I went to a meeting of the National Council of Bar Presidents the other day. The plenary session was on the issue of whether bar associations should embrace or run from controversial social issues. It was time well spent. Every time I think I am the first to fall into deep, uncharted and roiling waters, I learn that everyone in the bar leadership business is in the same boat.
At the meeting, the moderator asked the attendees (a packed ballroom) to raise their hand if their bar had ever been asked to take a position on a controversial matter of social or political concern. A sea of hands went up. He then asked the reciprocal question—”anyone not had such an experience?” One hand went up. Those of us from Connecticut began to laugh. I guess we didn’t invent the problem. It’s just our turn to feel the pain.
