CASA Chair's Column

My year as chair of the Council of Appellate Staff Attorneys has been both challenging and rewarding. As I look back over my term, I am grateful for the hard work and support of my fellow CASA members. CASA is fortunate to have many talented and dedicated lawyers, and I cannot imagine facing this unprecedented year without their help.

I am also grateful for the opportunity to have served with the amazing judges and lawyers on the Appellate Judges Conference (AJC) Executive Committee and the Appellate Judges Education Institute (AJEI) Board of Directors. I want to thank them for welcoming me so warmly and helping me navigate new waters. I am constantly impressed by their dedication to the judiciary and to the rule of law. Working with them has inspired me and reinvigorated my love of the law. I am proud of the work CASA and the AJC have done this year, and of the small part I have played in it. I will not miss the deluge of Zoom meetings, but I will miss seeing my fellow AJC members on a regular basis. Hopefully we will all be together face-to-face soon.

Unlike most of the Judicial Division, CASA elects its new board at the AJEI Summit in November. Jess Mekeel, an attorney with the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, is CASA’s Chair-Elect and will take over as Chair in November. I cannot imagine a better person to lead CASA as we move forward into 2022. I also want to thank my predecessor, Elizabeth Ryan. Her advice and support were invaluable.

If you are an attorney employed by an appellate court and are not yet a member of CASA, we would love for you to join us. A great way to start is to attend the AJEI Summit, November 11 to 14, in Austin. Besides having stellar CLE programs focused on the work we do, the Summit provides a unique opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the country. You can also contact me at [email protected] for more information on CASA membership. I hope to see you all in Austin in November.