News

Tom Locher inducted as Fellow of ACTL
11.1.2013

On October 26, 2013, Thomas M. Locher, Senior Managing Member and Chair of the Litigation Department for Locher Pavelka Dostal Braddy & Hammes, LLC, was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in San Francisco, CA.

Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada.  Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only, after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.

Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province.  There are currently approximately 5,789 members in the United States and Canada, including active Fellows, Emeritus Fellows, Judicial Fellows (those who ascended to the bench after their induction) and Honorary Fellows.  The College strives to improve and elevate the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the trial profession.  Qualified lawyers are called to Fellowship in the College from all branches of trial practice.  The College is the only professional organization in which all Justices of the United States Supreme Court and Canada Supreme Court have accepted honorary membership. Every Justice who has accepted honorary membership has traveled to address the College and accept the Honorary Fellowship. Past presidents of the College have included Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell and former U.S. Attorney Griffin Bell.

United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. issued the following statement as a forward to the Codes of Trial Conduct and Pretrial Conduct formulated by the College:

“I commend the American College of Trial Lawyers for its leadership in defining and refining the standards of professionalism that are vital to our system of justice.”