“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.” – Oscar Wilde
A Letter From Our President: Judge Lajuana M. Counts
Greetings to you all! I am excited, and a little nervous, to have been elected to serve as the President of the Kansas/Western District of Missouri Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Following in the footsteps of our past leadership is a tall order, but we plan to provide as many educational/civic programs, CLEs, and other fun events for the attorneys, law school students, community, and youth in our geographic region as possible.
In preparing to make this new 2023-24 calendar year as productive and successful as we have been in the past, we need you! It truly takes a village to make any organization soar and reach its potential, and I know that we will do just that this year. Here is my ask – I am asking for your involvement to help increase our presence and membership at law firms from every corner of the boundaries of our Chapter; I am asking for us to be engaged with our regional law school chapters because we have some of the best law schools in the nation in our region; I am asking you to help find speakers and topics, and social events that will entice FBA members to attend; and I am asking you to assist us in creating programs that will empower students to understand the Constitution and the importance of civic engagement.
When we accomplish these goals, then our year will culminate with us enjoying having our colleagues from around the country come to Kansas City for the national convention in September of 2024. I am looking forward to seeing you all soon and working with you this year!
Let’s get it done!
Have a Happy Holiday season and safe travels!
Judge Gwynne E. Birzer Named TKAAM 2023 Trailblazer
Magistrate Judge Gwynne E. Birzer
The FBA Chapter for the Districts of Kansas and Western Missouri are proud to announce that Chapter Leader Judge Gwynne E. Birzer was honored for being a trailblazer in the civics and law by The Kansas African American Museum (TKAAM). We are thankful for Judge Birzer’s leadership in many ways. Among other things, Judge Birzer has hosted Constitution Day at the Wichita Federal Courthouse for many years, welcoming students and community members to engage in a public reading of the U.S. Constitution.
The TKAAM live ceremony was held on November 10, 2023, and an on-demand recording of the ceremony is available here. For more than two decades, TKAAM has honored pioneers who helped shape the Kansas African American experience through an exhibit titled “Trailblazers.” A Trailblazer is a leader, a pacesetter, a pioneer, and each year the TKAAM honors individuals who have made a significant impact in their respective professions. Congratulations to Judge Birzer on this well-deserved recognition of her achievements in the legal community.
Apply now for Chapter Community Outreach Grants and Diversity Grants! Chapter Community Outreach Grants fund community service or outreach projects that involve FBA chapter participation. Diversity Grants support educational, community service, or outreach projects or programs with a diversity focus that involve FBA chapter, section, division, or member participation. The maximum individual grant amount for each program is $10,000. The number of grants funded and the amount of each is dependent upon the available funding and the number and quality of applications.
Click on the links below for more information and to access the online application portal for each grant:
The next deadline for all grant applications is December 15. Grants will be awarded by the end of February. Contact foundation@fedbar.org with questions.
2023 Constitution Day Celebrations
By Danielle Atchison
The Federal Bar Association of Kansas and Western Missouri with the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas again held celebrations for Constitution Day at Federal Courthouses in Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas. Our membership also held a local Constitution Day Presentation in Lawrence, KS. It is our Chapter’s tradition to hold as many Constitution Day celebrations throughout the region as possible. We invite members of the public, bench, and bar to join us in reading aloud the Constitution in 110 parts.
On Friday, September 15, 2023, many schoolchildren, Judges, attorneys, educators and members of the public gathered at the east steps of the U.S. District Courthouse in Wichita for the annual ceremonial reading of the U.S. Constitution. Approximately 100 grade school students and teachers in total participated from The Independent School and Wichita Collegiate School, in addition to several U.S. District Judges and U.S. District Magistrate Judges, Judges from the Eighteenth Judicial District, many attorneys, and U.S. Representative Ron Estes (KS-4). Participation was so great that the 110 readable parts of the Constitution had to be broken down further into subparts to ensure all participants would have the opportunity to read. The students were provided commemorative cookies and coloring books for the occasion. The rain held off and the event was greatly enjoyed by all involved!
Constitution Day 2023 – Kansas City
On September 20, 2023, around 50 people joined the event at the Robert J. Dole U.S. Courthouse in Kansas City, KS. We kicked off the event showing our Civics and Diversity Outreach Video and led right into a recital of the Preamble by preschoolers from Uncle Sam’s Daycare. We hosted high school students from Shawnee Mission School District and Turner School District who bravely read aloud from our governing document. Several judges and many members from our local bar were able to attend. A big, big thank you goes to everyone who helped make this event a success, including Judge Teeter, Judge Crabtree, Judge James, and Judge Ashford.
Constitution Day 2023 – Wichita
The Douglas County District Court hosted a reading in Lawrence, Kansas on Wednesday, September 13th. 40 attorneys, judges, law professors, law makers, and members of the public joined in the reading.
It is moving to see people of every age read the words from more than 230 years ago that still govern us today. It is especially heartwarming to see the immediate effects of on those in attendance. Specifically, this year, I looked around and noticed high school students beaming with pride about public speaking and conquering difficult words and concepts. I watched the parents of preschoolers file into the courtroom to watch their babies recite the most critical founding principles of our government and glow with excitement. I believe that every component of the event has a positive ripple effect in our community. The simple acts of entering the courthouse, sitting on the benches, interacting with lawyers and judges, reading aloud, etc. are new to a lot of these participants and create opportunity for growth and comfortability with their justice system. I am very grateful to our bar association for driving and supporting these events. Until next year!
Join us on Zoom the first Thursday of each month at 4:00pm for monthly chapter meetings – open to all members! For more information please email Fedbarkanmo@gmail.com or visit https://fedbar.org/ to join!
FBA Chapter President, Lajuana Counts, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, former FBA Chapter President Teresa James, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, Melody Brannon, the Federal Public Defender for the District of Kansas, Kate Brubacher, United States Attorney for the District of Kansas, Nancy Morales Gonzalez (Social Security Administration), Megan McGinnis (Department of Labor), and Monique McElwee (CFTC), spoke to students at the University of Kansas School of Law about their careers as federal lawyers.
The well-attended event was hosted by the KU Law FBA Student Division.
Conveniently located between both coasts, we invite you to enjoy the Midwest KC charm. From our vibrant arts scene to finger-licking BBQ, our city is calling your name. Experience it all with the nation’s premier bar association for Federal Judges and attorneys. Save the date and watch www.fedbar.org for updates!
