May 2, 2011 in Washington DC is an exciting day. Not because the Lawyers for Civil Justice is holding a Board and membership meeting where important work is being done on Federal Civil Rules reform, state E-Discovery analysis and other matters affecting civil litigation. No, it is obviously because of the end of Bin Laden. The celebrations last night, witnessed by millions around the world, happened a block from my hotel. Unfortunately, I slept through the whole event, including 2 texts from my daughter asking me if I was awake. Many of the lawyers here at the LCJ meeting got out of bed and went down to join the throngs and experience the moment. It clearly was a moment people will remember forever, hopefully not so much because someone was killed, but rather that it has closed an agonizing chapter in American history. What I will remember most, however, is walking through the Vietnam Memorial this morning and how I felt about the team that finally resolved the Bin Laden issue – I am thankful that we have dedicated men and women in our armed forces that will put themselves in harm’s way for people they don’t know and may never meet. I am also thankful for our teachers, first responders, judges, and clergy – another class of people that give of themselves for all of us. The US Constitution gives us all protections and allows all of us to serve. I urge all of us to honor the Constitution and take up the banner of service, be it in DRI, your firm, your community, your synagogue, or your school. God Bless America.
