Quoting the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and poet and author Maya Angelou, Toledo Bar Association President Sarah Skow laid out her plan Tuesday to address gaps in diversity and access to justice.
Ms. Skow, 41, was installed at the association’s annual meeting in the Hilton Garden Inn. She was among a handful of local legal professionals to receive honors at the downtown luncheon. This marked the association’s first in-person annual meeting since the pandemic began in 2020.
Aside from installing Ms. Skow, Judge Myron Duhart, previous president of the association and current judge of the Sixth District Court of Appeals, honored four other judges and lawyers with various awards.
Now a partner at Spengler Nathanson, Ms. Skow has practiced law in Toledo for nearly 16 years. Besides that, she previously served as president of the Junior Bar Association, the Toledo Women’s Bar Association, and the Toledo Legal Aid Society’s public defenders program.
“Sarah’s been a trailblazer,” said Rob Salem, a longtime friend and colleague of Ms. Skow.
Ms. Skow has served on boards and committees for the Ohio Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court, and the Ohio State Bar Association. She’s also served on the boards of Ohio Citizens for the Arts, the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, and the Children’s Theater Workshop.
“Maya Angelou says, ‘Do the best you can until you know better, then do better,’” Ms. Skow said in her address to the association. “This is something that I’ve been reflecting on relating to the pandemic, and coming out of it. We know a lot better now about what people are doing on the edges, and what people are experiencing when they’re in the margins, and women and other groups that feel threatened related to their rights and also their privileges that are found, embodied in our laws.”
One major goal of her presidency is to increase diversity, Ms. Skow said in an interview.
“The fact that in the profession, women and people of color are getting into law schools more is inspiring,” she said. “We need to do better, though, to think as bar leaders about the number of women and people of color who are exiting the profession of law. What can we be doing better?”
Earlier in the program, Judge Duhart presented the association’s annual Community Service Award to Pariss M. Coleman II, senior counsel for The Andersons. Judge Duhart noted that the award is given to an association member who demonstrates a commitment to the community through volunteerism, giving time and service to activities, and organizations unrelated to law.
In addition, Judge Duhart presented the Trustees Award to Sean McNulty, the chief public defender of the Toledo Legal Aid Society since 2014. The award is given to a member who exemplifies professionalism and a commitment to bettering the practice of law.
Under Mr. McNulty’s leadership, the legal aid society expanded its social services to assist with housing and employment. Mr. McNulty also worked with the association’s pro bono program and the Toledo Municipal Court in 2019 to bring driver’s license clinics to the area. This helped more than 750 low-income Ohioans regain their driving privileges and saved them more than $300,000 in reinstatement fees.
Judge Duhart also honored two recently retired judges: Arlene Singer and Connie Zemmelman.
Judge Singer served on the Sixth District Court of Appeals and the Toledo Municipal Court, and was involved with other committees in the Ohio Supreme Court and Toledo Women’s Bar Association.
“As I look back on my legal career, 30 years as a judge, it’s hard to say, and 14 years as a practitioner, and then you add in the four years of law school,” Judge Singer said. “That’s 50 years in the Toledo legal community. I can’t think of a better way to spend my time.”
Judge Zemmelman served as a magistrate in the Lucas County Probate Court before being appointed as a Lucas County Juvenile Court judge in May, 2007. Before taking the bench, however, she built a private practice focusing on family issues, including juvenile law, probate law, surrogacy, and adoption, working as a lawyer for 25 years.
“During those 14 years on the bench, I learned so much about our society,” Judge Zemmelman said. “I became acutely aware of how fortunate I am.”
Additionally, Judge Zemmelman served on the Human Trafficking Coalition and Trauma Coalition in Toledo, and served as previous president of the Toledo Bar Association.
Finally, Judge Duhart joined Judge Singer in swearing in the new members of the association’s board of directors: Adam Nightingale, Patty Wise, Stevin Groth, Tim Effler, Cara Wall, Monica Yvonne, and Kayla Henderson.
“Ruth Bader Ginsburg famously said that ‘To be a true professional, you have to do something outside of yourself,’” Ms. Skow said. “You are all doing things outside of yourselves. Hopefully that drew you to this learned and honored profession that underlies our democratic experiment.”
First Published June 14, 2022, 10:34 p.m.
