Meet the Candidates Get to know this year’s slate of nominees for Tenth & WCBA Leadership.....4 ___________________________________ _
VOL. LXI • ISSUE 4 | FOURTH QUARTER 2021
BAR FLYER A LESSON IN LEADERSHIP
BY RUSSELL D. BABB | PRESIDENT, TENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT BAR ROGER SMITH, JR. AND I had the privilege recently of trying a murder case with our senior partner, Wade Smith. As the trial date approached, I was practically vibrating with nervous energy. I had reserved a conference room in our office known internally as the “war room” to meet with my partners to divvy up responsibilities. I had notes scribbled all over the dry erase board, dog-eared books strewn across the tables and potential exhibits in rows and stacks. Roger was the first to arrive and I launched into my presentation, even though Wade had not yet arrived. I was in such a frenzy I barely noticed Wade enter the room. He came in and sat down quietly, holding a strange looking paperback in his hand. He waited patiently for me to draw a breath. When I eventually stopped, Wade asked politely, “Russ, may I say something?” “Well sure you can, Wade.” “I appreciate all you two have done to prepare us for this occasion. You have clearly put a lot of thought into every aspect of our case, and I’m grateful. But before we proceed with our discussion of the facts and who will do what at trial, I want to encourage both of you to buy and read this book cover to cover.” Wade lifted the book so that Roger and I could see it. “This is The Art of War by Sun Tzu. We have tried to work this case out for our client, and we have not succeeded. We therefore must go to war with our opponent. I want you to study this book as much as you study our case. I want you to internalize its many important teachings, including:
UPCOMING EVENTS WCBA VIRTUAL LUNCHEON HONORING 2021 BRANCH PROFESSIONALISM AWARD RECIPIENT ROOT EDMONSON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 | 12:15 P.M. LEARN OVER LUNCH: BASICS OF FILING A GUARDIANSHIP PETITION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4 | 1 – 2 P.M. LEGAL AID FUNDRAISER: BACK TO THE BAR AWARDS – VIRTUAL! THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4 | 7 P.M. ADA COMPLIANCE BASICS FOR LAW FIRMS & ATTORNEYS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 | 1 P.M. WCBA GOLF TOURNAMENT THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11 | 9:30 A.M. WCBA HOLIDAY PARTY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3 TENTH JD BAR & WCBA ANNUAL MEETING & ELECTIONS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7 | 12:45 P.M.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.
3 BRANCH AWARD – ROOT EDMONSON
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.
5 CANDIDATE INFORMATION
The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.” Wade concluded his overview: “If your enemy expects you to attack from the East, you attack from the West.” A strange calm permeated the room. Roger and I just stared at Wade, then at one another. It was an awesome moment, and one that I will never forget. I learned a lot during that trial, but the most enduring lesson was from Wade that day in the war room. I did not realize he was instructing us about excellence in leadership. Perhaps Sun Tzu says it best: “Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.” Our client was found not guilty of the murder charge after an all-out war. WBF
14 DEI – THE PLATNUM RULE 16 DIRECT EXAMINATION 17 THE LEADERSHIP PLAYBOOK 19 LEGAL AID VOLUNTEERS 22 THE DARK SIDE OF POLITENESS 23 2021 WCBA TENNIS CROWN 24 NEW MEMBERS
