Judge Freddrenna M. Lyle & Judge Andrea M. Bufford

JANUARY 14 – 18, 2015. The Illinois Judicial Council, led by Judge Leonard Murray (IJC past-chair and NBAJC chair-elect), was well represented at the National Bar Association Judicial Council’s 2015 Mid-Winter Conference.  In attendance were: Justices P. Scott Neville, Shelvin L. Hall, and Justice William Cousins (Ret.); Judges Patricia Banks, Drella Savage, Carl Boyd, Erica L. Reddick, Andrea M. Buford, Freddrenna M. Lyle, Bernetta Bush (Ret.) and Sydney A. Jones (Ret.); and Administrative Law Judge Harriet Parker.  Including spouses and guests, more than 20 Chicagoans travelled to Montego Bay, Jamaica for the 4 day program.

The Conference Committee presented a full schedule of continuing judicial education programs during the day and social and community events in the evenings.  We attended educational seminars included covering Intellectual Property Enforcement; Technological Innovations for the Judiciary; Navigating Ethical Minefields; the State of the African American Judiciary and Strategies for Increasing Diversity on the Bench.  The Keynote address for the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Awards Luncheon was given by the Honorable Zalia McCalla, the Chief Justice of Jamaica, with greetings from Mr. Donovan Walker, President of the Jamaican Bar Association and the Hon. Randa Trapp, Chair of the Judicial Council.

The welcome reception was held at the Monego Bay Convention Centre followed by dinner at the MoBay Yacht Club Seahorse Restaurant.  Incoming Judicial Council Chairman Leonard Murray led a delegation to the Eber Preparatory School for a discussion group.  The delegation also presented scholarships to the students.  This program was one of the highlights of the convention. The convocation ceremony was held at the Family Church on the Rock where the Council donated $1,000 to the church.

The only complaint heard during the conference was the lack of time to take in the beautiful country during balmy 80 degree weather.