www.loubar.org 14 Louisville Bar Briefs What’s In a Name? Dedication of the Benjamin F. Shobe Courtroom Judge A.C. McKay Chauvin (Ret.) You know you’re a lawyer of a certain age (which is a nicer way of saying “crazy old”) not when what’s left of your hair has turned white or when you start making that weird “UMPH” sound every time you bend over to pick up your briefcase or get up out of your chair – but when you look around the court- house and all of the portraits hanging on the walls and all of the rooms they’re hanging in are named after people you knew. I didn’t know Justice Brandeis, for whom the Hall of Justice is named and who passed away in 1941. But I absolutely knew Frank and Bobby Haddad (neither of whom I would ever have considered as addressing as any- thing but “Mr. Haddad”) for whom the LBA Sanctuary for Solicitors room is named), and I am among the last generation of lawyers who had the great good fortune to know and to practice before Judge Benjamin F. Shobe. Someone far more profound than I once said that no one is really gone until the last time someone says his or her name out loud. When you name something after somebody, it’s because you want to extend their life and their legacy as long as possible. But, as time goes by and people pass on, the greater the danger, if not the likelihood, that that person and their legacy will be forgotten. Gene Sny- der gets remembered as a freeway. Arnold Palmer gets remembered as a refreshing bev- erage that’s half iced tea and half lemonade. So, it is my responsibility and distinct honor to spend a few minutes reminding everyone – those of us who knew him and especially those who did not – why we have chosen to name this beautifully appointed courtroom in honor of and out of respect and affection for Judge Shobe. Every courtroom has its own personality … A tone or a mood that is set by and a reflection and extension of the presiding judge. Judge Shobe’s courtroom was no exception. The tone, mood, personality of his courtroom was one of calm, courtesy, kindness and respect. It was that way be- cause he was that way. He was kind. He was courteous, and he was both respected and respectful of others. Anyone and everyone who appeared before him was treated with courtesy, kindness and respect. Everyone felt seen and heard, and, whether consciously or unconsciously, felt compelled to follow his example and treat everyone else with courtesy, kindness and respect. There is an oft’ told story about Judge Shobe where a jury had sentenced a fellow to 75 years in prison. At the final sentencing hear- ing, the defendant stood up and said: “Your honor, I’m 52 years old – I can’t do 75 years in prison.” To which Judge Shobe calmly replied, “That’s alright … Just do as many as you can.” But the most telling part of that story is what the defendant said in response, which was, “Yes sir. Thank you.” I don’t know if that story is true or not, but I do know that almost without exception, when a defendant left the courtroom – whenever anybody left the courtroom no matter which door they left the courtroom, through – he or she invariably said “thank you” to Judge Shobe. Which is remarkable in and of itself, but even more so when you con- sider that in an adversarial system, at least half of those people left without getting what they wanted. What they all got was a judge who recognized that what was happening in that courtroom was important to the people to whom it was happening. That it was their day in court, not the judge’s, and that it was always about them and not about him. The justice system is neither what it once was nor always what it could or should be. But as imperfect as it continues to be, it is still an example of Dr. Martin Luther King’s remarkably optimistic observation that the arc of the moral universe is long, but bends towards justice. It does not necessarily fol- low, however, that we should be or have to be satisfied with the pace at which the aforementioned arc is bending – which is why Judge Shobe worked so boldly and tire- lessly as a lawyer to bring about change. But his final legacy is his excellent example of how important it is for the people who work within the justice system – for judges – to be mindful of their responsibility to be among the biggest and best arc benders of them all. Naming a courtroom after Judge Shobe reminds us all to be kind, courteous and respectful … But it also reminds us of our obligation to be committed and courageous in our pursuit of justice. Hon. A.C. McKay Chauvin (Ret.) is the Jefferson County Chief Court Administrator. n
