President-Elect Candidates
FELSHAW KING
It has been my privilege to serve as a Bar commissioner since 2001. During the past five years I have become familiar with the opportunities, problems and challenges and which we lawyers face as we move further into the 21st century.
The mission of the Utah State Bar is:
"To represent lawyers in the State of Utah and to serve the public and the legal profession by promoting justice, professional excellence, civility, ethics, respect for and understanding of the Law."
Many praiseworthy goals are included in this mission statement and progress has been made in each area. As president I would place greater emphasis on the goal "To represent lawyers in the State." We have a responsibility to ourselves and the public, and that responsibility can best be met by maintaining a strong and viable legal profession uniquely suited to avoid and solve legal issues. The public is not well-served by a proliferation of non-lawyer providers and legal "do-it-yourself" programs.
Ours is a noble and honorable profession, the strength of which is a vital element for a successful society. Strengthening our profession depends on the effort of each of us as we interact with the Judiciary, the Legislature and the public. The Bar plays an important role in this process.
My experience gives me tools to serve as president to lead the process of strengthening our profession.
* Practicing lawyer since 1962
* Former majority whip and chairman of Judiciary Committee, Utah House of Representatives
* Appointed by Governor to serve as Chairman of Utah Committee of Consumer Services (1977-1989)
* President, National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (1985-1987)
* President, American Inns of Court VII, 1997
* Admitted United States Supreme Court, Tenth Circuit and Fifth Circuit
* Commander, U.S. Navy Reserve (JAGC-Ret.)
* University of Utah, Certificate in Conflict Resolution (2001)
I would appreciate the challenge and the opportunity to serve as president of the Bar and I ask for your support and confidence.
V. LOWRY SNOW
V. Lowry Snow is the founding partner of the law firm of Snow Jensen & Reece, in St. George. Mr. Snow received his B.S. degree from Brigham Young University in 1975 and his J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1979. He has concentrated his practice in the areas of real property, corporate law and commercial litigation. He is also a trained mediator.
Mr. Snow has been involved in Bar service and governance for a number of years. He has served as President of the Southern Utah Bar Association and was a member of the Supreme Court Task Force on Bar Governance prior to becoming a Bar Commissioner in 1999. He will complete three years of service as a member of the Executive Committee of the Bar Commission in July.
Mr. Snow has long viewed the practice of law as a form of public service. He pioneered the introduction of his firm's volunteer pro-bono service program in Southern Utah known as Talk to a Lawyer which has operated continuously since 1996. The implementation of this program led to his firm receiving the Bar's Pro Bono Firm of the Year Award for 1998. He currently serves as a member of both the Utah Supreme Court Standing Committee on Resources for Self-Represented Parties and the Advisory Committee on Professionalism.
Lowry is married to Sheryl L. Snow and they are the parents of six children.
STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY:
Dear Friends and Colleagues:
It has been an honor and privilege to have served as Bar Commissioner for close to six years now. As a result, I believe I have some understanding of the significant issues and challenges facing the Bar. As your president, these are the areas to which I would provide emphasis and leadership:
Vision Leadership. Good leadership requires more than simply managing crises or immediate issues of concern. Good Bar leadership will require that we anticipate and address the future roles and needs of lawyers. We will need to spend time getting ahead of the curve and then staying positioned. The Bar should make every effort to facilitate and enhance the ability of lawyers to do what they do best. We need to protect, for the present and future, our role as officers and representatives of the judicial branch of government.
Younger and Diverse Leadership. The future of the Bar and its relevance rests with the younger members of our profession. Good leadership for the future will require that we provide greater emphasis to mentoring and training younger lawyers for Bar service and should include added emphasis to women and minorities making up this sector. Our Young Lawyers have an enormous capacity to make meaningful contributions. They should be invited and encouraged to participate in section and committee work. These will be the leaders of our profession and members of the judiciary in the future. The investment should start early and include greater involvement with the students and faculty at both of UtahÕs fine law schools.
Preserving our Progress. We are fortunate to have had very competent and capable leadership serving on the Commission and in many important section and committee assignments. As a result, we have made significant progress in a number of critical areas Ð too many to mention here. In addition, many lawyers have donated their time and money to a multitude of projects and causes that have benefited the Bar and the public Ð this spirit of volunteerism should be acknowledged, encouraged and preserved. We should continue with the good work of the Bar that has been accomplished by many able and devoted lawyers.
I understand something of the time and effort that would be required of me if I am elected to this office. I would welcome the opportunity to serve you and I am prepared to meet that commitment. I would appreciate your vote and your support.