Dozens of judges representing various courts that serve Akron and many attorneys who practice in the area attended the annual Red Mass on May 4 at St. Bernard Church in Akron. Bishop Nelson Perez was the celebrant. Concelebrants were Father Paul Rosing, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Stow, and Father Frank Basa, senior parochial vicar at St. Bernard.
An honor guard of Akron police officers led the judges and clergy into the church.
Judge Alice Batchelder of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit was the recipient of the Thomas More Award. The honor is presented annually to a member of the bar or bench in Summit County or a someone with a record of public service;, a high degree of intelligence and professional competence; a demonstrated concern for the needs of the community evidenced by contributions to the legal profession; service in public office or personal involvement in community affairs; a private life and public career exemplary in general accord with the religious traditions of the country and community.
The award, which has been presented since 1978, is named for St. Thomas More, an English gentleman, lawyer, scholar, humanist, author, husband and father, chancellor of England, martyr and saint. When King Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church over his plan to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and remarry, More could not concur in conscience and resigned his post as chancellor. He was charged with treason, imprisoned in the Tower of London and executed in July 6, 1535. He was canonized in 1935 and is the patron saint of lawyers.
In his homily, Bishop Perez scanned the judges, attorneys, paralegals and others from the legal profession in the congregation and noted it was a bit intimidating to be in front of so many judges and lawyers. Connecting with the day?s Gospel, he reminded them that God called them and they answered his call to their profession.
?In litigation, you may have to make decisions that do not make all parties happy,? he said, adding that at the end of our journey, ?we will have a conversation with God. We will be judged based on the depth and breadth of our love.?
The bishop reminded the congregation that we are all called to holiness for the greater glory of God. He talked about the beatitudes, linking them with those called to service in the legal profession. ?You put yourself in the service of people,? he said.
?To be blessed in Scripture means something special; to be blessed is to be in the best place possible so we can grow. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,? the bishop said.
A tree planted near a stream ?is a happy tree. It has nothing to worry about from drought because its roots are deep. That would be like me living near a pizza shop,? he quipped, noting that he loved pizza. ?To be blessed is a good place to be. To be poor in spirit and to thirst for justice are also good places to be.?
He said people may refer to a judge by his or her position, but every judge, prosecutor and defense attorney has a name. ?They are people.?
During the Universal Prayer, petitions included praying for those in the legal and law enforcement community as well as Judge Batchelder, her family and deceased members of the Akron Bar Association, which helped coordinate the event.
When presenting the Thomas More Award to Judge Batchelder, Bishop Perez congratulated her, noting there was something about her character that caused her peers to choose her for the honor.
?I don?t know what I did to deserve this,? she said. ?Thomas More is a saint because he gave his life for refusing to sacrifice his principles.?
The judge said she was blessed to have had the opportunity to serve on various court benches for 35 years. She was appointed to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio in 1983 and two years later was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. In 1991, she was appointed to her current position for the federal appeals court that covers Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee.
She is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and the University of Akron Law School. Batchelder is married to William Batchelder III, former speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. They have two adult children and eight grandchildren.
The judge credited her late father-in-law with making it possible for her to go to law school, noting she was teaching school and her husband was serving in the Army. Despite having to pay for his own children?s education, she said he provided the means for her to attend law school.
?I eventually paid him back financially, but I could never repay him for the opportunity, support and sacrifice,? she said.
?The Red Mass celebrates this profession as it should be. It is humiliating and exhilarating to be honored with this award. I am so honored to be part of this profession and to live in the United States,? she added.
A reception and luncheon followed the Red Mass, which is celebrated every spring during Law Week.
