U.S. District Court Judge Avern Cohn, a legendary figure in the federal judiciary, was the 2020 recipient of the Dennis W. Archer Award, an honor presented by the Detroit Bar Foundation in the virtual realm November 19.
Cohn, who earned his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1949 and spent 40 years on the federal bench before retiring last year, is a wordsmith as well as a student of history, two factors clearly evident in the remarks that he delivered in his acceptance speech published below:
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Good evening.
This is a memorable event for me. I am deeply appreciative and indeed flattered of receiving the Dennis W. Archer Award. I thank all of you who are virtually here and particularly, Julie Van Hove, executive director of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association and of the Foundation; Judge Robert Colombo and Ray Carey, co-chairs of the Foundation and hosts of this evening’s affairs; and Jim Rosenfeld and Al Ackerman, who led me on the path to this occasion. I also want to thank John Runyan and Tom Kirvan who wrote biographical sketches of me in The State Bar Journal and in The Detroit Legal News.
I also thank the sponsors, benefactors and contributors to the Foundation who make it a viable force for good in our community.
Justice Benjamin Cardozo, in 1917, then a judge of the New York Court of Appeals said:
“Membership in the Bar is a privilege with conditions.”
Hopefully, I have performed these conditions in my almost 70 years as a lawyer, half in private practice and half as a judge. I look up on the award as confirmation of my fulfilling these conditions.
I like to think of my years in private practice as more than earning a living as a lawyer. In these years, I performed substantive pro-bono work beginning with the
acceptance of appointments in federal court as counsel for indigents. In my early years at the bar, you did not get paid for representing indigents in federal court.
In my 40 years as a judge, I engaged in what I would call extra-curricular activity. I always said as to the work a judge can engage in outside the courtroom, if the late Damon Keith did it, I as a judge could do it.
In preparing these remarks I looked at the formal beginnings of the Association. Its formal life began with the enactment of Act 107 of the Public Acts of 1881, The Act provided for the incorporation of bar associations. The Detroit Free Press in mid-1881 following the enactment of the act, published an account of the names of its officers and, in a follow-up, the meeting of its first board of directors.
I also in preparation for these comments, looked at the articles of incorporation of the Foundation particularly its corporate purpose:
Improve the administration of justice and insure legal services are available to all persons regardless of color, national origin, sex or religion ...
As the activities of the Foundation, there is ample evidence that it is fulfilling its corporate purpose.
Also, in looking at the history of the Association, I find that I have known almost every president from the time I was admitted to the Bar in 1949 beginning with John P. O’Hara in 1950.
Now as to the Archer Award, specifically, the criteria for the Award, described by the Foundation is as follows:
For over a decade, the Detroit Bar Association Foundation has presented the Dennis W. Archer Public Service Award to a member of our profession whose commitment to public service goes above and beyond the call of duty. Since 2003, this award has been reserved for the best of the best of Michigan’s legal profession – extraordinary lawyers and judges who have established careers dedicated to the betterment of both our profession and our community.
As I said a moment ago, I am truly honored to be named the 16th awardee, beginning with Dennis and last year my colleague, an excellent Chief Judge Denise Page Hood.
My knowledge of Dennis’ career suggests this award in his name is highly appropriate. His life’s activities measure up to the criteria for the award and set it as a measuring stick.
I want to close by quoting George Roumell, who said at the presentation of the Frank Murphy Award to the family of the late Ernest Goodman:
When God asks at the pearly gate, what I have to say for myself. I will proudly tell Him, I was a Detroit lawyer.
Thank you.
