NH Bar Association’s Midyear Meeting 2025

Breakfast Speaker: Judge Arianna J. Freeman

The Honorable Arianna J. Freeman serves as a judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Nominated by President Joseph Biden in January 2022, Judge Freeman became the first African-American woman and the first woman of color to sit on the Third Circuit.

Judge Freeman earned her undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College and her law degree from Yale Law School. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Freeman built a distinguished career as a public defender at the Federal Community Defender Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, specializing in post-conviction litigation for indigent clients in state and federal custody.

Judge Freeman has also contributed to legal education as an adjunct professor at the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law. She is also deeply engaged in civic work, serving on the boards of the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women and First Person Arts.

2024 Philip S. Hollman Award for Gender Equality Recipient to be announced

The award, established on the occasion of Judge Hollman’s retirement from the Superior Court bench in 2003, honors Judge Hollman’s efforts as a stalwart advocate for gender equality in the legal system.

Raising the Bar for Lawyer Conduct: The Case for Mandatory Civility (60 NHMCLE Ethics Minutes)

Civility plays a crucial role in the practice of law. A civil bar contributes to the effective administration of justice and improves the quality of life for attorneys and, by extension, their clients. David Grenardo will discuss the current landscape of civility in the law and make the case for mandatory rules of civility.

David A. Grenardo, Professor and Associate Director, Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions

The Lawyer’s Role in Protecting the Rule of Law, Civil Discourse, and the Courts (60 NHMCLE Ethics Minutes)

Over the past several years, we have witnessed declining trust in many American institutions, including the justice system. A nationwide deterioration of civility and civics education has challenged the rule of law in our country. A panel of national experts discuss these threats to the rule of law and our obligation as attorneys to uphold the principles of democracy.  

Megan Carpenter, Dean and Professor, University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law

Hon. Jeremy Fogel, Executive Director, Berkeley Judicial Institute

David A. Grenardo, Professor and Associate Director, Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions

Mary Smith, Immediate Past President, American Bar Association

Kate Mahan, Moderator, New Hampshire Bar Association President

Cybersecurity, AI, and Deep Fakes (60 NHMCLE Minutes)

Mark Lanterman will share his expertise on digital evidence, computer forensics, and cybersecurity. His presentation will highlight the latest and most crucial information on these topics as well as their impact on the practice of law and administration of justice.

Mark Lanterman, Chief Technology Officer, Computer Forensic Services

Understanding the Beauty of Disagreement Within the U.S. Constitution (60 NHMCLE Minutes)

A scholar on the science of the Constitution, Professor Bedi joins us to delve into the rich and sometimes contentious history of disagreement inherent in the United States Constitution. Looking at fundamental functions of the Constitution, Supreme Court opinions, and arguments as “part of the science” of the Constitution, Professor Bedi illustrates how these very disagreements remain key to what the Founders intended.

Professor Sonu Bedi, Professor of Government, Dartmouth College