Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court Elizabeth A. Weaver leads lawyers and judges in the lawyer's oath of office at the Second Invitational Bench/Bar Conference in Flint.

The State Bar of Michigan completed its last meeting of this year1s Second Invitational Bench/Bar Conference with a final Conference held in Flint on Tuesday, May 25, 1999. The first Conference was held in Grand Rapids on May 13, 1999. The Conference, which covered the subject of "Attorney/ Judge Relations and the Administration of Justice" accomplished its goal of identifying issues currently facing the profession and bringing lawyers and judges together to formulate workable solutions. "The participants were able to sit face to face as peers and discuss those issues that are critical to the profession and the administration of justice in Michigan," said Hon. Patrick C. Bowler, 61st District Court Chief Judge and Co-Chairperson of the Bench/ Bar Conference Planning Committee. "Lawyers and judges were working together to improve public confidence in our system of justice and they were able formulate numerous, insightful recommendations that will be taken to the State Bar for possible implementation." The Second Invitational Bench/Bar Conference is designed to give lawyers and judges an opportunity to get together and discuss ways to improve the justice system. The Conference provides a unique venue for lawyers and judges-who normally don1t have the opportunity to openly converse outside of a courtroom setting-to come together, address common problems and devise solutions. The afternoon portion of the Conference included small group discussions on the following topics: Judge and attorney temperament; Docket management/scheduling; Judicial and attorney preparedness/continuing education; and Civility and changes in the practice of law. First held in 1997, this Conference continues to be an important step in the process of keeping the channels of communication open between the bench and bar with its main focus on improving the justice system for all. The Conference was sponsored by the State Bar of Michigan and all three Michigan Judges Associations, in cooperation with the Michigan Supreme Court, State Court Administrator1s Office and Michigan Judicial Institute. Attorney Nancy A. Wonch and 7th Circuit Judge Archie L. Hayman perform a skit on "Attorney Judge Relations and the Administration of Justice" at the Second Invitational Bench/Bar Conference in Flint.