In a recent President’s Message in Arizona Attorney
(January 2013), we were told of the remarkable diversity reflected in the composition of our Board of
Governors. But while a delegate from Yuma is a
respectable start, we need to do more. A street musician, an Inuit, or maybe a southpaw is still wanting.
Because with all that diversity brought to bear on the
collective decision-making of our Board as currently
constituted, the core values of the State Bar of
Arizona nevertheless continue to include “diversity.”
I had thought the concept to have been thoroughly discredited by now.
By which I mean the notion that a member of a
favored category (some so foggy as to be determinable only by inquir-
ing which self-selected box was checked on the latest census form), is
elevated to a superior position by coercive force (as opposed to mar-
ket force or merit) without regard to (or in defiance of) other objec-
tively better or brighter
candidates (who occu-
py, by definition, un-
favored categories),
under the indefensible
rationale that the per-
son promoted speaks
for all his or her
favored foggy fellows
(who think as one), or
will represent them
where no one else will,
or will contribute ideas
that no one else will
have, or will enhance
the experience and
inspire the creativity of
everyone around by
mere presence, or who
requires a “critical
mass” of others similar-
ly categorized and ele-
vated not to feel intim-
idated, or who will, by
his or her promotion,
redress the colonialist,
sexist, racist, etc., mis-
deeds of our forebears
and/or salve the feelings of the paternalistic, patronizing and imperi-
ous bureaucrats wielding the coercive force and/or at the least (and at
the same time perhaps most importantly), contribute to a more polit-
6 ARIZONA A T TORNE Y JANUAR Y 2013 www.azbar.org/AZAttorney leadership. Through the BLI, we expose these young lawyers to leaders of the Bench and Bar from across our state to help them in becoming leaders. We also have a Diversity Pipeline Project hat operates in partnership with Arizona’s attorneys, schools, colleges and other organizations to encourage young people, especially those in underrepresented popu- lations, to consider careers in the law. This year, we have established a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force chaired by our Secretary/Treasurer, Lisa Loo, that is developing recommendations for ways the Bar can more effectively further diversi- ty and inclusion. The Task Force also serves as a liaison between the Board of Governors and our three State Bar Committees that are dedicated to issues of diversity and inclusion: the Committee on Minorities and Women in the Law; the Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity; and the Committee on Persons with Disabilities in the Legal Profession. In addition, the Task Force serves as a liaison between the State Bar and our part- ner bar associations, including: all the coun- ty bar associations, the Arizona Women Lawyers Association, Los Abogados, the Native American Bar Association, the Navajo Nation Bar Association, the Arizona Minority Bar Association, the Arizona Black Bar Association, the Black Women Lawyers Association of Arizona, the Arizona Asian- American Bar Association, Association of South-Asian La wyers, Arizona Gay & Lesbian La wyers Association, Arizona Je wish La wyers Association, and the St. Thomas More Society. It is our hope that the work of this Task Force will facilitate greater coordination and collaboration among these various profession- al groups. Toward that end, the State Bar has posted a ne w calendar reflecting events being held by our partner bar associations and by our State Bar’s diversity-related commit- tees. You can find it at www.azbar.org/ ne wsevents/diversitycalendarofevents. Please take a look, and plan to attend one of the upcoming events. You will find it an enriching and rewarding experience. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Amelia Craig Cramer The mission of the State Bar of Arizona is to serve the public and enhance the legal profession by promoting the compe- tency, ethics and professionalism of our members and by enhancing the administration of and access to justice. Our vision is for all Arizona lawyers to be part of a supportive and col- legial community of professionals exhibiting the highest standards of eth- ical conduct and technical skill, and sharing a passion for excellence in the practice of law. Diversity is one of the Bar’s stated core values. Diversity embodies our commitment to ensuring that the legal profession and the justice system reflect the community we serve, with all of its social, economic and geo- graphic diversity. Our governing board reflects this commitment to diversity. It includes representatives from Flagstaff, Prescott, Glendale, Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, Globe, Florence, Tucson, Sahuarita, Bisbee and Yuma. Board members include lawyers approaching retirement, mid-career la wyers and young lawyers. La wyer members of the board work in a variety of set- tings—at large private firms, as in-house counsel, as solo practi- tioners, in state and local gov- ernment agencies, and in academia. Their areas of practice include crimi- nal prosecution and defense, personal injury, bankruptcy, business trans- actions, labor and employment, real estate and land use, domestic rela- tions, legislation, commercial litigation, worker’s compensation, adminis- trative law and more. We also have nonlawyers on our board, including individuals experi- enced in large law office management, accounting, investments, govern- ment agency administration and nonprofit management. These board members are Republicans, Democrats and Independents; Latino, African-American, Asian and Anglo; female and male; physically disabled and able-bodied; straight and gay; married, single and partnered; grandparents, parents and childless; Catholic, Protestant, Je w, atheist and agnostic; liberal, progressive, moderate and conservative. We bring to the table a tremendous breadth of professional experience, as well as a broad range of personal experience that informs our collective decision-making and enriches us in the process. Our State Bar committees and our Bar staff likewise are constituted in a way that reflects this commitment to diversity. Our active efforts to promote and sustain diversity within the bar include a Bar Leadership Institute, now in its sixth year of operation. The BLI provides a nine-month curriculum for a diverse group of competitively selected young lawyers, up-and- comers in our profession who have an interest in service and Diversity & Inclusion Diversity embodies our commitment to ensuring that the legal profession and the justice system reflect the community we serve.
AZ AT
HOW TO
SOUNDOFF
ically correct group photo, all to the everlasting “enrichment” of the polity.
Or some such. Pick your poison.
Defining “diversity” is admittedly a murky
business. What proponent would want, in
the 21st century, to shine analytical rigor
and moral clarity on the face of such a disagreeable ambition?
“Diversity” has no business among our
core values. But since a mission statement
for lawyers with a glaring “Intentionally
Omitted” would be a hoot to all but
lawyers, let’s substitute a time-tested prin-
ciple needing no quotation marks and hav-
ing a much shorter, more understandable
and universally revered definition:
Impartiality.
Admittedly, returning to first principles
will require, for some, a paradigm shift.
Impartiality is antithetical to “diversity,”
and though lawyers are notorious for
taking inconsistent positions, we cannot
in good faith cherish both. Peel away the
euphemisms and bromides, and “diversity”
is inconsistent not only with impartiality,
but with honesty, integrity and the human
dignity of all involved. At its obnoxious
heart, “diversity” is more than the appearance of impropriety writ large; it is an
abuse of power that violates our collective
trust.
There’s a reason Lady Justice wears a
blindfold.
—Stephen W. Baum
Phoenix
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