Gibbons P.C.’s Post

Echoing the congratulations to the Women Owned Law Symposium committee members for an engaging event with hot topics (DEI and AI), plus ample time to re-connect with colleagues and establish new contacts. If you are a woman attorney at a law firm of any size or a women-owned business serving the legal market, THIS is the organzation for you. Gather with like-minded peers and run your practice like a business. As a new member, you will receive $25 off your first year membership fee. Use discount code “NEWMEMBER” at checkout. Click the link in the comments to learn more and become a member today! #womeninlaw #attorney #womeninbusiness

Join Courtney Brown for a lively conversation led by female founders of law firms in the SF Bay Area as they discuss what it means to be a female law firm owner and leader, and how gender and race impact the way they lead, market, and manage their teams. Register here: https://bit.ly/3uFmFtG Women make up a majority of law school students in the United States: 55.3% in 2021. That’s up from 48.4% in 2000. However, women also held only a small percentage of law firm leadership jobs in 2020. They were 12% of managing partners, 28% of governance committee members, and 27% of practice group leaders, according to the NAWL.

#Bressler’s Birmingham Office Managing Principal and Management Committee Member Josh Jones has once again been selected to the Birmingham Business Journal's annual “Who’s Who in Law” list! This list recognizes the top leaders in Birmingham’s legal industry. Congratulations to Josh on this recognition! Visit the link below to view the full list of honorees. https://lnkd.in/eyWQsWSk * A subscription may be required   #BBJ #birminghamlawyers #birminghamlawfirms #birminghambusinessjournal #alabamalawyers #alabamalaw #birminghamlegalcommunity

🤝 Harbottle & Lewis has named Catherine Bedford as its first elected female senior partner. Read more on eprivateclient

What is the alignment between restorative justice practices and some key conservative principles? (Short-answer: There is a lot of alignment, and you can read about it here.) I find this new policy paper -- brought into existence by some of my Annie E. Casey Foundation colleagues and their grantee at R Street Institute -- to be valuable.

Reflecting on an inspiring event during the University of Alberta’s International Week! I had the privilege of attending "Bringing the Law to Life with Justice Martin" hosted by the University of Alberta Faculty of Arts in collaboration with Canadians For A Civil Society and the Centre for Constitutional Studies. Justice Sheilah Martin, an esteemed member of the Supreme Court of Canada, graced us with her insights on advancing human rights, justice, peace, and freedom for all. Here are some key takeaways that resonated deeply with me: 🤝 Heart is at the core of solving societal issues. 📜 Laws play a vital role in upholding human equality and rights. 🌍 Human rights are fundamentally about people and communities. 💡 Moving from legal documents to real-life practice is essential for progress. 👥 Communities coming together can drive social change. ⚖️ Equality rights, particularly Section 15, are crucial for equal justice in Canada. 🌱 Courage and conviction are needed to challenge existing norms and advocate for change. 🤔 Dialogue and understanding across differences are essential for inclusion. 🙌 The way forward is through continuous learning and collaboration. I also note that it was extremely powerful to hear about the work of inclusion through another lens, that being from the lens of the law. Perhaps not surprisingly, but worth celebrating, our conclusions are the same even though we approach creating a more inclusive world from two different places. This leads me to an important reminder: it's through our collective effort that we'll be able to drive meaningful change and reinforces the notion that we are stronger together. Let's keep these insights close as we work towards a more just and inclusive society. Remember, change starts with each and every one of us. Together, we can make a difference! #JusticeForAll #HumanRights #Inclusion #SocialJustice #ChangeAgents

🎉 Big congratulations to our Managing Partner, Austin Bodnar, for being named in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® for the second consecutive year! 🏆 Inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America is determined through a comprehensive peer-review survey, which asks legal practitioners who are the top professionals earlier in their career. For the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, more than 4 million votes were analyzed. #bestlawyers #america

NC Superior Court Judge Lora Cubbage, a candidate for the NC Supreme Court, details with host Phyllis Coley how she is uniquely qualified to serve on the state's Supreme Court. Judge Cubbage also talks about the structure of NC's court system. PC POLITICS - Real. Raw. Relevant. #politics #pcpolitics #political #democrats #republicans #court #judge https://lnkd.in/e2sxgMpR

Most Courts Don't Know If Their Juries Are Fair, a New Berkeley Report Shows.   In a majority of states—including Florida—it is impossible to tell whether jurors actually represent a cross-section of their community because most state courts do not collect race and ethnicity data, researchers at Berkeley Law found in a February 2024 report. Racial and ethnic representation and diversity matter to jury decision-making and, hence, justice cannot be achieved unless courts take a race-conscious approach to jury composition and selection—which, according to Berkeley’s report, most states currently fail to do. You can read Berkeley’s report here: https://bit.ly/3IbWcXQ   #JuryFairness #CommercialLitigation #CommercialAttorneys #InternationalLitigation #InternationalAttorneys

What’s wrong with our courts? It’s quality over quantity 👊 The Gideon v. Wainwright case in 1963 undeniably played a crucial role in ensuring that individuals who could not afford legal representation were provided with it, if they so chose. This landmark decision paved the way for a more equitable justice system by recognizing the fundamental right to counsel for all defendants, regardless of their financial means. However, it is important to critically examine the effectiveness and interpretation of this decision in light of the current context. One key issue that has emerged is the significant increase in the number of cases, particularly related to the drug war, which has disproportionately affected Black, Brown, and Indigenous populations. This surge in cases has put a strain on the system, leading to overcrowded courts and limited resources for providing effective legal representation. As a result, the justice system has often resorted to creating plea bargains and standardized solutions to handle the overwhelming caseload. This approach, while attempting to manage the volume of cases, runs the risk of overlooking the unique circumstances and individual stories of each defendant. By prioritizing efficiency over personalized justice, we risk undermining the principles of fairness and due process. To address this challenge, one potential solution is to establish advocacy courts where advocates are given standing to serve the rights of the defendant. These advocates would not only provide legal representation but also actively support the court and the due process rights of the individual. By incorporating the expertise and perspective of advocates, we can ensure that the cultural, linguistic, and individual aspects of each case are fully considered. Advocacy courts would promote a more holistic approach to justice, recognizing the importance of understanding the individual's background, experiences, and needs. This would help counteract the potential loss of the unique narratives and cultural contexts that may be overlooked in the current system. By providing specialized support and representation, advocacy courts can contribute to a more just and equitable legal process for all defendants, ultimately upholding the principles of fairness and individualization in the pursuit of justice. #justice #holistic #courts #judicialfairness #culturaljustice