President's Message
| Publication year | 2015 |
| Pages | 10 |
May, 2015
Our Moral Fingerprints
James D. Gilson, J.
The Honorable Judge Bruce S. Jenkins has been serving our state and country as a federal judge for fifty years - and he's still going as strong and sharp as ever. He's an inspiring example of diligent public service and dedication to justice and the rule of law; truly worthy of the "honorable" title.
Many stories and sayings of Judge Jenkins were shared at the March 17 tribute night that was sponsored by the Utah Chapters of the Tenth Circuit Historical Society and the Federal Bar Association. Here are a few that I noted:
"Know what you're talking about."
"When all else fails, read the book."
"The long way is the short way."
"Trials, at their best, are an educational process.. .and lawyers are to be teachers."
"Take time to think. Technology is not a substitute for thought."
"Judges may not be as smart as they think they are, but they also are not as stupid as lawyers may think. Judging is not a job. It is a sacred trust."
"People abide the judgment of the court by observing that due process of law has been followed."
And perhaps the most thought-provoking quote: "We leave our moral fingerprints on everything we do."
These quotes that epitomize Judge Jenkins are consistent with our highest ethical and professional goals. The Utah Rules of Professional Conduct only set a minimum standard of moral and ethical conduct in the practice of law. In 2003, the Utah Supreme Court "raised the Bar" by approving additional ethical rules to give further guidance as to how lawyers should strive to act: the Utah Standards of Professionalism and Civility. The Standards include general principles that are worth reviewing on a regular basis. For example, the Standards provide:
A lawyer's conduct should be characterized at all times by personal courtesy and professional integrity in the fullest sense of those terms. In fulfilling a duty to represent a client vigorously as lawyers, we must be mindful of our obligations to the administration of justice, which is a truth-seeking process designed to resolve human and societal problems in a rational, peaceful, and efficient manner. We must remain committed to the rule of law as the foundation for a just and peaceful society.
As earnest participants in our adversary system of justice, it can be difficult to follow all the ethical rules and standards. Lawyers...
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