the White House Counsel’s Office where he was very involved in the vetting process for the replacement of then Chief Justice William Renquist. Javier also worked at the United States House of Representatives as part of the legal review team for new policy and legislation.
Javier is very active in the South Florida Cuban community and charitable organizations such as the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation (formerly Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation) and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. He is an avid baseball fan having been a four-year letterman for Harvard University, and enjoys collecting fine art and international travel.
Hon. Veronica Rossman, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals – Tenth Circuit
Judge Veronica S. Rossman was born in the former Soviet Union. In the mid-1970s, she immigrated with her parents to the United States from Moscow as political and religious refugees. The family settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, where Judge Rossman grew up.
Judge Rossman received her BA in Comparative Literature (Spanish and Russian) from Columbia University. She received her JD from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly.
Judge Rossman was a law clerk on the Nevada Supreme Court to Justice William Maupin (retired). She also served as a staff attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Early in her career, Judge Rossman worked for several years as a litigation associate with Morrison & Foerster LLP; she was based in the firm’s Washington D.C. and Denver offices. At the firm, Judge Rossman specialized in appellate practice and antitrust work. She also spent several years as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, teaching appellate writing and federal civil procedure.
Judge Rossman spent the majority of her legal career as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Districts of Colorado and Wyoming, where she was an appellate lawyer and served as Chief of the Appellate Section. Judge Rossman briefed and argued many cases to the Tenth Circuit, never realizing she would one day sit on that court.
In May 2021, President Biden nominated Judge Rossman for an opening on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. She was confirmed to that position by the United States Senate in September 2021. The Tenth Circuit is based in Denver, Colorado and reviews cases from Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming. Judge Rossman maintains her residential chambers in Denver, Colorado at the historic Byron White United States Courthouse.
Judge Rossman is a board member of the Federal Judges Association. She is also the Chair of the Colorado Judicial Coordinating Council and the Chair of the Federal Bar Association Judiciary Division’s Article III Appellate Judges Committee. Judge Rossman serves on the Tenth Circuit’s Criminal Pattern Jury Instruction Committee.

Registration
[Register Now!]

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Email Communication Policy
By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communication from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
Recording Disclaimer
By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.

Webinar: Order in the Court: Law Clerk Tips for Managing a Docket
2025-03-06 12:00 - 13:00
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Join us for an informative webinar focused on essential tips for law clerks in managing a docket effectively. Whether you’re new to the role or looking to refine your skills, this program will cover key strategies for organizing, prioritizing, and tracking cases, ensuring you stay on top of deadlines and tasks. Our experienced speakers, including federal judges and a representative from the Administrative Office of the Courts, will share practical advice on time management, handling complex caseloads, and ensuring cases are proceeding timely. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your docket management skills and boost your efficiency as a law clerk!
**This event does not offer CLE Credit**
Registration has closed.
Sponsored by the FBA’s Judiciary Division‘s Federal Judicial Law Clerk Committee
Webinar registration is free for FBA members! Please also note that law students, term law clerks, and “Clerks of Court,” “Deputy Clerks,” “Divisional Clerks,” or “Executives” of Federal courts established under Article I or Article III of the Constitution are eligible for complimentary membership. In addition, any judge of the Federal courts established under Article III of the Constitution, any United States Bankruptcy Judge, any United States Magistrate Judge, any United States Immigration Judge, and any judge of a Federal court established under Article I of the Constitution who is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate is eligible for honorary membership. Learn more and join here.

Presenters
(Moderator) Caryn Peterson, Career Clerk for Magistrate Judge Carmen Henderson, Northern District of Ohio
Caryn Peterson is the career law clerk for Magistrate Judge Carmen E. Henderson in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Prior to clerking for Judge Henderson, Caryn clerked in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Combined, Caryn has fourteen years’ experience clerking in the federal courts. Prior to joining the court, Caryn worked for four years as a litigation attorney in a mid-size law firm in Akron, Ohio. Caryn graduated cum laude from the University of Akron School of Law in 2007, where she also worked for two years at the Legal and Appellate Clinic assisting indigent criminal defendants with their federal and state appeals. Caryn graduated cum laude from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois in 2002 with a degree in mathematics.
Kelly W. Chadwick, DTS Training Branch – Training Division, Systems Development and Support Office, Administrative Office U.S. Courts
Kelly W. Chadwick is a member of the AOUSC-DTS-SDSO Training Division’s Microsoft Collaboration and Communication Training (MCCT) team in San Antonio, Texas and focuses on Microsoft Cloud Technology Consulting services. Through his work as an internal cloud technology consultant, he has developed working relationships and trust with judges, circuit executives, and assistant circuit executives for IT (ACEs) throughout the federal judiciary. He delivers Microsoft 365 technology presentations at judicial conferences, national judiciary IT conferences, and divisional conferences. Kelly graduated from Boise State University with a Master of Science in Instructional and Performance Technology. His past professional positions have included: instructional designer, computer application instructor, training media consultant, distance learning/media researcher, and project manager.

Hon. Landya McCafferty, U.S. District Chief Judge, United States District Court, District of New Hampshire
Hon. Landya Boyer McCafferty currently serves as Chief District Judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire. In 2013, President Obama nominated and the Senate confirmed her to the federal bench, and she is the first woman to serve as a federal judge in N.H. Prior to that, she served for 3 ½ years as Magistrate Judge in the same court. Before joining the district court bench, Judge McCafferty served as Disciplinary Counsel for the N.H. Attorney Discipline Office (2004-2010). Most of her career was spent as a staff attorney for the N.H. Public Defenders Office (1995-2003), including two years as an appellate defender arguing appeals on behalf of indigent defendants before the N.H. Supreme Court. Judge McCafferty also worked briefly in private practice for the McLane Law Firm. Immediately out of law school, she clerked for the Hon. Norman H. Stahl at both the federal district and First Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge McCafferty graduated from Harvard University and Northeastern University School of Law.

Hon. Stacey D. Adams, U.S. Magistrate Judge, United States District Court, District of New Jersey
Magistrate Judge Stacey Adams was appointed to the Federal bench in 2024. She currently sits in the District of New Jersey, Newark vicinage where she presides over both civil and criminal matters, ranging from single plaintiff cases to class actions.
Judge Adams also served as a Superior Court Judge for the State of New Jersey from 2019 through 2024, where she sat in the Family and Civil Divisions.
Prior to her service in the judiciary, Judge Adams was a labor and employment litigator. From 2006 until joining the bench, Judge Adams was a shareholder at Littler Mendelson, P.C., the largest labor and employment firm in the country, where she had a thriving practice and also sat on several firm management committees – such as the Womens’ Leadership Initiative, Alumni Committee and the Client Investment Management Committee. From 2002 through 2006, Judge Adams worked at Decotiis, Fitzpatrick, Cole & Wisler, LLP, where she was first elevated to partner. Judge Adams began her career at the New York City office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, where she worked as an associate from 1997 through 2002, in the labor and employment department.
In addition to being a seasoned litigator with significant trial and appellate experience (including arguing and prevailing before the New Jersey Supreme Court), Judge Adams frequently conducted diversity, anti-harassment, and other forms of training for her clients. Beyond her legal practice, Judge Adams served on several different boards and committees including the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, District Court of New Jersey’s Lawyers Advisory Committee, the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey and the Sidney Reitman Employment Inn of Court. Judge Adams graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1998 after receiving her undergraduate degree from George Washington University, both magnum cum laude.

Registration
Registration has closed.

FBA Member: $0
Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note CLE will not be offered for this event.

Live Captioning: Closed captioning is available for all virtual webcasts.

Internet Requirements: Virtual programs require suitable internet strength to stream online panels. A minimum internet connection of 800 Kbps is recommended for an optimal attendee experience. Test your connection here.

Email Communication Policy
By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communications from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
Recording Disclaimer
By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact sections@fedbar.org

Hybrid Event: Women in the Judiciary
2025-03-14 10:30 - 12:00
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Please join us for the FBA’s Award-Winning Official Parallel Program at the 69th Annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Entitled Women in the Judiciary, this event explores the role that women play in the judiciary and how equality strengthens accountability across and within governmental bodies. We’ll enjoy opening remarks by FBA President-Elect Hon. Karoline Mehalchick, and presentations by federal and state judges in the U.S., and around the world, including FBA Judiciary Division Immediate Past Chair, Hon. Beth Bloom.
Attendance is free for anyone interested, and we encourage you to invite your networks to participate. The program is in-person for those local to New York City, and virtual for those unable to join in-person on March 14, 2025, from 10:30 – 12:00 ET.
To participate in-person: This event is an official Parallel Event being held at the NGO CSW Site across the street from the United Nations. In-person attendees must register directly with the NGO CSW Forum here on their website. Note: Participation in this event will not enable you to attend events within the United Nations Building itself. Here is the address for this event:
Church Center for the United Nations (CCUN)
777 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
11th Floor – Assigned room is TBD

Virtual registration is closed.
Sponsored by the Federal Bar Association’s Judiciary Division.
Co-sponsors:

FBA International Law Section
FBA Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Fordham Law School’s International Law and Justice LLM Program
American Bar Association, National Conference of Administrative Law Judges
Association of European Administrative Judges
Association of Administrative Law Judges
National Association of Women Judges
International Association of Women Judges
International Federal of Professional and Technical Engineers

OPENING REMARKS
Hon. Karoline Mehalchick, FBA President-Elect
Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick, United States District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
Hon. Karoline Mehalchick is a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. She was appointed to the bench on July 15, 2013. She is a graduate of the Schreyer Honors College of the Pennsylvania State University and Tulane University School of Law. Prior to joining the court, Judge Mehalchick clerked for the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania and was a partner with a small law firm in Northeast Pennsylvania, where she represented a broad range of clients in both state and federal trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Mehalchick has been active in the FBA for over 10 years, and is a past president of the Middle District of Pennsylvania Chapter, previously serving as its secretary, vice president, and president-elect, and a former Third Circuit Vice President. She currently serves as a Director on the Board of the FBA, is a judicial profiles editor for The Federal Lawyer, and serves as Secretary to the Judiciary Division. She also serves as her local chapter’s ECF coordinator and civics liaison, and works closely with the chapter’s community outreach chair to implement programs with local schools and the court.
SPEAKERS
Hon. Bernadette D’Souza
Orleans Parish Civil District Court
Participation Capacity – International Association of Women Judges, North America Regional Directors
Bernadette D’Souza is a judge on the Orleans Parish Civil District Court in Louisana. She took office in 2012, with her current term expiring in 2026. After graduation, she pursued a legal career dedicated to public interest law, taking on cases regarding family law, housing and domestic violence. D’Souza has served over 18 years as a practicing attorney, many of which were spent as managing attorney for the family law unit at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Tulane Law School, teaching courses on domestic violence laws. D’Souza received her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law in 1992.

Camille Vinet
Secretary General, Association of European Administrative Judges
Participation Capacity – Association of European Administrative Judges
Camille Vinet is a French administrative judge who graduated from the universities Paris Nanterre (2000) and Sciences Po Paris (2002). After working as a judicial assistant at the Administrative Court of Appeal of Paris, she became an administrative judge in 2004. She seconded three years as a judge at the Regional Audit Court of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in 2014. She currently works at the Administrative Court of Appeals of Lyon, where she started her career. She became presiding judge in 2022.
Camille Vinet was appointed AEAJ representative for equity, diversity and inclusion in 2021, and is AEAJ secretary general since 2023. She is also a member of the board of directors of the “Justice Administrative Alter Egale” (JAAE) association, which promotes gender equality within French administrative jurisdictions.

Hon. Beth Bloom
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
Participation Capacity – Immediate Past Chair, Federal Bar Association, Judiciary Division
Judge Beth Bloom has served as a United States District Judge in the Southern District of Florida since 2014. She was appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate (95-0) on June 24, 2014 (her birthday). Before her appointment to the federal bench, she served on the Florida state court bench in Miami-Dade County for nearly 20 years. She was appointed by former Governor Charlie Crist to the Circuit Court in 2010 after serving 15 years as a County Court Judge. She has served in the Circuit Court’s criminal and civil divisions and all divisions of the County Court, serving as the Associate Administrative Judge.
Judge Bloom received her Bachelor of Science degree in public relations from the University of Florida in 1984 and her Juris Doctor degree (cum laude) from the University of Miami School of Law. She practiced commercial litigation with the law firm of Floyd Pearson Richman Greer Weil Zack & Brumbaugh from 1988-1994 and served as a Traffic Court Magistrate from 1993-1994 before her election to the state court bench.
Judge Bloom currently serves as a member of the Judiciary Division Board of the Federal Bar Association and is a Board Member of the South Florida Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. In 2015, she established and coordinates the Southern District of Florida’s annual Summer Intern Ethics and Orientation Program and oversees its annual Law Day and Constitution Day Programs. She is the co-creator of the Civil Discourse & Difficult Decisions Program, now a national initiative, presented to high school students in the federal court.
Judge Bloom is a frequent lecturer for the Florida Bar, other bar associations and FBA chapters. She has presented at the 2018 New Judges College and the 2017 District Judges Conference. She served on the faculty of the Florida Judicial College for 19 years, teaching newly elected and appointed judges. She has served on the faculty of the National Judicial College, the College of Advanced Judicial Studies, the Florida Conference of County Court Judges and an adjunct faculty member of the Litigation Skills Program at the University of Miami School of Law. She is a frequent lecturer with the Florida Bar and several local bar associations.
While serving as a state court judge, Judge Bloom was elected as the first woman president of the Florida Conference of County Court Judges, a member of the Executive Committee of the Florida Conference of Circuit Court Judges and was a founding member of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Historical Society. She coordinated the University of Miami School of Law’s Judicial Internship Program for 17 years. In Miami- Dade County, she created the “Lawyers Join Hands for Students” Program, the DUI In-Jail Treatment Program, the Smoking Tobacco Offender Program (S.T.O.P.), the “It’s Your Life” Skills Program for foster youth aging out of the foster care system, and the “I’m Ready” Program for youthful offenders sentenced in adult criminal court. She coordinated the Artist in Residence Program with artist Romero Britto and students from Miami-Dade’s Visual and Performing Arts Academies and implemented the Eleventh Circuit’s Centennial Celebration’s county-wide poster, essay and speech contests with the Miami-Dade County schools. She led the effort to establish “Friends of Caleb,” and spearheaded the creation and construction of a now-permanent mural commemorating Joseph Caleb. She is the co-founder of the Children’s Craniofacial Association at Miami Children’s Hospital and Oliver’s Fund at the University of Miami’s Debbie School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Judge Bloom has received numerous honors and awards that include the ABA Presidential Recognition Award, the Florida Bar President’s Award of Merit, the Florida Conference of County Court Judges’ Trailblazer Award and Harvey Ford Leadership Award, the Fraternal Order of Police Citizen of the Year Award, the Dade County Bar Association’s Johnnie M. Ridgely President’s Award, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Historical Society’s “Silverman Award”, the University of Miami School of Law Alumni Association’s Thomas Davison III Service Award, the Miami-Dade Justice Association’s “Judge Steve Levine Award”, MADD’s Judicial Distinction Award, the Legal Services of Greater Miami’s 2015 Equal Justice Judicial Leadership Award, the Juvenile Judges’ Child’s Heart Award, the Miami Bridge Youth & Family Service’s Champion for Children Award, Our Kids’ Leadership Award, Mellon Bank’s Community Service Award, the Jewish Legal Society’s Rodef Shalom Pursuer of Peace Award, Judge of the Year from the Minority Chamber of Commerce, Miami Todays’ 2019 Stars in Government Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Miami Women Who Rock.

Hon. Florence Hermite-Fageur
Paris Court of Appeal
Former Justice Liaison for the French Embassy in Washington, DC
Participation Capacity – Femmes de Justice (France) & International Association of Women Judges
Florence Hermite, 45, was appointed as a member of the French Judiciary in 2003. She is currently a Judge at the Court of Appeal in Paris. Between 2020 and 2024, she served as Justice Attaché for North American (USA and Canada) at the French Embassy in the United States. Between 2014 and 2019, she held different positions at the Ministry of Justice and Office of the Prime Minister. Before that, she had practiced during 10 years as a civil and criminal judge in first instance courts located in the Paris area and in in the West of France (Nantes).
Since 2020, Florence Hermite has been a member of Femmes de Justice, the French association of women working in the justice system. She joined the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) in 2024.

Hon. Michelle Rick
Michigan Court of Appeals
Participation Capacity – President, National Association of Women Judges
The Honorable Michelle Rick was elected to the Michigan Court of Appeals in November 2020 and began her term of service representing the 4th Judicial District in January 2021. Judge Rick served as a trial judge on the 29th Circuit Court from 2007–2020. Before that, Judge Rick worked primarily in public service as a prosecutor, a senior assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan, and as deputy legal counsel to Michigan’s Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.
Judge Rick is a graduate of Michigan State University and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She is currently serving as President of the National Association of Women Judges. She is a former president of the Michigan Judges Association. Judge Rick serves as an advisor to the Rural Justice Collaborative Advisory Council. She has served as a member of numerous state committees, including the State Bar of Michigan Judicial Council, the Human Trafficking Commission, the Limited-Scope Representation Workgroup, the State Planning Commission, the Limited English Proficiency Steering Committee, the Affordable Legal Services Committee, and the State Bar of Michigan Corrections and Prisons Section.
In 2015, the Women Lawyers Association of Mid-Michigan awarded Judge Rick the Carolyn A. Stell Award. In January 2019, the Michigan Supreme Court recognized Judge Rick as a judge who gives back and makes a difference. In 2020, the State Bar of Michigan awarded Judge Rick and select University of Detroit Mercy School of Law faculty and students the Kimberly M. Cahill Bar Leadership Award. The award was given for creating and executing “Project Access,” a traveling expungement clinic that brought expungement relief to six rural communities in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula. In 2022, the National Association of Women Judges awarded Judge Rick the Vaino Spencer Award for outstanding leadership in promoting the vision, core values and mission of NAWJ.
Judge Rick teaches Access to Justice at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, and she is a Michigan State Bar Foundation Fellow and an American Bar Foundation Fellow. Judge Rick is a frequent guest speaker and lecturer at various statewide and local law-related events.

Hon. Delissa Ridgway
U.S. Court of International Trade
The Hon. Delissa A. Ridgway was sworn in as a Judge of the U.S. Court of International Trade in May 1998. The Court of International Trade – based in New York – is a nine-member Article III federal trial court with exclusive nationwide jurisdiction over disputes involving the interpretation and application of U.S. customs and international trade laws.
Prior to her appointment to the Court, Judge Ridgway served as Chair of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the U.S., a three-member international tribunal charged with adjudicating claims by U.S. nationals against foreign sovereigns, including, e.g., claims against Germany brought by U.S. survivors of Nazi concentration camps. Before her 1994 appointment to the FCSC by President Clinton, Judge Ridgway was a member of the International Practice Group at Shaw Pittman (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman) in Washington, D.C., where she specialized in international arbitration. She has been an Adjunct Professor of Law on the international law faculty of Cornell Law School and has served as a rule of law/“capacity-building” consultant to numerous U.S. government agencies, foreign governments, international organizations, and NGOs, advising/teaching judges and lawyers around the world on the rule of law and legal/judicial reform, as well as a wide range of topics in international law.
A longtime member of the American Law Institute, Judge Ridgway is a past Chair (2009-2010) of the National Conference of Federal Trial Judges (representing the interests of all federal trial judges in the U.S.) and has a long history of leadership in the U.S. judiciary and in bar and community activities. She is a Charter Fellow of the Federal Bar Foundation and served for two decades on the National Council of the Federal Bar Association (“FBA”), in addition to service as Chair of the FBA’s Government Relations Committee and service on the Editorial Board of The Federal Lawyer and in the leadership of several FBA Sections. The Judge also served several terms on the Board of the Federal Bar Building Corporation (“FBBC”).
Judge Ridgway is also very active in the American Bar Association, where she is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and has served on, inter alia, the Council of the ABA’s Judicial Division, the ABA Standing Committee on Federal Judicial Improvements, the ABA Commission on Women, and the Asia/Pacific Council and the Middle East/North Africa Council of the ABA’s Rule of Law Initiative (“ROLI”). In addition, she has served for nearly a decade on the Council of the ABA International Law Section and previously served as a member of the ABA’s delegation to the United Nations. She also serves on the New York City Bar Association’s Council on International Affairs and is a founding member of the City Bar’s Task Force on the Independence of Lawyers and Judges. Earlier in her career, Judge Ridgway served for seven years on the Board of Governors of the 100,000-member D.C. Bar and as President (1992-1993) of the Women’s Bar Association of D.C.
Judge Ridgway was the 2000 recipient of the Earl W. Kintner Award, the national FBA’s highest honor; and, in 1997, the FBA recognized her as one of four “Distinguished Women in International Law” (an honor that she shared with, inter alia, then-First Lady Hillary Clinton and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright). She was also recognized as Washington, D.C.’s “Woman Lawyer of the Year” (2001) and as the University of Missouri’s “Distinguished Scholar in Residence” (2003). The Judge’s many other honors include the ABA International Law Section’s World Order Under Law Award (2019) and its Mayre Rasmussen Award for the Advancement of Women in International Law (2020), as well as the D.C. Bar’s Frederick B. Abramson Award (1996). She received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the New York City Bar’s Third Annual International Law Conference on the Status of Women in 2022.
Judge Ridgway is a 1975 honors graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she completed coursework for an M.S. in Community/International Development. She received her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in 1979 and was a member of the inaugural (2014) class of the LL.M. in Judicial Studies program at Duke University School of Law.

Hon. Col. Linda Strite Murnane
Associate Justice on the High Court, Republic of the Marshall Islands
Participation Capacity – Officer for the FBA International Law Section
Linda Strite Murnane served as an Associate Justice on the High Court for the Republic of the Marshall Islands from November 2022 to November 2024. She remains available to assist the court as a pro tem resource as the Republic of the Marshall Islands completes the process of identifying a replacement for her on the High Court.
Linda holds a B.A. from the Christopher Newport College of the College of William and Mary (Dean’s Honors) and a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. She currently serves on the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association. She is a past chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) National Conference of Specialized Court Judges and the ABA Judicial Division. She previously served as co-chair of the ABA International Law Section’s International Human Rights Committee and Lawyers Abroad Committees, as well as in a variety of vice chair roles with other International Law Section Committees and Interest Networks. She served six years on the ABA ILS Executive Council.
Colonel Murnane served 29.5 years on active duty with the United States Air Force. She enlisted in 1974 as an airman basic, the lowest enlisted grade. She earned her B.A. and J.D. degrees both while serving on active duty. She served as a public affairs specialist (journalist/photo journalist) while enlisted. After earning her commission as a second lieutenant, she served as a supply officer at Nellis AFB, NV, and Keesler AFB, MS, then as a public affairs officer (community relations specialist) and protocol officer before being selected to complete her law degree under the Air Force’s Funded Legal Education Program. She transferred to the Judge Advocate General Corps in 1981 in the grade of captain upon completion of her J.D. and passage of the Ohio Bar. She served as a prosecutor, defense counsel, claims officer, legal assistance officer, chief military justice, deputy staff judge advocate and staff judge advocate before her appointment as a military trial judge and chief circuit military judge for the United States Air Force. She served 10 consecutive years as a military judge including chief circuit military judge (CCMJ) for Europe and for the Eastern Circuit, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. While in the position of CCMJ for Europe, she presided at the first trials for U.S. airmen in both Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom while serving on active duty, trying cases in Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. She also served on the first military assistance team sent to Rwanda following the genocide.
Following her retirement from active duty in 2004, she served two years as Executive Director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, five years as the senior legal officer, chief court management services, acting head of chambers and acting deputy registrar at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and three years as the chief court management services at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. She was the Senior International Attorney for the U.S. Defense Institute for International Legal Studies (DIILS) from 2008-2009, and participated in global human rights and rule of law training with DIILS in Argentina, Latvia, Liberia, Zambia, Rwanda, and Papua New Guinea, and oversaw training programs by other faculty members globally in her role at DIILS.
Colonel Murnane serves as Chair of the U.S. Chapter of the Pan American Commission of Judges on Social Justice. In that role, she was invited to speak at the Vatican in 2019 and again in 2023.
During her military career she earned the Legion of Merit among her other military decorations. She received the Ohio State Bar Association’s Nettie Cronise Lutes Award in 2003 for opening doors to women and girls in the field of law, the ABA Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement in 2008 and ABA International Law Section’s Mayre Rasmussen Award for opening opportunities in international law for women in 2016. She was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in November 2021 and the Greene County, Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 2022. She received the Mattie Belle Davis and Justice Vaino Spencer Awards from the National Association of Women Judges.
She is married to Kevin Murnane, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, and mother of two daughters, Christina Veillon and Rachel Manuel. She has three grandchildren, Cody and Abrial Leger and Aidan Ray Manuel.

Registration
Virtual registration is closed.
Attendance is free for anyone interested, and we encourage you to invite your networks to participate. The program is in-person for those local to New York City, and virtual for those unable to join in-person on March 14, 2025, from 10:30 – 12:00 ET.
To participate in-person: This event is an official Parallel Event being held at the NGO CSW Site across the street from the United Nations. In-person attendees must register directly with the NGO CSW Forum here on their website. Note: Participation in this event will not enable you to attend events within the United Nations Building itself. Here is the address for this event:
Church Center for the United Nations (CCUN)
777 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
11th Floor – Assigned room is TBD

CLE

Please note CLE will not be offered for this event.

What is Mindfulness, and Why Should Judges and Attorneys Want to Know About It?
2025-04-30 14:00 - 15:30
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
You might be familiar with the term mindfulness. It seems to be everywhere these days and is usually associated with meditation, yoga, and other wellness techniques. But mindfulness, at bottom, is about training the brain. As Judge Jeremy Fogel has explained, “mindfulness actually is a remarkably simple and universal concept….Essentially, it involves slowing down one’s mental processes enough to allow one to notice as much as possible about a given moment or situation, and then to act thoughtfully based on what one has noticed.”
While certainly contributing to improved health and personal development, mindfulness practices can meaningfully optimize the work of lawyers and judges. Making reasoned decisions and arguments, thoughtfully approaching repetitive tasks, and maintaining emotional regulation in stressful situations are job requirements for all lawyers and judicial officers. This webinar—drawing on cognitive neuroscience research and mindfulness-based training in high-performance professions—will offer an opportunity for lawyers and judges to learn how mindfulness can enhance memory, attention, focus, and wellbeing.
REGISTER NOW!
Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Judiciary Division and its Article III Appellate Judges Committee.

About the Presenters

Honorable Robert E. Bacharach (Moderator)
Since 2013, Judge Robert Bacharach has served as a United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Before his appointment, he served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Oklahoma from 1999-2013. Before that appointment, he served as a law clerk for Chief Judge William J. Holloway, Jr. of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and then practiced civil litigation at Crowe & Dunlevy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, from 1987 to 1999.

Dr. Amishi Jha, PhD is Director of Contemplative Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami. Prior to her current post, she was an Assistant Professor at the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her B.S. in Biological Psychology from the University of Michigan, her Ph.D. in Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience) from the University of California–Davis, and her post-doctoral training at the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center at Duke University in functional neuroimaging.
With grants from the Department of Defense and several private foundations, she leads research on the neural bases of attention and the effects of mindfulness-based training programs on cognition, emotion, resilience, and performance in education, corporate, elite sports, first-responder, and military contexts.
In her laboratory at the University of Miami, she uses functional MRI, electrophysiological recordings and behavioral techniques to understand why our attention sometimes fails us, and if it can be trained for greater focus and less distractibility. She launched the first-ever study to offer mindfulness training tools to active-duty military service members as they prepared for deployment. What she has discovered is that without intervention, attention is compromised, and attentional lapses increase. Yet, with mindfulness training, attention can be strengthened and protected.
In addition to her own published body of research, her work has been featured at TED, NATO, the World Economic Forum, the Pentagon, and the UK Parliament. She has received coverage in The New York Times, TIME, Forbes, Mindful Magazine, NPR, and more. In addition, she has been interviewed by Joe Rogan, Brene Brown, Russell Brand, Deepak Chopra, Duncan Trussell, Dan Harris, Sharon Salzberg, and many others. In her national bestseller, Peak Mind (Harper Collins), she shares her discoveries on how attention can be trained for optimal performance and well-being. You can find Dr. Jha at http://amishi.com.

Honorable Jeremy Fogel (ret), is the first Executive Director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute, a center at Berkeley Law School whose mission is to build bridges between judges and academics and to promote an ethical, resilient and independent judiciary. Prior to his appointment at Berkeley, he served as Director of the Federal Judicial Center in Washington, DC (2011-2018), as a United States District Judge for the Northern District of California (1998-2011), and as a judge of the Santa Clara County Superior (1986-1998) and Municipal (1981-1986) Courts. He was the founding Directing Attorney of the Mental Health Advocacy Project from 1978 to 1981 and was a national leader in promoting access to justice for people with chronic mental health issues.
Judge Fogel has taught for the Federal Judicial Center since 2002 and was a lecturer at Stanford Law School, where he taught a course on the psychology of litigation, from 2003 until his relocation to Washington in 2011. He taught for the California Continuing Judicial Studies Program (CJSP) and California Judicial College from 1987 to 2010 and served on CJSP’s Curriculum Planning Committee for six years, including two as chair. He has served as a faculty member for legal exchanges on ethics, case management and intellectual property in approximately twenty foreign countries. During his tenure at the Federal Judicial Center, he oversaw the development of the Center’s first comprehensive, integrated curriculum for judicial branch education.
Judge Fogel was a member of the Committee on Financial Disclosure of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 2004-2011; he chaired the subcommittee that developed the original platform and procedures for electronic filing of annual financial disclosure reports and laid the groundwork for online public access. As a California state court judge, he chaired the Judicial Ethics Committee and Judicial Discipline and Disability Committee of the California Judges Association, and he organized and led a confidential counseling program for judges facing disciplinary proceedings.
He received his B.A. from Stanford University in 1971 and his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1974. Judge Fogel has received numerous accolades, including the Samuel E. Gates Litigation Award from the American College of Trial Lawyers for significant contributions to the litigation process, the President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the California Judiciary from the California Judges Association, and the Vanguard Award from the State Bar of California for notable contributions to intellectual property law.

Registration
Register Here!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Chambers Ready: What Every Clerk and Intern Should Know
2025-06-10 12:00 - 13:00
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
This webinar discusses what it takes to make the most of a clerkship and internship experience and be of impressive service to your judge. Covered topics will include the tasks of a judicial law clerk or intern, the role of judge’s staff and interpersonal dynamics, courthouse logistics, courtroom etiquette, research essentials, and an introduction to the types of legal writing duties for the judge. Our insightful speakers, including a law professor, federal judges, and a career law clerk, will also explore the different experiences and skills needed for clerking. This expert panel will provide key information, important tips, and recommended resources to help you succeed in your clerkship or internship!
Register Now!
Presented by the FBA’s Judiciary Division and its Federal Judicial Law Clerk Committee.
Webinar registration is free for FBA members! Please also note that law students, term law clerks, and “Clerks of Court,” “Deputy Clerks,” “Divisional Clerks,” or “Executives” of Federal courts established under Article I or Article III of the Constitution are eligible for complimentary membership. In addition, any judge of the Federal courts established under Article III of the Constitution, any United States Bankruptcy Judge, any United States Magistrate Judge, any United States Immigration Judge, and any judge of a Federal court established under Article I of the Constitution who is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate is eligible for honorary membership. Learn more and join here.

Presenters

Hon. Michael J. Newman, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio
Hon. Michael J. Newman is a United States District Judge in the Southern District of Ohio’s Dayton seat of court. He was appointed in 2020. He previously served as a United States Magistrate Judge, a position to which he was appointed in 2011, and reappointed in 2019 to a second eight-year term. Following law school, Judge Newman was a law clerk on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Judge Newman graduated with honors from the Washington College of Law at American University and attended the Advanced Mediation Program at Harvard Law School. Prior to taking the bench, he was a partner at Dinsmore & Shohl in Cincinnati, where he chaired the firm’s Labor & Employment Appellate Practice Group. While in private practice, he was named a Leading Lawyer, an Ohio Super Lawyer, and one of the Best Lawyers in America in Labor & Employment Law.
Judge Newman’s bar service is extensive; he was the first Magistrate Judge in the United States to be appointed national president of the Federal Bar Association. He has also served as president of the Dayton Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association Foundation. His Civics and Service to Others initiative as FBA president resulted in thousands of young people from all across the country meeting with federal judges to learn about civics and the Third Branch of government. This civics work continues; Judge Newman was named the FBA’s first Judicial Ambassador for Civics Education, and he has been invited to speak on the topic of civics education by the Federal Judicial Center. He now co-chairs the Sixth Circuit’s Civics and Outreach Committee with Judge Curtis Collier, and chairs the Southern District of Ohio’s Civics Committee.
Hon. Talesha Saint-Marc, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of New Hampshire
The Honorable Talesha L. Saint-Marc is a United States Magistrate Judge in the District of New Hampshire and the first black person ever to sit on the federal bench in New Hampshire. A lifelong New Hampshire resident, Judge Saint-Marc completed her undergraduate studies at Franklin Pierce College, summa cum laude, and received her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in 2009. Upon graduation, Judge Saint-Marc served as a law clerk in the New Hampshire Superior Court for two years, followed by one year in the New Hampshire Supreme Court. She then went on to specialize in labor and employment law with Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A. providing strategic advice to businesses regarding all aspects of state and federal workplace laws.
Judge Saint-Marc was recognized in Chambers USA for Labor & Employment Law and was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star each year between 2018 to 2022, and a Super Lawyer in 2023. She was also named to the New Hampshire Union Leader’s 40 Under Forty class in 2019, and in 2021, she was listed among New Hampshire’s 200 most influential business leaders by the New Hampshire Business Review. Judge Saint-Marc has been an active and engaged member of the New Hampshire Bar Association. Additionally, she previously served on the Board of Directors for the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association. Her community service endeavors are numerous and varied, including serving on the Board of Directors for New Hampshire Legal Assistance, Vice President of the Rivier University Board of Trustees, President of the Board of Directors for the Circle Program, and a former volunteer for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Nashua.

Ben Allums, Assistant Professor of Law, Loyola University’s New Orleans College of Law
Ben Allums is an assistant professor at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law where he teaches courses in maritime law and civil procedure. Ben earned his juris doctor from Tulane University Law School in 2007, where he served as the Senior Associate Editor of the Tulane Law Review, graduated Order of the Coif, and received the Charles Kohlmeyer, Jr. Award as the top graduate in maritime law. After law school, Ben clerked for three different judges at three different courts: Hon. Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. of the Louisiana Supreme Court (2007-2008), Hon. Carl J. Barbier of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (2011-2021), and Hon. W. Eugene Davis of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (2021-2022). Notably, Ben’s ten-year clerkship with Judge Barbier focused on the massive Deepwater Horizon multidistrict litigation. Ben has also practiced maritime law and commercial litigation for two law firms in New Orleans. In 2023, Ben joined Loyola’s law faculty as a full-time, tenure-track professor.

Anika Hardmon, Federal Career Judicial Law Clerk
Anika Royster Hardmon serves in her 16th year as the Federal Career Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Donald L. Graham, Senior United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Florida, in Miami Florida. In addition to her role as a Career Law Clerk, Anika is an Adjunct Professor at Florida International University College of Law and St. Thomas University, Benjamin L. Crump College of Law, in Miami, Florida.
Prior to joining Judge Graham’s chambers, Anika worked over four years as an Associate with the civil litigation law firm of Gary, Williams, Parenti, et al. in Stuart, Florida.

Registration
Register here

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Webinar: Federal Protective Service: Judicial Safety and Security
2025-06-26 14:00 - 15:00
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
The Federal Protective Service is responsible for safeguarding federal employees in the Executive Branch, including most of the several thousand administrative law judges and administrative judges employed by various federal agencies such as at the Executive Office of Immigration Review, the Social Security Administration and the Department of Labor. In this webinar, Federal Protective Services representatives will speak on Judicial Safety and Security. While tailored to administrative law judges and administrative judges, they will provide practical information for all judges and will address materials in their “Your Safety, Our Priority” campaign (https://www.dhs.gov/publication/your-safety-our-priority), which addresses threats and online safety. Bring your questions to this timely and informative session.
**This event does not offer CLE Credit**
Registration is closed
Sponsored by the FBA Judiciary Division.

Presenters

David A. Hess, Deputy Director, Policy, Communications and Engagement
Federal Protective Service/Management Directorate
Mr. David A. Hess is Deputy Director, Policy, Communications and Engagement within the Federal Protective Service (FPS) – a position he has held since May 2018. In this role, Mr. Hess works closely with the FPS Director, FPS Principal Deputy Director, FPS Chief of Staff, and with program and support offices to further develop, implement, and oversee FPS’ policy, intergovernmental programs and communications activities. In his position, Mr. Hess plays a key role in developing and advancing FPS’ outreach and engagement efforts to external partners and stakeholders, including Congress.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Hess served as the Chief of Staff of the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) from November 2012 through April 2018. In this role, he worked closely with the NPPD’s Under Secretary and Deputy Under Secretaries to help manage the day-to-day operations of the Directorate to achieve its mission to protect and enhance the resilience of the nation’s physical and cyber infrastructure. During the 2017 Presidential transition, Mr. Hess was asked to serve as NPPD’s Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary; he held this position from January 2017 to July 2017. Additionally, from January through September 2014, Mr. Hess served as NPPD’s Acting Deputy Under Secretary.
Before joining the NPPD front office, Mr. Hess served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for NPPD. Prior to that, he served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the DHS’ Preparedness Directorate. In these roles, Mr. Hess was the principal congressional advisor to the Under Secretary and leadership of NPPD and the Preparedness Directorate, respectively. Mr. Hess also served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs (House) to assist the Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs manage DHS’ Office of Legislative Affairs. As Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Mr. Hess had primary oversight of the responsibility for the Department’s interaction with the U.S. House of Representatives.
Prior to joining DHS, Mr. Hess was a public affairs specialist in the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), United States Department of Justice (DOJ). He served as a congressional, media, and public liaison for offices in OJP. Mr. Hess supported the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP), which was established within DOJ to develop and implement a National program to prepare for and respond to the incidents of terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction.

Arnold (AJ) Jackson, Assistant Director Field Operations, West
Federal Protective Service/Office of the Under Secretary/Management Directorate
Arnold (AJ) Jackson serves as the Assistant Director for Field Operations (ADFO) of the Federal Protective Service’s West Zone. AJ Leads and manages the daily enforcement of Regions 8, 9 and 10, which spans 14 states and 3 territories. Through 3 Regional Directors, he guides and manages all West Zone protective security programs and administrative and operational programs, including the physical infrastructure and protection of approximately 2,400 government-owned or leased properties. As the senior leader for all West Zone resources, AJ is also responsible for the health and welfare management for over 353 government personnel, and program oversight for 2782 Protective Security Officers.
AJ joined the Federal Protective Service in August 2000 and rose to the position of Regional Director, leading the operations of Region 8 from June 2009 to October 2014, prior to becoming the ADFO. One of eleven Regions, Region 8 is comprised of Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, North and South Dakota. AJ has over 30 years of experience managing a variety of law enforcement, security, investigative programs, and was a member of the Air Forces Europe HQ Staff and Inspector General Team.
Prior to joining the Federal Protective Service, AJ served 22-years in the United States Air Force; he was assigned as the European Security Force Manager. In this capacity, AJ was the advisor to the Director Security Forces on all quality-of-life matters pertaining to the health, welfare, and security operations of over 5000 military and civilian personnel at Air Force installations in the European and Middle Eastern Theater.
AJ received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from University of Maryland and has undertaken numerous professional development training through Immigrations and Customs Fellows Program, the Council for Excellence in Government Fellows Program, Criminal Investigator Training program, and Federal Bureau Investigations National Academy.
Hon. Wanda Wright, Administrative Judiciary Committee Chair, Judiciary Division (Moderator)*
Judge Wanda Wright has been Administrative Judiciary Chair within the Judiciary Division of the Federal Bar Association since February 2025. Prior to assuming this role, Judge Wright served three years as a Regional Vice President and National Executive Board member of the Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ), representing judges in 17 offices in the southeastern United States. During her tenure, Judge Wright was honored to serve as AALJ Chair of the Health & Safety Committee where she developed the AALJ’s re-entry safety inspection protocols nationwide during the covid-19 pandemic, implemented enhanced security notification procedures, and collaborated on a health and safety video series. Judge Wright is the principal author of the proposed ALJ/AJ Privacy Bill. Prior to her appointment as an administrative law judge in 2010, Judge Wright was a disability advocate and assistant district attorney in New York. Judge Wright is admitted to the NY and NC bars and is a member the federal bar in North Carolina. She is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and she received her law degree from the University of Virginia, where she was Articles Editor of the Virginia Tax Review.
* Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author’s personal opinions and are not the views of the Social Security Administration or the federal government.

Registration
Registration is closed for this event.

FBA Member: $0
Nonmember: $0

CLE
Please note CLE will not be offered for this event.

Live Captioning: Closed captioning is available for all virtual webcasts.

Internet Requirements: Virtual programs require suitable internet strength to stream online panels. A minimum internet connection of 800 Kbps is recommended for an optimal attendee experience. Test your connection here.

Email Communication Policy
By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communications from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
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By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact sections@fedbar.org

International Judicial Well-Being Day Webinar
2025-07-23 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual
July 25, 2025 will be the first ever International Judicial Well-Being Day. Please join the FMJA, FJA, and NCBJ on July 23, 2025 for a special one-hour webinar on International Judicial Well-Being Day with Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena, President of Nauru Court of Appeal.
Justice Wimalasena, in collaboration with a global team of distinguished judges and experts, conceived International Day of Judicial Well-being to promote global recognition of judicial well-being. Justice Wimalasena will share the journey behind the creation of the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being and the International Judicial Well-being Day, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in March 2025. He will also highlight key findings from the UNODC judicial well-being study, along with other relevant international research on judicial well-being.

Webinar: Administrative Judiciary and Federal Lawyers-Navigating the Current Employment Environment to Preserve our Position and Serve the Public
2025-08-26 16:00 - 17:00
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Administrative judges, administrative law judges and lawyers employed by the federal government are navigating a number of personnel challenges in this current employment environment. During this CLE, hear from experts in federal sector employment law who will place executive orders such as EO 14171 and EO 13957 and cases such as Jarkesy v. SEC, and others in legal context with a discussion of options and resources available via MSPB, EEOC , OSC and the courts to preserve our position and continued service to the American people.
Register Now!
Presented by the FBA’s Judiciary Division & Labor & Employment Law Section

Presenters
Peter H. Noone, Owner & Lead Instructor for Noone Employment Training, LLC, Partner with the law firm Avery, Dooley & Noone, LLP.
Peter H. Noone is the owner and lead instructor for Noone Employment Training, LLC, as well as a practicing attorney from the Boston area. He has been a Partner with the law firm, Avery Dooley & Noone, LLP, since 1998. He focuses his practice as a trial lawyer in the areas of federal employment law, administrative law and appeals, security clearance matters, and whistleblower and discrimination complaints.
Mr. Noone has represented federal employees and federal, state, and local law enforcement officers in litigation and disciplinary proceedings. He has assisted his clients in successfully defending disciplinary actions ranging from letters of reprimand to removal and has assisted clients in defending security clearance revocations and in adverse suitability determinations. Mr. Noone has represented clients throughout agency and criminal investigations in: Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) hearings, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) hearings; Trials in United States District Court, and other proceedings before Federal Agencies.
He is a frequent instructor and lecturer for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and has developed and provided training seminars to the Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) Office of Professional Responsibility. Mr. Noone is also a speaker at the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Criminal Investigator Academy and has provided discrimination education and training to various federal personnel. He has also developed training for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Law Enforcement Steering Committee and various federal agencies.

Suzanne Summerlin, Owner, Summerlin Labor Strategies.

Suzanne Summerlin is an attorney in solo practice and also serves as General Counsel of the Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network. She previously served as nominee for General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority under President Biden, and has led litigation on behalf of federal employees and unions challenging executive orders and agency-wide removals

Hon. Wanda Wright, Administrative Judiciary Committee Chair, Judiciary Division (Moderator) *
Judge Wanda Wright has been Administrative Judiciary Chair within the Judiciary Division of the Federal Bar Association since February 2025. Prior to assuming this role, Judge Wright served three years as a Regional Vice President and National Executive Board member of the Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ), representing judges in 17 offices in the southeastern United States.
During her tenure, Judge Wright was honored to serve as AALJ Chair of the Health & Safety Committee. Judge Wright is the principal author of the proposed ALJ/AJ Privacy Bill. Prior to her appointment as an administrative law judge in 2010, Judge Wright was a disability advocate and assistant district attorney in New York. Judge Wright is admitted to the NY and NC bars and is a member of the federal bar in North Carolina. She is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and she received her law degree from the University of Virginia, where she was Articles Editor of the Virginia Tax Review.
* Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author’s personal opinions and are not the views of the Social Security Administration or the federal government.

Registration
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Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

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Webinar: Legal Writing: Striving for Clarity
2025-09-25 12:00 - 13:00
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
The Honorable Robert E. Bacharach of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit will share a judge’s perspective on legal writing. The program is designed to help attendees enhance the clarity in their legal writing. To enhance clarity, attendees will learn tools to provide context before detail. Attendees will also gain practical strategies to help readers relate new content to information that was previously provided.
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Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Judiciary Division /Federal Judicial Law Clerk Committee

Presenters

HONORABLE ROBERT E. BACHARACH Judge Bacharach has served for over twelve years as a United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
He graduated with High Honors from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in History and the Tom Lottinville Award for the Best Essay submitted in the History Department. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in 1985, where he graduated order of the coif and was awarded the Breckenridge Scholarship for the second highest grade average in his senior year of law school. In law school at Washington University, he also served as the Developments Editor of the Washington University Law Quarterly (now named the Washington University Law Review) and was awarded the Mary Collier Hitchcock Prize for writing for the best Note (student article) in the law review.
Upon graduation from law school, Judge Bacharach clerked from 1985 to 1987 for Judge William J. Holloway, Jr., who was then the Chief Judge of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. After completing this clerkship, Judge Bacharach practiced civil litigation at Crowe & Dunlevy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from 1987 to 1999. He then served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Oklahoma until 2013, when he was appointed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Judge Bacharach is the author of Legal Writing: A Judge’s Perspective on the Science and Rhetoric of the Written Word, published by ABA Press. He has also authored “Section 1983 and the Availability of a Federal Forum: A Reappraisal of the Police Brutality Cases,” 16 Memphis State University Law Review 353 (1986); “Section 1983 and an Administrative Exhaustion Requirement,” 40 Oklahoma Law Review 407 (1987); “Motions in Limine in Oklahoma State and Federal Courts,” 24 Oklahoma City University Law Review 113 (1999); “Dirks v. SEC=s Footnote Fourteen: Horizontal and Vertical Reach,” 62 Washington University Law Quarterly 477 (1984); and “Post-Trial Juror Interviews by the Press: The Fifth Circuit=s Approach,” 62 Washington University Law Quarterly 783 (1985). In addition, he and Professor Lyn Entzeroth (now Dean Emeritus of Tulsa University School of Law) coauthored “Judicial Advocacy in Pro Se Litigation: A Return to Neutrality,” 42 Indiana Law Review 19 (2009).
Judge Bacharach is the recipient of the national Federal Bar Association’s Earl W. Kintner Award, the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Award of Judicial Excellence, and the Washington University School of Law Distinguished Alumni Award.

Registration

Register Now!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Webinar: Courts and Civility - Understanding the Rule of Law and Judicial Independence
2025-10-08 14:00 - 15:00
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Join the Federal Bar Association to learn more about a new civics program designed for adult learners.
The rule of law and the independence of the judiciary are being debated everywhere today. These principles are fundamental to the strength of our democracy. To meet the moment, United States District Judges Beth Bloom and Robin Rosenberg developed Courts and Civility, an adult-focused program that:
INFORMS the public about the rule of law and what courts do.
PROMOTES the need for civility and respect for the rule of law and the judiciary.
This pre-packaged, easily adaptable program includes a PowerPoint and interactive handouts that judges, lawyers, and community leaders can use to educate the public about the courts and the importance of civility.
Please join us to learn how to bring Courts and Civility to your hometown!
Sponsored by the FBA Judiciary Division and the Civics, Community Service & Outreach Committee.
Presented jointly with the American Inns of Court

Presenters
Hon. Beth Bloom, District Judge, Southern District of Florida
Judge Beth Bloom has served as a United States District Judge in the Southern District of Florida since 2014, following her appointment by President Barack Obama and unanimous Senate confirmation. She previously served 20 years on the Florida state bench, including as a Circuit Court Judge in Miami-Dade County.
Judge Bloom is active in the Federal Bar Association and Federal Judges Association, and chairs the Southern District’s Local Rules Committee. She co-created two national programs now adopted across the country: the Judicial Intern Academy (JIA), which expands opportunities for diverse law students, and the Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions (CD3) Program, designed to teach civility and civil discourse to students.
A frequent lecturer, Judge Bloom has served on the faculty of the Florida Judicial College, National Judicial College, and the University of Miami School of Law. She has received numerous honors, including the Florida Supreme Court’s 2024 Distinguished Federal Judicial Service Pro Bono Award, the ABA Presidential Recognition Award, and the Miami Beach Bar Association’s 2023 Legal Legend Award.

Hon. Robin Rosenberg

Hon. Robin L. Rosenberg was appointed in 2014 as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida. She chairs the Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Civil Rules, serves on the Board of Editors for the Manual for Complex Litigation, and is a board member of the American Law Institute. She co-created the national Civil Discourse and Decisions Program, and chairs the Eleventh Circuit Civics Education Committee. Within her district, she leads the Technology Committee and serves on several others.
Judge Rosenberg has received numerous awards, including the Florida Supreme Court’s 2024 Distinguished Federal Judicial Service Award, the Miami Jewish Legal Society’s 2024 Devorah Judge Award, and the Federal Bar Association’s 2019 Kenneth L. Ryskamp Award. She also chairs the Editorial Board of Judicature, published by Duke Law’s Bolch Judicial Institute, and is the author of several scholarly works.
Before her federal appointment, Judge Rosenberg served as a Florida Circuit Court judge, practiced employment and litigation law, was General Counsel of Slim•Fast Foods during its $2.1 billion merger with Unilever, and worked as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Duke University (JD, MA).

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CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

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Webinar: Common Issues and Best Practices Regarding Federal Subject Matter Jurisdiction and FRCP 12(b)(1)
2025-10-29 12:00 - 13:00
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Wait, Are We Even in the Right Place? Common Issues and Best Practices Regarding Federal Subject Matter Jurisdiction and FRCP 12(b)(1)
Because federal courts have limited jurisdiction, the issue of subject matter jurisdiction must be assessed by the parties and court at the earliest stage of litigation. This panel will explore common issues that arise when assessing subject matter jurisdiction and best practices for arguing for or against the existence of subject matter jurisdiction. The target audience includes law students considering clerkships, current judicial clerks, and young litigators.
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Presented by the FBA’s Judiciary Division‘s Federal Judicial Law Clerk Committee

Presenters

Constantine P. Economides, Founding Partner, Dynamis LLP (Moderator)
Constantine has wide-ranging litigation experience, with expertise in securities, cryptoasset, international, and class action litigation. Over the past fourteen years, he has represented litigants in some of the most notable fraud-based disputes in United States history.
As a former judicial clerk to Judge William P. Dimitrouleas of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Constantine assisted the Judge in adjudicating over 100 civil cases. Before founding Dynamis, Constantine was a partner in an elite litigation boutique and also worked with large national firms in New York and Florida on numerous matters involving securities, international, and class action litigation.  He represented the Securities Investor Protection Corporation as part of the team that recovered over $11 billion on behalf of the victims of Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme.  He also recovered funds on behalf of investors defrauded by failed blood-testing company Theranos, Inc. and its infamous founder, Elizabeth Holmes.
Constantine currently represents an array of clients in complex domestic and international disputes involving cryptoassets, securities, and commercial contracts.
Additionally, Constantine recently became an arbitrator for Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), and in recognition of his work with securities litigation and class action litigation, he has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine for 2016 – 2022.
Constantine is the co-founder and co-chair of the Federal Bar Association’s Federal Judicial Law Clerk Committee, which is designed to marshal and provide professional opportunities for the national network of current and former federal judicial clerks.

Lou Mulligan, Dean, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
Lumen “Lou” Mulligan joined the UMKC Law faculty in 2023 where he proudly serves as the dean and professor of law.  A native Kansas Citian, Dean Mulligan is an award-winning classroom instructor, teaching doctrinal and simulation courses as well as supervising clinics.  He is also a prolific scholar.  He has authored, or co-authored, five books and treatises and numerous articles, focusing on civil procedure.  Indeed, the state and federal courts cited Dean Mulligan’s writings more than 80 times in 2022 alone, and he was awarded the 2017 Civil Procedure Article of the Year by the American Association of Law Schools.  Before taking on the decanal role at UMKC, Dean Mulligan held numerous administrative posts at other institutions, including interim vice provost for faculty affairs, associate dean for faculty, and center director.
Dean Mulligan’s legal experience includes co-founding Stowell & Mulligan, P.A., working as a litigation associate attorney at a large Kansas City-based law firm, and serving as a judicial clerk on the United States Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Prior to joining UMKC School of Law, Dean Mulligan maintained a small practice representing clients in state and federal courts during his time in the academy.
In addition to his roles in the academy and in legal practice, Dean Mulligan serves as a senior fellow at the Rodel Leadership Institute – Judicial Project, a research fellow for the Council on Criminal Justice – Veterans Initiative, a member of the Kansas Judicial Council – Civil Rules Advisory Committee, and as a leader in other non-partisan organizations.
Dean Mulligan earned his J.D. (magna cum laude, Order of the Coif), from the University of Michigan Law School. He holds an M.A. in philosophy from the University of Colorado and a B.A. with honors from the University of Kansas.  Prior to UMKC School of Law, Dean Mulligan was on faculty at the University of Kansas Law School, Michigan State University College of Law, and the University of Michigan School of Business.

Kim Browneve ,Career Law Clerk, District Court Southern District of Florida.
Kim Brown Eve is a Career Law Clerk for the Honorable Robert N. Scola, Jr. at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. She has served in this role since 2016, following six years as Career Law Clerk to Magistrate Judge Barry L. Garber in the same court. Before joining the judiciary, she practiced law as an associate at White & Case LLP in Miami, where she focused on complex commercial litigation.
Kim earned her Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law in 2007. She also holds a Master of Science in Oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, and a Bachelor of Arts in Geology from Columbia College in New York.
Judge Paul Levenson, Magistrate, United States District Court
Magistrate Judge Paul G. Levenson began his service to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts in June 2022.
He began his legal career as a clerk for Judge Stanley A. Weigel of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Thereafter he worked as an associate at law firms in Washington, D.C., and New York City.
In 1989, he joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, where he served for over 24 years. There he started in the Civil Division and later moved to the Criminal Division, working primarily in the Economic Crimes Unit and the Public Corruption Unit. He was Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit from 2007 to 2013.
From 2013 to 2022, Magistrate Judge Levenson was Director of the Boston Regional Office of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Magistrate Judge Levenson grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Albemarle County, Virginia. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with a degree in Social Studies, and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. In law school he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review and was head teaching fellow for Professor Archibald Cox.

Registration
Register Now!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Webinar: Presenting your Best Case in L&E Arbitration and Mediation: The View from the Bench
2026-01-22 14:00 - 15:00 | https://www.fedbar.org/event/webinar-presenting-your-best-case-in-le-arbitration-and-mediation-the-view-from-the-bench/
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Join us for an engaging webinar that takes you behind the bench to explore what truly persuades arbitrators and assists mediators to collaborate in labor and employment disputes. Learn how to present evidence clearly, organize your case for maximum impact, and prepare witnesses who resonate with neutrals. Our speakers will share best-practice advocacy techniques tailored specifically to arbitration and mediation, helping you refine your tone, argument style, and negotiation approach for each setting. You’ll also gain practical, experience-based guidance on the missteps practitioners commonly make—and how to avoid them—through real-world examples and insights from seasoned decision-makers. This program is designed to elevate your effectiveness and strengthen your results in any labor and employment proceeding.
Register Now!
Presented by FBA’s Labor & Employment Law & Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections & Judiciary Division

Presenters

Hon. Mimi Tsankov (Ret.) (Moderator)
Judge Mimi Tsankov recently joined the Labor Panels of both JAMS and the American Arbitration Association following nearly 20 years of service as an administrative judge with the U.S. Department of Justice, including a decade devoted specifically to labor and employment matters. Over the course of her career, she has presided over thousands of administrative proceedings and consistently managed a civil administrative docket of more than 3,000 cases. Ms. Tsankov has also held numerous leadership roles in the international legal community, including serving as President of the IFPTE Judicial Council 2 (NAIJ), a national labor organization. She recently completed her terms as Chair of both the ABA Judicial Division’s National Conference of the Administrative Law Judiciary and the Federal Bar Association’s Judiciary Division. In addition, she has served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Bar Association, been elected Vice President for Publications of the National Association of Women Judges, and has been an Adjunct Professor at Fordham Law School since 2018.

Laurel Stevenson, Director of Mediation and Assessment Program, United States District Court- Western District of Missouri.
Laurel Stevenson is the Director of the Mediation and Assessment Program (MAP) for the United States District Court, Western District of Missouri. She oversees approximately 1,000 civil cases annually and serves as a mediator and facilitator. She also trains judges, neutrals, students, staff and others on effective and ethical use of ADR. She co-chairs the ABA’s Court ADR Committee within the DR Section and is the Editor of The Resolver, a publication of the FBA’s ADR Section. Laurel has conducted hundreds of mediations, including more than 300 via Zoom. Her ADR work includes class actions, insurance, FLSA, employment, MDL’s, civil rights, inmate litigation, wrongful death, transportation, medical malpractice, and commercial disputes. Several resolutions have resulted in institutional policy changes. Prior to her current position, Laurel tried more than eighty jury trials to verdict, served as appellate counsel, was lead trial counsel in numerous bench trials, and taught trial practice in Missouri and Texas. She served more than a decade as a Facilitator for the Missouri Bar Complaint Resolution Program and the Fee Dispute Resolution Program. She also served as a mediator, arbitrator, and facilitator during her last twelve years in private practice.

Lori Adelson, Attorney, Approved Dispute Resolution LLC, an affiliate of Miles Mediation & Arbitration.
At Miles Mediation & Arbitration (aka Approved Dispute Resolution LLC), we are committed to facilitating meaningful solutions to legal disputes. Led by Lori Adelson, Esq., we concentrate our practice on strategic, creative, and innovative approaches to conflict resolution. Our focus is on personalized interactions and effective communication to help parties find common ground. With deep experience in mediation, employment dispute resolution, and early neutral evaluation analysis, Lori Adelson is respected for her unbiased and knowledgeable approach. We are dedicated to resolving complex disputes efficiently and effectively for individuals and businesses alike.

Registration
Register Now!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Webinar: Legal Writing: Persuasion Through Clarity, Part II
2026-02-25 12:00 - 13:00
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
The Honorable Robert E. Bacharach of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit will share a judge’s perspective on legal writing. The program is designed to help attendees enhance the clarity in their legal writing. The program will address empirical studies showing how the use of plain language enhances clarity and will address how strategic chunking of material can enhance clarity.
This webinar builds on the CLE held on September 25, 2025; however, viewing Part I is not essential for participating in this standalone webinar.
Register Now!
Presented by FBA’s Judiciary Division & Federal Judicial Law Clerk Committee

Presenters

Honorable Robert E Bacharach
Judge Bacharach has served for over twelve years as a United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. He graduated with High Honors from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in History and the Tom Lottinville Award for the Best Essay submitted in the History Department. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in 1985, where he graduated order of the coif and was awarded the Breckenridge Scholarship for the second highest grade average in his senior year of law school. In law school at Washington University, he also served as the Developments Editor of the Washington University Law Quarterly (now named the Washington University Law Review) and was awarded the Mary Collier Hitchcock Prize for writing for the best Note (student article) in the law review.
Upon graduation from law school, Judge Bacharach clerked from 1985 to 1987 for Judge William J. Holloway, Jr., who was then the Chief Judge of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. After completing this clerkship, Judge Bacharach practiced civil litigation at Crowe & Dunlevy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from 1987 to 1999. He then served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Oklahoma until 2013, when he was appointed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Judge Bacharach is the author of Legal Writing: A Judge’s Perspective on the Science and Rhetoric of the Written Word, published by ABA Press. He has also authored “Section 1983 and the Availability of a Federal Forum: A Reappraisal of the Police Brutality Cases,” 16 Memphis State University Law Review 353 (1986); “Section 1983 and an Administrative Exhaustion Requirement,” 40 Oklahoma Law Review 407 (1987); “Motions in Limine in Oklahoma State and Federal Courts,” 24 Oklahoma City University Law Review 113 (1999); “Dirks v. SEC=s Footnote Fourteen: Horizontal and Vertical Reach,” 62 Washington University Law Quarterly 477 (1984); and “Post-Trial Juror Interviews by the Press: The Fifth Circuit=s Approach,” 62 Washington University Law Quarterly 783 (1985). In addition, he and Professor Lyn Entzeroth (now Dean Emeritus of Tulsa University School of Law) coauthored “Judicial Advocacy in Pro Se Litigation: A Return to Neutrality,” 42 Indiana Law Review 19 (2009).
Judge Bacharach is the recipient of the national Federal Bar Association’s Earl W. Kintner Award, the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Award of Judicial Excellence, and the Washington University School of Law Distinguished Alumni Award.

Registration
Register Now!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Hybrid Event: Women in Dispute Resolution and the Courts
2026-03-19 10:30 - 12:00
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Join us for this year’s NGO CSW 70 program entitled, ‘Women in Alternative Dispute Resolution and the Courts.’ We’ll explore how judges, and specifically women, support access to justice and advance the rule of law through innovative means in courthouses worldwide. As described in the 2016 UNDP Annual Report on The Rule of Law and Human Rights, Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16) – for peaceful, just, and inclusive societies – ushers in a new kind of development, one where people can influence the decisions that affect their lives and create communities that thrive. SDG 16 explains how fair governance plays a crucial role in promoting peaceful, just, and inclusive societies, as well as ensuring sustainable development. The program will bring together courthouse leaders from around the world to discuss how the use of alternatives to dispute resolution, such as mediation and arbitration, in the courthouse is helping to improve access to justice for vulnerable litigants in various contexts.
Attendance is free for anyone interested, and we encourage you to invite your networks to participate. The program is in-person for those local to New York City, and virtual for those unable to join in-person on March 19, 2026, from 10:30 am –12:00 pm ET
To participate in-person: This event is an official Parallel Event being held at the NGO CSW Site across the street from the United Nations. In-person attendees must register directly with the NGO CSW Forum HERE.
Note: Participation in this event will not enable you to attend events within the United Nations Building itself. Here is the address for this event:
Church Center For the United Nations (CCUN)
777 United Nations Plz., 11th Floor,
New York, NY 10017
Virtual Registration Here!
Sponsored by the Federal Bar Association’s Judiciary Division,
Co-sponsors:

FBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section (confirmed)
FBA International Law Section (confirmed)
National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) (confirmed)
International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) (confirmed)
ABA, Judicial Division, National Conference of the Administrative Law Judiciary (NCALJ) (confirmed)
Association of European Administrative Judges (confirmed)
Academy of Court Appointed Neutrals (confirmed)
ABA Dispute Resolution Section (awaiting confirmation)
Fordham Law School (confirmed)
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (awaiting confirmation)
ABA Labor and Employment Section, International Committee (confirmed)

OPENING REMARKS

Speakers

Hon. Mimi Tsankov (Ret.)
Ms. Tsankov is a certified mediator and arbitrator based in New York City. Since retiring from the bench after nearly two decades in the federal administrative judiciary, she now serves on a wide range of national and state mediation and arbitration panels.
Her many years of public service included serving as Assistant District Counsel and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice as well as an Attorney Advisor with the Peace Corps. She has also worked for over a decade in private law practice.
Recognized both at the court and throughout various legal organizations for her work as a judge and as a leader in the international legal community, Ms. Tsankov has held multiple elected and appointed roles for decades in leading organizations, including the American Bar Association (ABA), the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), Judicial Council 2 (National Association of Immigration Judges, a national labor organization affiliated with the AFL-CIO), the Federal Bar Association (FBA), and the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ).
She’s received multiple ABA Presidential Appointments to the UN Representatives Department of Global Communications, been elected Vice President for Publications at the NAWJ, and been elected to the FBA’s Board of Directors for a three-year term. She has chaired both the ABA’s Judicial Division’s National Conference of the Administrative Law Judiciary, and the FBA’s Judiciary Division.
Currently, she’s an appointed Board Member of the New York City Bar Association’s Commercial Law and Uniform State Law Committee (CLUSL), its Arbitration Committee, and is active in the ABA’s Dispute Resolution Section.
In the labor field, Ms. Tsankov served as a prominent nationally-elected leader for four years at the IFPTE’s Judicial Council 2, bringing significant public attention to rule of law issues of national interest. She now participates in multiple chapters of the Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA), and the New York State Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section. She holds leadership roles in the ABA’s Labor and Employment Section.
Ms. Tsankov contributed to ongoing labor-related discussions by testifying before immigration-focused Judiciary Subcommittees of both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, and has met regularly with Congressional leaders, published numerous labor-related articles in legal periodicals and in a variety of law journals, served on national and international education panels (U.S., Canada, and Europe) and been a trusted resource to members of all major media outlets (print, TV, and radio).
With a focus on keeping the community informed, she’s also provided expert background information for theatrical and museum immigration-labor related releases explaining the nuances of labor issues in the immigration context.
Throughout her career, Ms. Tsankov has received many honors, awards, and citations from the U.S. Department of Justice, the ABA, the FBA, and others.
For years, she has been serving on the Adjunct Law Faculty at Fordham Law School in New York teaching International Law and Justice, and has been on the adjunct faculty of Colorado Law School and the Sturm College of Law in Denver, Colorado. Ms. Tsankov publishes regularly in peer-reviewed, and general interest journals.
She completed her J.D. at the University of Virginia School of Law and was awarded an M.A. in International Relations at the University of Virginia Graduate School of Politics.

Rachel Irura, Regional Ombudsman, Nairobi, United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services (UNOMS).
Rachel Irura joined the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services (UNOMS) in December 2022 as the
Regional Ombudsman and Head of the Regional Ombudsman branch in Nairobi, Kenya. Rachel is an accredited civil and commercial mediator and served on the Staff Union of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the Hague, the Netherlands. Her most recent role was the Head of the Witness Support and Protection Unit (WISP) in Arusha, Tanzania, and the Head of the Kigali Field Office of the United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (“Mechanism”) in Kigali, supporting witnesses who testified before the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (UNIRMCT). Rachel also worked for CIVICUS, an umbrella body for civil society organizations in Johannesburg, South Africa. She began her career with the United Nations in January
2005 as a Legal Assistant with the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), in Freetown, Sierra Leone. She subsequently worked as a Human Rights Officer with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), in Fishtown,
Liberia. Ms. Irura also worked as a Court Officer with the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), Sub-office in the
Hague, the Netherlands. She served as a Legal Officer at the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) from June 2011 to February 2020. She holds a Master of Laws (LLM) Degree in Human Rights and Democratization in Africa from the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Judge Elizabeth Stong, U.S. Bankruptcy Court (EDNY)
Hon. Elizabeth Stong has been a United States bankruptcy judge in New York since 2003. A former litigator, she is a frequent speaker and author and an adjunct law professor at Brooklyn Law School, and holds leadership roles in several international, national, and regional organizations and bar associations. Judge Stong has trained judges in case management, commercial and business rescue law, and dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, in more than 25 countries on five continents, with the World Bank, the U.S. Commerce Department, and several other intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, most recently at World Bank’s regional judicial colloquium and Africa Roundtable in South Africa.
Judge Stong is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, an elected member of the American Law Institute and European Law Institute, and a member of the Board of Governors of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges representing the Second Circuit, among other positions. She is also a regular NGO delegate to UNCITRAL’s Working Groups addressing dispute resolution and insolvency. In addition, she is an active volunteer in her community and has coordinated the interfaith homeless shelter there for many years. She has received many awards for her work to improve access to justice.
In her ABA activities, Judge Stong presently serves as Chair of the Rule of Law Initiative Middle East North Africa Council and recently completed terms as Chair of the Standing Committee on Continuing Legal Education and Chair of the Judicial Division’s National Conference of Federal Trial Judges, among other roles.
Judge Stong received her AB from Harvard University magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in the history of science, and her JD from Harvard Law School where she served as President of the global alumni association.

The Honorable Col. Linda Murnane, Associate Justice, University of Cincinnati College of Law, J.D. 1981
Linda recently completed two years as an Associate Justice serving on the High Court of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Her previous judicial experience included ten consecutive years as a military judge and chief circuit military judge for the United States Air Force. She served in a variety of United Nations positions at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, including service in Trial Chamber 3 as the Senior Legal Officer, three years as the Chief Court Management Services, and short terms as the Acting Head of Chambers and Acting Deputy Registrar. She also served three years as the Chief, Court Management Services at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
She currently serves on the Board of Governors for the American Bar Association (ABA) and American Judges Association (AJA) and is the co-District Director for District 7 of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ). She previously served as Chair of the ABA Judicial Division and National Conference of Specialized Court Judges, as the Chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law, and as an ABA UN Representative and Special Observer. She served on the ABA International Law Section’s Executive Council for six years. She is an ABA Sustaining Life Fellow, and a past recipient of the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement and International Law Section’s Mayre Rasmussen Award.
Justice Murnane is the editor of “Women’s Voices: A Global Perspective on the Right to Vote”, and is a chapter contributor to “Her Honor” both published by ABA Publications.
She is a retired colonel in the United States Air Force and is married to Kevin M. Murnane, USAF, Ret. They have two daughter, Rachel Manuel and Christina Veillon, who are both teachers, and three grandchildren, Abrial, Cody and Aidan.

Giuseppe De Palo, Esq., Mediator at JAMS; President of the Dialogue Through Conflict Foundation
Giuseppe De Palo is an international mediator at JAMS and president of the Dialogue Through Conflict Foundation. A former senior official of the United Nations, he has advised the European Parliament and national parliaments worldwide on mediation policy. His publications have been translated into several languages. Mr. De Palo is at the forefront of AI integration in dispute resolution, having conceived the first live “human-versus-AI” mediation competition, now staged across multiple continents. This work explores whether technology can replicate the nuances of facilitated negotiation and has sparked dialogue among practitioners, policymakers, and technologists about responsible AI adoption in ADR. He has mediated more than 2,500 disputes across 60 countries, spanning commercial contracts, trade conflicts, and multi-stakeholder ESG matters.

Lady Justice Joyce Aluoch, Former First Vice-President of the International Criminal Court and Patron of Women in ADR Kenya (WADR)
Lady Justice Joyce Aluoch CBS, EBS, Trailblazer, is a former Judge and First Vice-President of the International Criminal Court at The Hague in The Netherlands.
Certified International Mediator(IMI), Accredited Mediator, Certified Advanced Mediator, Chartered Mediator, Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators-London, and the Kenya branch.
She holds a Master of Arts Degree (GMAP) from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University in Boston-USA, Law Degree from the University of Nairobi, and a Professional Certificate from the Kenya School of Law.
Upon completion of her tenure at the ICC in 2018, she successfully moved her legal profession to other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution, particularly mediation and peacebuilding. She conducts International and continental mediations, Court Annexed Mediations in Kenya, and private mediations.
In July 2022,she was appointed by Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), as a member of the Judicial Reform Committee under the Revitalized(power sharing) Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, a country that had been in conflict for over 20 years. Using her mediation skills whilst conducting public consultations to establish the reforms the people of South Sudan wanted, her committee visited most parts of the country and produced a draft report which was subjected to a three-day validation workshop. The draft report was validated by over 100 people including the leaders who attended the workshop. The Committee produced a final report containing recommendations for the reform of the judiciary of South Sudan. The report was handed over to HE President Salva Kiir Mayardit at state house Juba on December 20, 2024.
In January 2024, Lady Justice Aluoch was appointed a member of the jury of the Simplicemente Donna International Award and in March 2024, she was appointed to the Global Advisory Council of G100 Networking.
The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators-London appointed her a member of Professional Conduct Committee which investigates, and if necessary facilitates disciplinary and or expulsion of any member through an independent and impartial system of disciplinary proceedings.
She serves in many international and regional organizations. She is a co-chair of the Board of Directors of Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI), Board Member of Dialogue through Conflict Foundation, Patron, Women in Alternative Dispute Resolution-Kenya, and the immediate past member of International Advisory Board, Office of the Ombudsperson of the United Nations Funds and Programs.
She is a recipient of both International and National Awards including International Peace Award from Premio Internazionale Simplicente Donna, awarded in Florence-Italy in November 2023 in recognition of the work on judicial reforms she was conducting in the Republic of South Sudan.
In Kenya, she is a recipient of the national Awards of CBS,EBS and Trailblazer( CBS) awarded by the last three Presidents of the Republic of Kenya, for her illustrious judicial career.

Merril Hirsh (CIArb), Executive Director, Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals
Merril Hirsh of HirshADR PLLC and the Law Office of Merril Hirsh PLLC in Washington, D.C. is an arbitrator, hearing examiner, mediator and the Executive Director of the Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals as well as Chair of the ABA Judicial Division Lawyers Conference Court-Appointed Neutrals Committee and a member of its Executive Committee. He has litigated cases on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants as well as the United States government in federal or state courts for over 40 years and in over 40 states.
He is also a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals, a member of the Council of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, a hearing committee chair for the DC Board of Professional Responsibility, a hearing examiner for the Architect of the Capitol, an arbitrator, a private commercial mediator and a family law mediator for DC Superior Court. He received the 2024 Nachtigal Award from the American Judges Association for service to the administration of justice, the 2023 Lawyer as Problem Solver Award from the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution and twice received the Civil Justice Award from the Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals. He graduated with a BA, with high honors in Government, from Oberlin College in 1979 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, magna cum laude in 1982.

Hon. Pam Washington, National Association of Women Judges
Pamela Scott Washington is a retired Alaska District Court Judge and currently serves as President of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ). She retired from the bench on October 31, 2025, concluding a distinguished judicial career in Anchorage, Alaska, where she most recently served as Deputy Presiding Judge of the Anchorage District Court. During her tenure, she managed high-volume criminal and civil dockets and presided over Anchorage’s Coordinated Resource Project, commonly known as the Mental Health Court.
Judge Washington has held numerous national and international leadership roles advancing justice, equity, and judicial excellence. Her service includes the Alaska Supreme Court Fairness, Diversity & Equality Commission; the International Association of Women Judges; the National Center for State Courts Blueprint for Racial Justice workgroup; the American Bar Association Judicial Editorial Board; and the United States Chapter of the Committee of Pan American Judges on Social Justice. She was a conference speaker at the Vatican addressing social justice concerns in 2023 and 2025.
As the first African American woman appointed to the judiciary in Alaska, Judge Washington has been a catalyst for increasing diversity on the bench, expanding implicit bias education, and strengthening public confidence in the fair and impartial administration of justice. Her honors include the Alaska Supreme Court Community Service Award, the North to the Future Business and Professional Woman in History Award, NAWJ’s Justice Vaino Spencer Leadership Award, and recognition as a Congressional Coalition Angels in Adoption Honoree for her advocacy in Alaska’s foster care system. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Judge Washington has called Alaska home since 1975. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications from Northern Arizona University and a Juris Doctor from Arizona State University. She is married to Dr. Stephen Washington, a mental health clinician, and they have three adult children, five grandsons, and one granddaughter
Student Speakers
Panel Speaker Introductions

Miruna Iosub is an LL.M. student in International Law and Justice at Fordham University School of Law. She is originally from Romania, where she earned her law degree and wrote her bachelor’s thesis on international cooperation among states for the maintenance of international peace and security. Miruna currently serves as a student representative at the New York City Bar Association and is a staff member of the Fordham International Law Society Journal.

Joshua Wiafe Frimpong is a Climate Justice and Policy Advisor, Executive Director of Eco-Africa Network, and LL.M. Candidate in International Law & Justice at Fordham University, where his work centers on climate justice, just transitions, and climate governance. He leads youth-driven climate action across Africa- mobilizing thousands of young people, convening landmark platforms such as the 2025 Climate Justice Conference and National Universities Climate Debate, and advancing climate education through policy advocacy, media engagement, and innovative digital solutions. He has spoken at major regional and global platforms including the United Nations General Assembly 80th Session, UNFCCC COP29, Oxford Africa Conference 2025, and leading climate and energy forums, and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Project (Ghana- NCEP), advancing evidence-based pathways toward a just and inclusive net-zero future.

Milagros Lee is an LL.M. candidate in International Law and Justice at Fordham University School of Law and a full-tuition scholar at the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice. She has professional experience in international legal analysis and institutional work, including with diplomatic missions and UN-affiliated bodies. Her academic and professional interests focus on public international law, international institutions, and the implementation of international legal frameworks in complex global contexts.

Grace Frederica Lutterodt is a lawyer admitted to practice law in The Gambia and Ghana. She is currently an LL.M. candidate studying International Law and Justice at Fordham University School of Law. She has over three years of professional and internship experience with the African Centre of International Criminal Justice(ACICJ) and the African Centre on Law and Ethics(ACLE). Grace’s academic and professional interests include criminal law, ethics, constitutional law, and dispute resolution. She is committed to developing her skills, embracing professional challenges, and contributing meaningfully to justice systems both domestically and internationally.

Registration
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Attendance is free for anyone interested, and we encourage you to invite your networks to participate. The program is in-person for those local to New York City, and virtual for those unable to join in-person on March 19, 2026, from 10:30–12:00 ET
To participate in-person: This event is an official Parallel Event being held at the NGO CSW Site across the street from the United Nations. In-person attendees must register directly with the NGO CSW Forum here on their website. Note: Participation in this event will not enable you to attend events within the United Nations Building itself. Here is the address for this event:
Church Center for the United Nations (CCUN)
777 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
11th Floor – Assigned room is TBD

Webinar: A Conversation with the Article I Chief Judges
2026-03-31 12:00 - 13:00
*Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone*

The Judiciary Division invites members of the bench and bar to an informative webinar exploring the structure, jurisdiction, and function of the federal courts established under Article I of the United States Constitution.
This program will feature a panel of Article I Chief Judges in a moderated discussion designed to provide participants with a clearer understanding of these important, yet often misunderstood, courts. Panelists will discuss their courts’ jurisdiction, how cases are heard (including single judge versus panel decision-making), applicable rules of practice and procedure, and the appellate pathways from their courts.
By offering direct insight from sitting Chief Judges, this webinar aims to increase awareness of the critical role Article I courts play within the federal judiciary and to enhance practitioners’ and judges’ familiarity with their operations.
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Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Judiciary Division

Presenters

The Honorable Michael P. Allen, Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

Following his presidential nomination and Senate confirmation, Judge Michael Allen took his seat on the United States Court of Appeals on August 11, 2017. He became Chief Judge on September 19, 2024. For 16 years before his judicial appointment, Chief Judge Allen was a tenured full professor of law at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida. He was also the director of Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute, and he spent four years as the College of Law’s associate dean. Chief Judge Allen graduated summa cum laude from the University of Rochester earning bachelor’s degrees in American history and political science. He received his law degree from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar during his final 2 years.

The Honorable Kevin A. Ohlson, Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
Chief Judge Kevin Ohlson attended Washington and Jefferson College on an Army R.O.T.C. 4-year scholarship and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. After graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law, Chief Judge Ohlson was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as a prosecutor and as an Article 32 Investigating Officer in a case involving a serial rapist and murderer. While assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps, Chief Judge Ohlson parachuted into three foreign countries.
Upon leaving military service, Chief Judge Ohlson became a federal prosecutor in Washington D.C. However, he was recalled to active duty and deployed overseas during the Persian Gulf War. He was awarded the Bronze Star.
Chief Judge Ohlson later returned to his duties at the Justice Department, and he served in a variety of leadership positions during a career that spanned more than 25 years. He ultimately was appointed as Chief of Staff and Counsel to the Attorney General of the United States.
Chief Judge Ohlson was nominated by President Obama to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, was confirmed by the Senate in 2013, and became Chief Judge on August 1, 2021.

The Honorable Matthew H. Solomson, Chief Judge, United States Court of Federal Claims
Matthew H. Solomson is Chief Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims, a nationwide court with jurisdiction over monetary and procurement-related claims against the United States. He joined the court following U.S. Senate confirmation in 2020 and was appointed Chief Judge by President Trump in April 2025. Before joining the bench, he litigated cases as lead counsel, representing both private parties and the federal government, before the Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
The son of a retired U.S. Army colonel, Chief Judge Solomson spent his formative years living in eight states before settling in Maryland, where he now resides with his family. Prior to his judicial service, he built a career spanning senior government service, private practice, and corporate leadership. He served as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer for an $11 billion federal contracting business within a Fortune 50 company and led the government contracts practice at Booz Allen Hamilton, serving as principal counsel to its intelligence business unit. His private-sector experience also includes practice as Counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and as an Associate at Arnold & Porter LLP, both in Washington, D.C.
Chief Judge Solomson previously served as a Trial Attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice and began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Francis M. Allegra of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Chief Judge Solomson is the author of Court of Federal Claims: Jurisdiction, Practice, and Procedure (Bloomberg BNA, 2016).

The Honorable Patrick J. Urda, Chief Judge, United States Tax Court
Chief Judge Urda was born in South Bend, Indiana, where he grew up with four siblings. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame and Harvard Law School. After a stint in private practice in Chicago, Chief Judge Urda clerked for Judge Daniel A. Manion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and then moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the Tax Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). During his 12 years at DOJ, he litigated tax appeals in each of the federal circuit courts, presenting 50 appellate arguments. In addition to his work as a line attorney, he served as Counsel to the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Appellate and Review, as well as details to the Office of Legal Policy and to the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training. Chief Judge Urda has previously served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at American University Washington College of Law. He joined the United States Tax Court on September 27, 2018, and was elected as Chief Judge for a term starting on June 1, 2025

The Honorable Adam B. Landy, United States Tax Court (Moderator)
The Honorable Adam B. Landy has served as a Judge of the United States Tax Court since August 8, 2024, following his nomination by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., and confirmation by the United States Senate to a 15‑year term. Prior to his appointment, he served as a Special Trial Judge of the United States Tax Court.
Before joining the bench, Judge Landy served as a Senior Attorney with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel and practiced law with McNair Law Firm, P.A. (now Burr & Forman LLP) in Columbia, South Carolina. As a Special Trial Judge, he presided over a wide range of taxpayer disputes, conducting both remote and in‑person proceedings, and resolving cases through written opinions, orders, and other disposition.
As a South Carolina native, Judge Landy holds a B.S. in Chemistry and an M.S. in Sport and Entertainment Management from the University of South Carolina, a J.D. from the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law, and an LL.M. in Taxation from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.

Registration
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Registration Fees

FBA Member: $0
Nonmember: $95

Live Captioning: Closed captioning is available for all virtual webcasts.
Internet Requirements: Virtual programs require suitable internet strength to stream online panels. A minimum internet connection of 800 Kbps is recommended for an optimal attendee experience. Test your connection here.

CLE
Please note CLE will not be offered for this event.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I access the virtual webinar?
A: Each webinar will have a unique link to watch the live broadcast. Registered attendees will receive login instructions via a calendar invitations 24 hours prior to the webinar.
Q: Will recordings of the sessions be available after the event?
A: Approved sessions will be available for registrants to view live and on-demand following the webinar.
Q: Who do I contact for more information?
A: Please contact sections@fedbar.org for any other questions.

Email Communication Policy
By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communication from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
Recording Disclaimer
By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact sections@fedbar.org

Webinar: Demystifying Discovery: Fundamental Tools and Tactics for Law Clerks and New Lawyers
2026-04-29 12:00 - 13:00
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
This CLE course will provide a foundational overview of discovery in federal civil litigation, including the use of interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admission, and depositions. The program offers practical tips for drafting clear discovery requests and responses to minimize objections and disputes in court and also will address tips for navigating discovery disputes that do arise in litigation.
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Presented by the FBA’s Judiciary Division & Federal Judicial Law Clerk Committee

Presenters

The Honorable Marty Fulgueira Elfenbein, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Marty Fulgueira Elfenbein was sworn in as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Florida on March 11, 2024. Before joining the judiciary, from September 2018 to March 2024, Judge Elfenbein served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Miami, prosecuting cases in the Major Crimes and Economic and Environmental Crimes Sections. In her last year as a prosecutor, she was the Chief of the Collateral Litigation Section, overseeing all post-conviction litigation and filter reviews on a district-wide basis. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, she worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Beth Bloom in the Southern District of Florida. From 2006 to 2016, Judge Elfenbein was an associate and later a partner at Rumberger, Kirk, and Caldwell, P.A. where she focused her federal and state practice in the areas of aviation law, products liability, premises liability, and insurance defense. She earned a degree in newspaper journalism in 2002 and a Juris Doctor degree in 2005, both from the University of Florida.

Matthew Allen, Principal, Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone, P.L.C.
Matthew P. Allen is a litigator and trial lawyer who has tried and arbitrated a wide variety of cases, ranging from felony matters in Detroit’s criminal courts to bet-the[1]company securities and international intellectual property cases. Over the past decade, Matt has been consistently voted by his peers as a leading lawyer in Michigan and the United States by the publications Best Lawyers in America, Michigan Super Lawyers, and Leading Lawyers. Matt has also been selected as a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. In addition to his commercial litigation practice, Matt has represented corporations, audit committees, and corporate officers and directors in civil and criminal investigations and enforcement actions by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Federal Election Commission. He has also tried numerous felony bench and jury trials, and conducted felony preliminary examinations, while serving as a Special Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Wayne County (Detroit) Michigan.

Prof. Debra M. Strauss, Professor of Business Law, Fairfield University
Debra M. Strauss is a Professor of Business Law at Fairfield University Charles F. Dolan School of Business, where she teaches international law, business law, and applied ethics. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Cornell University and Yale Law School, she clerked for the Honorable Charles L. Brieant, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and practiced commercial litigation at Rogers & Wells (now Clifford Chance LLP). Professor Strauss is the author of Behind the Bench: The Guide to Judicial Clerkships (West Academic Publishing, 3rd ed. 2023), a leading resource on the courts and judicial clerkships. She previously served as the founding Director of Judicial Clerkship Counseling and Programs at Yale Law School and authored the National Judicial Clerkship Study for the American Bar Association and the National Association for Law Placement. She is a founder and officer of the Connecticut Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and serves as Co-Chair of the Federal Judicial Law Clerk Committee of the FBA Judiciary Division. Professor Strauss frequently presents and consults on federal practice and effective advocacy in the courts, including practical guidance on litigation, legal writing, and judicial clerkship success.

Anoosheh Shaikh, Associate, Duane Morris LLP
Anoosheh Shaikh has developed a well-rounded practice focused on complex commercial litigation, securities, and employment litigation. She is well-versed in litigation strategy including managing discovery, drafting motions, and preparing for trial.
Prior to joining Duane Morris, Ms. Shaikh served as law clerk to the Hon. Embry Kidd of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Ms. Shaikh is a 2022 cum laude graduate of the University of Miami School of Law and a cum laude graduate of The George Washington University. During law school, she was Vice President of the Charles C. Papy Jr. Moot Court Board and member of the International and Comparative Law Review. Additionally, she was inducted into the Order of Barristers National Honors Society for excellence in oral advocacy and brief writing.

Kaitlin Farrell, Partner, Haug Partners
Kaitlin Farrell has extensive patent law experience, focused primarily on patent litigation and pre-lawsuit investigations in matters related to pharmaceuticals, medical devices, chemicals, cosmetics, food/beverage, automotives, and consumer products. Kaitlin has developed significant trial and appellate experience that informs all elements of her litigation and due diligence practice. Kaitlin has experience with a wide range of pharmaceutical products, including treatments for neurological, hematologic, dermatologic, gynecologic, and rare-disease conditions, as well as various extended-release, topical, subcutaneous, and biologic drug formulations. Kaitlin has litigated major patent disputes before the PTAB, the ITC, and in major patent venues across the country. She has also represented clients before U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She is an active contributor to local, national, and international intellectual property associations. She is a graduate of Notre Dame Law School and Fordham University.

Christina Dines, Law Clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (Moderator)
Christina Dines is presently serving as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Adalberto Jordan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. She previously clerked for the Honorable John L. Sinatra, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York and for Justice John D. Couriel of the Florida Supreme Court, and serves on the Federal Bar Association’s Federal Judicial Law Clerk Committee.
In addition to her clerkships, which have informed her advocacy, Christina has extensive litigation experience. As a senior associate in the Miami office of Baker McKenzie LLP, she was a member of the firm’s Litigation & Government Enforcement Practice Group. She has assisted clients in navigating high-stakes matters involving complex civil disputes, internal and external investigations, and federal civil RICO. She has worked on cases across several state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Notre Dame Law School, and a former Division I coxswain, Christina serves on the Notre Dame Monogram Club Board of Directors.

Registration
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Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Webinar: Fireside Chat Program (continued) - Best Practices for Litigating Discrimination Cases under Title VII and the ADA
2026-05-07 14:00 - 15:00
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Master the evolving landscape of workplace litigation in our upcoming webinar, “Navigating Title VII and the ADA: From Compliance to Courtroom.” Gain actionable insights on the latest EEOC enforcement trends and best practices for effectively litigating complex discrimination claims. Secure your spot today to refine your defense strategies and ensure your labor and employment practices remain at the cutting edge of the law.
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Presented by FBA’s Labor & Employment Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Civil Rights Law Sections & Judiciary Division

Presenters
The Honorable Anna White Howard serves as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Georgia. Before joining the federal bench in April of 2025, she was on faculty at the University of Georgia School of Law, where she taught legal writing, served as the school’s judicial liaison, and practiced in the school’s Appellate Litigation Clinic. In the Clinic, Howard supervised students as they represent indigent clients before the federal Circuit Courts of Appeals, Supreme Court of Georgia, Board of Immigration Appeals, and U.S. Supreme Court.Previously, Howard was an associate with Butler Wooten & Peak, where she litigated False Claims Act qui tam, product liability, and catastrophic personal injury cases. She also served as a career law clerk for Judge Leigh Martin May and a term law clerk for Judge Richard W. Story, both of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Within the FBA, Anna serves as Chair of the Judiciary Division’s Magistrate Judges Committee and was the FY25 President of the Atlanta Chapter. Anna previously served in a variety of FBA roles including as Chair of the FBA Membership Committee and the FBA Younger Lawyers Division.

David Brody, Partner, Sherin and Lodgen LLP
David Brody is a partner in Sherin and Lodgen’s award-winning Employment Department. A member of the firm’s Executive Advocacy Team, Brody represents individuals in a wide range of matters, including contract negotiation and enforcement, wage and hour issues, wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, and whistleblowing. He is an experienced employment litigator, having represented individuals at trial in state and federal court, and in public hearings before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the Civil Service Commission.
In addition to his litigation practice, Brody advises executives and professionals regarding employment agreements, non-competition and other restrictive covenants, change of control agreements, equity and deferred compensation vehicles, and transition agreements.
Brody is the immediate past president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association, an affinity organization of attorneys committed to advancing employee rights, and former co-chair of the Boston Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section.

Aaron Spacone, Partner, Morgan, Brown & Joy
Aaron Spacone represents employers in a wide variety of labor and employment matters. As an employment litigator, Aaron defends employers against claims related to workplace discrimination, retaliation, and sexual harassment, among others. Aaron also provides counsel to employers regarding daily workplace matters, including the preparation of employee handbooks, hiring, wages, discipline, termination, and leave. Aaron has represented clients across many industries, having obtained favorable outcomes for clients in the insurance, education, food processing, and healthcare industries. Beyond employment, Aaron has extensive experience as a commercial litigator in disputes involving contracts, intellectual property, and real estate.
Prior to joining Morgan, Brown & Joy, Aaron was an associate at a mid-size firm in Boston, where his practice focused on employment law and commercial litigation. Following law school, Aaron completed judicial clerkships with the judges of the Connecticut Superior Court and the Honorable Gilbert V. Indeglia of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. He also served as an intern for the Honorable William E. Smith at the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. During law school, Aaron was an Articles Editor for the Connecticut Law Review and the Judging Director for the Connecticut Moot Court Board.

Hon. Mimi Tsankov (Ret.) (Moderator)
Mediator/Arbitrator/Neutral
Judge Mimi Tsankov is a certified mediator/arbitrator in New York City currently serving on the JAMS Labor Panel, and the American Arbitration Association Labor Panel. Since retiring from the Federal Government, she serves on a wide range of State panels throughout New York. For nearly two decades, she served as a judge in the federal administrative judiciary, prosecuted cases on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Peace Corps, and worked over 10 years in private law practice. She’s been recognized both at the court and throughout various legal organizations for her work as a judge and as a leader in the international legal community, holding multiple elected and appointed roles for decades in leading organizations, including the ABA, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Judicial Council 2 (a national labor organization affiliated with the AFL-CIO), the Federal Bar Association, and the National Association of Women Judges. She’s received multiple ABA Presidential Appointments to the UN Representatives Department of Global Communications, and is currently Immediate Past Chair of the ABA’s Judicial Division’s National Conference of the Administrative Law Judiciary. She’s a Board Member of the City Bar of New York’s Commercial Law Section, and an Affiliate Board Member of its ADR Section. She is a member of multiple chapters of the Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA). In the labor field, she’s contributed to ongoing labor-related discussions by testifying before the Judiciary Committees of both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, meeting regularly with Congressional leaders, publishing numerous articles in legal periodicals and in a variety of law journals, serving on national and international panels (U.S., Canada, and Europe) speaking with members of all major media outlets (print, TV, film, and radio), and by producing podcast stories. To keep the community informed, she’s also provided expert background information for film, museum, and theater releases, explaining the nuances of labor issues in the immigration context.
Throughout her career, she’s received many honors, awards, and citations from the U.S. Department of Justice, the ABA and the FBA, and others. As a Federal Administrative Judge, she presided over cases throughout the U.S., including New York, Colorado, Texas, Nevada, Florida, and California. She’s on the Adjunct Law Faculty at Fordham Law School in New York and has been on the faculty of Colorado Law School and the Sturm College of Law in Denver, Colorado. She publishes regularly in peer-reviewed and general interest journals. She completed her J.D. at the University of Virginia School of Law and earned an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Virginia Graduate School of Politics.

David Michel, Partner, Sherin and Lodgen LLP (co-moderator)
David A. Michel is a litigation partner at Sherin and Lodgen LLP in Boston, MA, where he assists clients in resolving complex employment, business, and real estate disputes.
David’s experience includes representing companies and individuals in a variety of complex employment, civil and commercial disputes in federal and state courts and through alternative dispute resolution. In particular, David represents clients and organizations in employment matters involving restrictive covenants, discrimination, wrongful termination, and wage and hour litigation. He also represents companies, developers, property owners, and landlords involved in commercial and real estate disputes, including adverse possession, breach of contract, brokerage, and zoning matters.

Registration
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Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding CLE for this program, please contact myLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com

Webinar: Staying Safe on and off the Bench: Tools for Judicial Protection
2026-06-24 14:00 - 15:00
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**

Judicial security extends beyond the courtroom. This webinar will focus on practical measures judges can take to enhance their personal safety in daily life, including home, travel, and online environments.

Register Now!

Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Judiciary Division

Presenters
John Muffler, Principal, Aequitas Global Security, LLC, former Chief Inspector, U.S. Marshal Service
John Muffler, MS, CTM, Principal of Aequitas Global Security, LLC, is a strategic consultant for judicial officers, high-visibility clients in government, business, education, entertainment, and private sectors, developing strategic initiatives and crisis management processes. A retired United States Marshals Service Chief Inspector, he developed and led the National Center for Judicial Security. Holding a top-secret clearance and key leadership positions throughout his decorated career, he led programs in judicial and witness protection, emergency management, physical security, fugitive investigations, and threat assessment and management. John serves as adjunct faculty for the National Judicial College, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the American Bar Association’s Judicial Division, and as faculty/consultant for the National Center for State Courts, developing safety and security programs for court facilities and personnel, judges and their families, ranging from immersive learning to in-person consultations and assessments. As a public service, John has given his time for local and national media interviews and has written over thirty articles published in legal and law enforcement magazines/websites on pursuer behavior, targeted violence, situational awareness, and protecting personally identifiable information. John was an executive producer for the award-winning workplace safety video series, Project 365: Security Starts with You, for the United States Courts, developed as an educational tool for federal, state, local, and tribal judges. He is certified in threat management through the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals; serves on the Executive Board of the International Association of Chiefs of Police IMPACT Section; and served as faculty to St. Joseph’s University graduate program and the Virginia Center for Policing Innovation. He has developed and delivered nationally recognized programs on violent extremism, domestic violence awareness, active shooter preparedness, and judicial protection. He was the 2022 recipient of American Security Today’s ‘ASTORS’ Award for Excellence in Public Safety. Accepted into the United States Department of State’s Fulbright Specialist Program, John has taught globally on judicial security and threat assessment. As a consultant, he is a senior advisor for Gavin de Becker and Associates’ clients on anti-assassination strategies and the assessment and management of situations that might pose a hazard to their safety or well-being. John is an alum of Naval Postgraduate School’s Executive Leaders Program and holds a master’s degree from St. Joseph’s University.

Hon. Wanda Wright, Administrative Judiciary Committee Chair, Judiciary Division (Moderator)
Judge Wanda Wright has been Administrative Judiciary Chair within the Judiciary Division of the Federal Bar Association since February 2025. Prior to assuming this role, Judge Wright served three years as a Regional Vice President and National Executive Board member of the Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ) representing judges in 17 offices in the southeastern United States. During her tenure, Judge Wright was honored to serve as AALJ Chair of the Health & Safety Committee. Judge Wright is the principal author of the proposed ALJ/AJ Privacy Bill. Prior to her appointment as an administrative law judge in 2010, Judge Wright was a disability advocate and assistant district attorney in New York. Judge Wright is admitted to the NY and NC bars and is a member the federal bar in North Carolina. She is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and she received her law degree from the University of Virginia, where she was Articles Editor of the Virginia Tax Review.

Registration

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Registration Fees

FBA Member: $0
Nonmember: $95

Live Captioning: Closed captioning is available for all virtual webcasts.
Internet Requirements: Virtual programs require suitable internet strength to stream online panels. A minimum internet connection of 800 Kbps is recommended for an optimal attendee experience. Test your connection here.

CLE
Please note CLE will not be offered for this event.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I access the virtual webinar?
A: Each webinar will have a unique link to watch the live broadcast. Registered attendees will receive login instructions via a calendar invitations 24 hours prior to the webinar.
Q: Will recordings of the sessions be available after the event?
A: Approved sessions will be available for registrants to view live and on-demand following the webinar.
Q: Who do I contact for more information?
A: Please contact sections@fedbar.org for any other questions.

Email Communication Policy
By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communication from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
Recording Disclaimer
By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact sections@fedbar.org
