WORDS FROM THE FROM BENCH THE WISE Interview with Judge Bedford
WORDS FROM THE FROM BENCH THE WISE Interview with Judge Bedford
Sam Crochet Hall Booth Smith , P . C . SCrochet @ hallboothsmith . com
Irecently spoke one-on-one with former Atlanta Bar President and retiring Superior Court Judge T . Jackson Bedford Jr , for whom I briefly worked during my 2L year at Georgia State University . In addition to exclaiming his everyday passion for what he has done and accomplished throughout his time on the bench , Judge Bedford and I spoke regarding personal advice to young litigators , his own learning experiences , and the single biggest problem with the legal profession from his eyes .
Q : What advice can you give young lawyers ? A : Try Cases . Get experience . Argue Motions . You have to get in the courtroom if you are going to be a trial lawyer . Find a way into that room one way or the other .
Q : Do any particular attorneys stick out as particularly sharp from your time on the bench ? A : The ADA ’ s in my court room were very good . A few who did major criminal cases were superb lawyers . I saw numerous public defense attorneys who were quite solid as well . Also , I presided over many family law cases with attorneys who were excellent trial lawyers . There were so few civil cases in my court room , but I did observe fine young civil litigators over the years . It was a joy to try a case with good lawyers on both sides . The whole system works better that way .
Q : What was the biggest learning experience you had while on the bench ? A : Lawyers do not have a clue as to the extent of what judges do . I had a 25 + year career prior to becoming a judge . I did not know what the business of being a judge was about . A judge has tremendous responsibility . For example , Superior Court judges are the flagship for the judiciary — there was a big obligation to lead other courts and , in some cases , to direct them . Much of what happens in other courts is impacted or determined by the Superior Court . We are responsible for many pilot projects , accountability courts , family courts , and also work with the State Bar . We do pattern charges that some State Courts will follow . Also , the Uniform Court Rules that apply to both State and Superior Courts are approved by the Superior Court . I was initially astounded by the range of cases we presided over — cases against the governor or Secretary of State are brought in Superior Court . MARTA cases are tried here in Fulton County . We are a form of Appellate Court for many state agencies ( magistrate , landlord / tenant , workers ’ compensation , unemployment cases ). I truly looked forward to each day on the bench and what challenge it would bring .
Q : Do you have personal thoughts on how to improve public defense ? A : The public defenders need to be paid on par with lawyers within the District Attorney ’ s Office . I have been blessed that many public attorneys in my court room were good attorneys .
Q : Regarding resources in the public defender office , is there room for criminal justice students or law students to be of service ? A : Teaming up with a criminal justice undergraduate department is a great idea . Clinical programs provide mutual benefit for everyone .
Q : What is the biggest problem facing the legal industry ? A : That word you just used : ' industry .' This is a profession , not a for-profit ' shop .' I am concerned large law firms have turned inward ( away from bar associations and other organizations ) to handle ethics / networking in-house . Firm guided CLEs is not a bad idea , but they insulate young lawyers from peers throughout the Bar . Law firms do less mixing these days and less traditional CLEs . Much of our profession outside the courtroom is story telling — there is a lot to be learned from having conversations with lawyers outside one ’ s firm . We suffer to a degree when our firms only handle matters internally . Building a sense of professional connection so attorneys from different firms can learn from and lean on one another is hugely important . Attorneys need to get out of their offices to build professional relations and a sense of profession — rather than an ' industry .' Young lawyers need exposure to the courts to try cases and to be exposed to different lawyers to preserve collegiality and the quality of this profession .
18 August / September 2016
WORDS
FROM
THE WISE
FROM THE
BENCH
Interview with
Judge Bedford
Sam Crochet
Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
[email protected]
I
recently spoke one-on-one with former Atlanta
Bar President and retiring Superior Court Judge
T. Jackson Bedford Jr, for whom I briefly worked
during my 2L year at Georgia State University.
In addition to exclaiming his everyday passion for
what he has done and accomplished throughout
his time on the bench, Judge Bedford and I spoke
regarding personal advice to young litigators, his
own learning experiences, and the single biggest
problem with the legal profession from his eyes.
Q: What advice can you give young lawyers?
A: Try Cases. Get experience. Argue Motions. You
have to get in the courtroom if you are going to be
a trial lawyer. Find a way into that room one way or
the other.
Q: Do any particular attorneys stick out as particularly
sharp from your time on the bench?
A: The ADA’s in my court room were very good. A few
who did major criminal cases were superb lawyers.
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