Bar Number: 18182
I’ve practiced law for many years, first with the government, then large and small law firms, and now private business. My current employer, Land Services USA, writes title insurance and closes large commercial real estate transactions. Although not as glamorous as high-stakes litigation, we solve problems and help real estate markets trade more efficiently and with less risk.
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What attracted you to the practice of law?
When I was young, based mostly on what I saw on TV and in the movies, I thought practicing law looked exciting. It also offered a pathway out of my hard-scrabble neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. Later, I came to see it as a way to give something back, through public service, to the society that gave me the opportunities that I had received in the first place.
After graduating from law school, did you enter public service?
Yes, as a new lawyer fresh out of law school, I accepted a commission as a lieutenant (junior grade) and served on active duty with the U.S. Navy JAG Corps. I tried criminal courts-martial cases. I alternated between prosecution and defense.
What did it teach you?
There I learned certain values that I still carry with me today: a sense of duty to a higher cause; empathy for people, particularly the vulnerable in society; and the courage to move forward while facing fear and adversity. I also learned something about the inequities in the system. Income and wealth play an outsized role. And structural imbalances exist. The government’s power is vast. It must be guided by fairness and justice. The defendant’s power is limited. It relies on the presumption of innocence, the government’s burden of proof, the right to a jury trial, and the assistance of counsel. But sometimes this is enough. The system works.
How do you enjoy spending your free time?
My wife, Teresa, and I like to hike. We also like to visit the national parks. As Ken Burns said, they are “America’s Best Idea.” I only hope the government and the people stay true to the vision embraced by Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir, keeping them natural, pristine, and protected.
What are your favorite memories?
I love spending time with my wife, children, and their significant others, grandson, close personal friends, and my dog, Mia. We usually sit down together over a holiday, a weekend dinner or barbecue, or a spur-of-the-moment get-together. We share good stories, laughter, and warm feelings. It’s my happiest place.
Where are some unusual places that you’ve lived?
Two come to mind. In the early to mid-1980s, my wife, our children, and I lived in a small town named Nicolosi, near Mount Etna on Sicily. We were stationed there with the Navy. Life there was an adventure, but presented some real challenges, like needing to make an 8-hour drive to the nearest Navy hospital, located in Naples, for the birth of our youngest son. Even so, it was a once in a lifetime experience. Much later, in the mid-2010s, my wife and I lived on a small farm that we owned and worked in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. It was beautiful. I have never felt closer to the land. It also helps explain my weakness for Oregon Pinot Noir.
What are your favorite movies?
Movies have captivated me ever since I was a young boy. I love classic films, but there are too many great ones to name. I particularly like epics—Lawrence of Arabia, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Dances with Wolves—to name three. And although I like a clever plot, I’m far more interested in the characters, the acting, the cinematography, and the musical score. Having to pick just one, I’ll take Casablanca as my favorite movie.
What are your favorite books?
I like A Prayer for Owen Meany, followed by Sophie’s Choice, for fiction. I like No Ordinary Time for nonfiction. A Gentleman in Moscow currently sits on my nightstand.