A PROFILE IN PROFESSIONALISM

Justice Eva M. Guzman 14th Court of Appeals

I had the privilege of serving on the Houston Bar Association’s Professionalism Commit-tee with the late Judge Norman Black. My experience underscored the importance of professionalism not only to the legal community, but to the general public overall. As lawyers and judges, we are not merely the guardians of our legal system, but its very personification. We have chosen to build our careers and our reputations in the field of law, and every day, we argue, explain, interpret, and apply that law. As a result, the public’s perception of us is in large measure its perception of our legal system. Likewise, the public’s confidence in the rule of law is defined by its confidence in us.
Because we are so closely identified with the law, our words and deeds do not reflect solely upon us, but upon the legal system that we represent. It is therefore our responsibility to ensure that our behavior reflects a commitment to professionalism. As Justice Sandra Day O’Connor observed, the essence of professionalism is “the willingness to subordinate narrow self-interest in pursuit of the more fundamental goal of public service.” Our commitment to professionalism must be the driving force in our day to day activities, and must encompass not only a strict adherence to professional responsibility standards, but also an unwavering devotion to civility, honesty, integrity, fairness and public service.
Practiced daily, professionalism fosters respect and trust among lawyers and between the bench and bar. It preserves respect between the public and those to whom the everyday use and application of the law is entrusted. But more than that, professionalism is the means by which we foster public respect of the law and trust in the legal system that serves us all.
We are fortunate to practice in Houston’s legal community, where a culture of professionalism prevails. Our legal community’s commitment to professionalism yields many benefits, but the greatest is the public’s continued confidence that our legal system is based on the rule of law.

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