As part of our efforts to reach out to other bar associations, KC LEGAL is proud to sponsor the KCMBA's Foundation for Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance ("LEAP")  Mardi Gras Luncheon for the benefit of Operation Breakthrough, Inc.

KC LEGAL is proud to announce that Judge Deanell Reece Tacha will be our featured speaker at our February event.

Judge Tacha is a native of Scandia, Kansas. Tacha received her bachelor's degree with honors in American studies from the University of Kansas and her law degree from the University of Michigan.

President Ronald Reagan appointed Tacha to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in December 1985, where she currently serves as a federal appellate judge. She became chief judge of the 10th Circuit on Jan. 1, 2001.

Named a White House Fellow in 1971, she was assigned as special assistant to Secretary of Labor James D. Hodgson. The following year, at the conclusion of her fellowship, she joined the law firm of Hogan and Hartson as an associate in Washington, D.C. Two years later, she returned to Kansas to engage in private practice. In 1974, she joined the KU School of Law faculty, becoming associate dean of the law school in 1977. In 1981, Tacha was elevated to the university position of Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Judge Tacha was a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission from 1994-1998. She also chaired the Judicial Division of the American Bar Association in 1995-96. From 1990-1994 and from 2001 to July 1, 2005, she served as chair of the U.S. Judicial Conference Committee on the Judicial Branch. Tacha has been a national Trustee of the American Inns of Court Foundation since 2000 and currently serves as the president of that organization.

She is a past chair of the Appellate Judges Conference and a former member of the ABA's Commission on Women in the Profession. Having served as national president of the Kansas University Alumni Association, Judge Tacha is also on the Board of Trustees for Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City and remains active in numerous professional and civic organizations.

In 1992, Tacha received the KU Alumni Association's Fred Ellsworth Medallion for extraordinary service to the university and received its most prestigious award, the Distinguished Service Citation, in 1996.  In 2008, she received the Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award administered by the American Judicature Society.

Join KC LEgal and HRC for a special Third Thursday.  The tentative schedule is:

*5:30:  Vocalist/Guiarist Kristie Stremel

*6:15:  Remarks from KC LEgal and HRC

*6:30: Screening of "Overruled"

*6:45:  More music and mingling 

This event is free to the public.  Cash bar, but members of KC LEGAL will receive two complimentary drink tickets.  Complimentary snacks will also be provided.

*In 1998, police stormed into John Lawrence's Houston home and arrested him and Tyron Garner for violating Texas' "homosexual conduct" law. "Overruled!" highlights their story and the courtroom drama behind Lawrence v. Texas – the case that led the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down all remaining state sodomy laws and launched a new era in the LGBT rights movement.  The 15-minute documentary was produced by Lambda Legal, and highlights the efforts of the lawyers and organizations behind the scenes.  The case also illustrates the importance of electing officials who will appoint fair-minded judges to our nation's judiciary this November.

Speak Out will draw attention to the still present issues of GLBT workplace discrimination and provide resources to employers, employees, and diversity leaders to help create change within their workplace environments.      

Partnering with UMKC will allow Out & Equal Kansas City to host the event in the Pierson Auditorium.   Through the emotional sharing of real stories, the intent is to elicit enough of a reaction within the audience to promote change.  

The audience will be comprised of HR Professionals, Employees, Employee Resource Group leaders, and Persons of influence.  Through our panel discussion, we would hope to provide these individuals with the necessary resources to drive change within their respective workplaces.  

The format:

The event is currently outlined to kick off with a media presentation.   Envision an attack on the auditory senses.   Homophobic remarks, snippets of personal stories, and derogatory statements flood the room.   Immediately the presenting speaker enters onto the stage to introduce the program and format.  

The first presentation begins with the first person entering onto the stage behind the curtain.   The person shall enter slowly and allow time for the message to sink in about the need for anonymity.   Subsequent stories shall take place both behind the curtain, out in the audience, read from Out & Equal council members, and presented via audio and video.  

The final portion of the program shall focus on change.  A speaker will present current data around workplace discrimination, the current environment, penalties, and report studies that demonstrate the reduction in productivity that occurs when someone is not able to be their true and best self at work.

Interested in sharing your story.   Email Out and Equal  at kansascity@outandequal.org

PROMO is hosting its annual Missouri Equality Conference, formerly known as Equality Summit, in Kansas City on September 27th, 2008, 10:00am-4:00pm, at Penn Valley Community College.  The Missouri Equality Conference is a daylong activist and advocacy training with skill-building workshops, panel discussions, and strategy sessions around LGBT equality issues.   KC LEgal Board member Lisa Brunner will be speaking on GLBT legal issues. 

If you are interested, PROMO is looking for approximately eight 45-minute sessions in these general categories:

*Youth Activism

*Coordinating other movements with the LGBT movement

*HIV/AIDS realted services, general LGBT health

*Working with queer youth (geared towards adults)

*Trans-education, Trans-related

*Upcoming elections

Proposals must be submitted by August 20th and may be submitted to PROMO@PROMOonline.org

The 4th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair (HDLJF) will be held August 22-23, 2008, in Kansas City, Missouri. Students who are interested in becoming part of Kansas City’s dynamic legal community should strongly consider attending this event.  Students who will be returning to school in August and those graduating in May are eligible to attend the job fair, as employers will be interviewing for both summer and post-graduate positions.  KC LEgal will have a table at the HDLJF.

The HDLJF is the result of Kansas City's leading law firms, legal associations, and corporate legal departments coming together to encourage law students to practice law in Kansas City. The HDLJF is designed to expose law students of diverse backgrounds to both traditional and non-traditional legal employers. In addition, the event is a great way t to learn more about living in this wonderful city.

The HDLJF will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center. It will kick off with an evening Welcome Reception on Friday, August 22nd.  The Saturday schedule includes a continental breakfast, interviewing from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and a luncheon at which participants will be greeted and addressed by Charlie Harris, current President of The Missouri Bar.

To find out more, visit http://www.heartlanddiversity.org/ You may also contact Jen Kiper at 816-474-4322.