After that contest was over, we could say the system worked again. Whether you agree or disagree with the result, or with the court decisions, the system worked. And lawyers and judges made it work. So, I hope you will be proud to be a lawyer. I hope you will stand up for what you do and for this profession.
Lawyers play a vital role in the preservation of our society.
But being a member of this profession carries with it special responsibilities and an obligation to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct. These obligations are spelled out in our Rules of Professional Conduct and I urge you to read them again especially the preamble that eloquently describes the lawyer s role in the broad context of our free and democratic society. But, I hope you won t believe that it is enough merely to live by the literal words of these Rules. There is much more to a full and meaningful life in the law. Let me explain by sharing a story with you.2 One of Denver s law firms gives out an annual award to one of its lawyers or staff for making exceptional contributions to our community.