Last Word

Q: Judge Stevens, 2020 has been like no other year in recent memory. In the midst of such a vexing and divisive year, gratitude can seem perhaps a harder thing to find and cherish, even during the holiday season. Or, is it? A: THE HON. DEBORAH C. STEVENS Knox County Circuit Court, Division III

It has been a troubling year. Politics have been divisive. A pandemic has turned our world upside down. Murder hornets have arrived on our shores. Can we really find things to be grateful for in 2020?

Psychology Today reports that gratitude can result in better physical health and less stress and depression. Research has also shown that lawyers are more resistant to gratitude than any other group, except maybe teenagers. (Have you noticed that lawyers are always at the bottom of every list!) I thought this would be a good time to reflect on some of the things for which I am grateful and hope that you might be encouraged to do the same. There are many things for which I am grateful but my family and my profession rank at the top.

I am blessed to have an amazing family. I have a great husband and a daughter of whom I am very proud. My parents were married for 63 years. I have four brothers and sisters and we actually enjoy spending time together and we are there for each other in good times and bad. Although grateful for the way I was raised, life wasn’t always blissful for the Carey/ Gallagher clan.

Two years ago, my daughter, Katie and I had the chance to visit Ireland and went to the little village in County Mayo where my great grandfather, John Gallagher, was born. The Great Famine caused many to leave Ireland. In 1850, when he was fourteen, his parents told him to walk 200 miles to the coastal town of Cork. They gave him enough money to buy a ferry ticket to England where he could work in the coal mines until he earned enough money to sail to the United States. As I walked through the village of Charlestown, I could not imagine the fear of leaving your family and your country – knowing you would never see either again. I am grateful that he survived the trip and that he chose to begin his new family in the United States of America where I have been afforded more opportunities than he could have ever dreamed possible.

As a side note, Great-grandfather John actually earned most of his money for passage to the United States by winning a bet among patrons in a London pub that he could remain upright against a large Russian wrestler. John also spent much of the trip to the United States in the ship’s brig because he threw a bully overboard after politely asking him on several occasions to stop his rude behavior toward other passengers. The bully survived and the other passengers insisted that John be released from the brig. After working in the mines in Pennsylvania, he eventually became a constable. As a town constable, he was the only member of the local police force to never carry a gun but was known to be able to peacefully resolve even the most dangerous of situations with his wit and charm. On occasion, his right hook was known to be of assistance. I am grateful to have such a colorful character in my family tree who had a big heart and a strong sense of social justice.

My father and his five brothers and sisters were raised by a single mother during the depression. Her father opened his home to the struggling family. My father would tell us that he was grateful when his grandfather gave he and his siblings an orange to share, but that he was particularly grateful when each child got their own orange, once a year in their Christmas stocking. I am grateful that in a world of people who sometimes either see the glass as half empty or half full, my parents taught us to be grateful that we had a glass.

I am also blessed and grateful to be a part of a wonderful legal family. I have lifelong friends with whom I went to law school or with whom I have had the privilege of practicing law. I also have many good friends in legal communities across the country. I cherish those friendships. I remember a particular group of lawyer friends -one from Phoenix, one from Dallas, one was my partner in Knoxville and the other was from Salt Lake City. They shared a common client and often enjoyed dinners together around the country. The Salt Lake City lawyer was in the last months of his battle with cancer. The other lawyers decided they needed to go visit their friend. They spent hours talking of old times and shared a bit of Scotch. Afterwards, the lawyer from Phoenix told me it was one of the best days of his life because nothing can ever be more important than being there for a friend. I am grateful that he shared the story and have tried to “be there” whenever I may be needed. I am also grateful and proud of the many lawyers in this community who have taken time to visit with colleagues who are going through difficult times.

Our bar association leadership has always had a finger on the pulse of our legal community and they provide meaningful opportunities to discuss the challenges we face. I am grateful for the support they provide.

Finally, I am grateful for friends like Nick McCall who always makes time to reach out and take a chance on a last-minute opportunity for lunch. For many years he has been responsible for the “Last Word” in DICTA. I am grateful for the many stories and insights he has shared about lawyers in this community. It has been a valuable forum to bring us all closer together.

I hope everyone will take a moment during these crazy times to reflect on the things for which you are grateful. Certainly, we should all be grateful for being part of a profession “in pursuit of a common calling to promote justice and public good”. I hope each and everyone of you can be grateful for family and friends who are there for you when they are needed. Most of all, I wish you a blessed and happy holidays---and a quick end to 2020!!

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