tcdla - Voice For The Defense Online

A VERY DIFFERENT
WASHINGTON, D.C.
0
n Monday Odoher 15, 2001, nineteen members of the Texas
Crimiual Dehc hyms Associatian wcrc induefed into the
United Stales Supreme Caurt Bar. Along with appro*lolateiyfaay
other Lawyers from thmu@o~lthe nation, it was an experience in formditg,
trxditiou, and history
Mor to my induction with tlus dkdnguished group of Texas la~v)ers, I had
the upportunlty to anfve in Washhgton, D.C. the previous Thday niglit to
see the sites, gauge the dttihlde ofthe iesidents, and see fmil: My brotlier is
a journalist in Wsbgtun.
I dyed on Fflday for a primte tour of the Sup~rme Court I was forbmete
to he the only one for tl~e tour and saw many great sites ofthe Coti~z, inc111ding
thelibrruy, dinhg room, and private rneefii rooms ofthe Supi~me Court.
Atternyards, 1 walked across the street to the Capitol and sat in the gallel). of
the House of Rcp~tsentatives to hear debate 011 the tmorism bllL My day co1-
mii~aLed wifh a hike fhrough tle mall area &ere I saw the Vietnam, Kolran,
Wasl~ington, Lincohi, FDR, and Jeiferson memorids, My afternoon rvns
marked by a chance encounter witl~ a man at an ootdoor &ntho had lost a
dmghter in the Penlttgw terrorist act. It was a sl~ocking bit of reality to be
enjeyiugniy coffee a8 I listened to this gentlemm ~dk about his hughter. He,
I will new fo~vt
On hlor~day, the Supreme Court personnel led eveqvne into a be;~~~tlIul
confaecmce room dmm the haU from the c~nrl~wm. We were addtesses by
the detk of the court dressed in gmy, puistrlpe t&. hi tbis room, we were
membled in dphabeticnl mder aud thni ptwceeded down the hallway
towards tl~eco~lrtroom. The coumoooom is entirely made of imported materials,
wood, marhle, stone, 511 the four walls of the courtroom tliere are fom
diEerent reliefs med in marble deplelhgthe great figures of justice adrm
so11 th'ou~uthe ages. We sat in fle am ~werved ~I?I' Supreme Conrt Bar
membus. Afler a fcw momelifs, the United States Suprenlk Court wns &d
in session. Seven of tlic nine Justices were prwnt, with only Justices Scalia
and Breyer not in attendance.
Mter the reading of preliminary orders by ChiefJustice Rehnquist, the .
movltnts for each group assembkd, including our TCDLA gmup, and
announced each bar member indMduaIljr Aner a h bar member rose after
theirnamewcalled, the Marshall, the nrst women to hold that post, swore
us In oollectively as new members of the Supreme m n Bat U was truly a
momentousBecasion, in an ~m&atyplace, in front of the juristswifh the
most influence on our culture.
Afteimrds, our group reassembIed in this well-appointed conference
mom with IIISII furnishings and d6car. We enjoyed mr brenkfast
with our fiicnds and family and with our eventual distinguished gucsts,
Justices KenncdpdGinsbcrg. It was an honor to meet tl~enl. Ifound
them to be edmmdina~): yet we discussed ordinmy topics. Justice
Ginsberg fanted ro us ahnut mmm in the lmv and how far nre have
came its a profession with women now eqtally half of the sh~dent population
in law schools. Justice Kennedy fold us about his dap ii~ Tbs
and bow much he liked Sim Anto~do and H!n susqe. Yes, 1l was a
vuudiBFem~c tdp to Wasldngton, D.C. W
2.8 VOlCl FOR IHC DEEENIE WWWJCDM~COM NOVEMBER SO01