Page 11 - March April 24 CBA Report

PRACTICE/INTEREST GROUPS
For more information about becoming involved in a CBA group or committee, contact Membership at (513) 699-1406 or mymembership@cincybar.org.
WITH THE
Jacqueline Greene & Bill Gallagher
SOCIAL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
CO-CHAIRS
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROU
GREENE: After spending time at the Special Court for Sierra Leone in the Hague and the Khmer Rouge trials in Cambodia, I returned home to Cleveland and I volunteered to help a local civil rights lawyer, Terry Gilbert. In 2014, I joined Friedman & Gilbert in Cleveland. In 2017, I became partner and in 2019 and moved to Cincinnati. I now manage the Cincinnati office of Friedman Gilbert + Gerhardstein (FG+G).
ND.
GALLAGHER: I started as a public defender in Cook County, Illinois and moved here in 1994. I am married to a lawyer, Beth Conkin, and have three adult children. I have been an activist, represented activists, and volunteered for organizations dedicated to social and criminal justice.
HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN T
GREENE: During the 2020 uprisings in response to the murder of George Floyd, I worked with the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office and civil rights and criminal defense leaders to organize a coalition of lawyers to address the mass arrests of protesters. Bill and I were allies working in social justice spaces in our legal community. He later asked me to join him in taking this committee forward to honor the goals of its founders.
E GROUP?
GALLAGHER: I was asked to step in after the founding chairs found themselves with time constraints which made it difficult to continue in leadership. Jacqueline Greene and I are tasked with building on their foundation.
H
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH Y
GREENE: We intend to build relationships with community organizers and leaders and aim to build positive momentum around supporting social justice goals inside and outside the legal community. This will be a committee that prioritizes the perspec- tives of BIPOC, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, and other marginalized people.
OUR FELLOW GROUP MEMBERS?
GALLAGHER: There are so many wonderful people doing great work in social justice arenas. We need to create connec- tions with those leaders to lend assistance and support where we can. There are issues of social justice and criminal justice which require legal assistance if true justice is going to be achieved. Educating, inspiring, and leading those who can make a differ- ence is part of our committee’s mission.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT
GREENE: Findlay Market. My family and I frequent the Market almost every weekend to grocery shop, dine, take walks, or relax at the tables and benches, surrounded by the smell of delicious food and the sounds of community and music.
IN CINCINNATI AND WHY?
GALLAGHER: Great American Ballpark. I love baseball. You can get lost for a few hours and not be concerned with the outside world while being outside in the sun.
THE REPORT | March/April 2024 | CincyBar.org 11