ATLA officers for 2001-2002.

New president Leo V. Boyle feels no bar association has a greater responsibility to the American people than ATLA. He considers himself privileged to serve the public as a trial lawyer, and he sees the association as essential to the preservation of civil justice. His particular areas of interest are making leadership positions within ATLA accessible to more people, carefully hewing to the goals of the association's long-range plan, and empowering ATLA's professional staff so as to position the association better to effectuate its long-range plan.

A partner at Meehan, Boyle, Black & Fitzgerald, PC, in Boston, Mr. Boyle served as ATLA's president-elect in 2000-2001, vice president in 1999-2000, secretary in 1998-1999, treasurer in 1997-1998, and parliamentarian in 1996-1997. He has held positions on the Executive Committee, the Board of Governors, and the Public Education Coordinating Committee. Mr. Boyle is a former trustee of the Civil Justice Foundation and a trustee and fellow of the Roscoe Pound Institute.

He earned his B.A. in 1968 at Harvard College and his J.D. in 1971 at Boston College Law School.

Mary E. Alexander, ATLA's new president-elect, believes trial lawyers must remain united, courageous, and committed to protecting the civil justice system for consumers. "We need to join together to make a difference," she says.

She feels it is important to keep the association strong by improving the Exchange, expanding ATLA PAC, building the Endowment, and strengthening the Center for Constitutional Litigation, which fights damages caps and other tort "reform" provisions.

Ms. Alexander is a partner with Cartwright & Alexander in San Francisco. She served as ATLA's vice president in 2000-2001, secretary in 1999-2000, treasurer in 1998-1999, and parliamentarian in 19971998. She is a former trustee of ATLA PAC and has cochaired Partners for Progress and the ATLA PAC Task Force Committee. She also served as chair of State Delegates and the Council of Presidents.

Ms. Alexander earned her B.A. in 1969 at the University of Iowa, her M.P.H. in 1975 at the University of California at Berkeley, and her J.D. in 1982 at the University of Santa Clara.

As vice president, David S. Casey Jr. plans to work with members to defeat tort "reform" efforts. ATLA members must work as a team, he says, to ensure that elected officials are sensitive to the rights of consumers. He believes trial lawyers must "fight for consumers in the courthouse, in the halls of the legislature, and in the arena of public opinion."

He challenges all ATLA members to ask themselves what they are doing personally to get involved and to help protect consumer rights on a national level.

Mr. Casey is a partner with Casey, Gerry, Reed & Schenk in San Diego. He served as ATLA's secretary in 2000-2001, treasurer in 1999-2000, and parliamentarian in 1998-1999. He has been a member of the Board of Governors since 1984 and cochaired the Public Education Committee from 1994 to 2000. Mr. Casey helped found ATLA's Leaders Forum and is serving on the Board of Directors of the Endowment. He is a trustee and fellow of the Roscoe Pound Institute.

Mr. Casey earned his B.A. in 1972 at Trinity College and a J.D. in 1974 at the University of San Diego.

New secretary Todd A. Smith thinks trial lawyers are fortunate to be able to advocate for justice on behalf of those who have suffered because of the misconduct of others. He believes ATLA plays a significant role in supporting trial lawyers in this work.

In support of efforts at the national level to protect the right to trial by jury, he will chair ATLA's Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee event in November.

A partner with Power, Rogers & Smith in Chicago, Mr. Smith served as ATLA's treasurer in 2000-2001 and parliamentarian in 1999-2000. He has been a member of the Board of Governors since 1989 and has chaired several committees, including the Legal Affairs Committee, the Constitutional Litigation Committee, and the Amicus Curiae Committee. He is a fellow and a trustee of the Roscoe Pound Institute, a fellow of the Civil Justice Foundation, and a trustee of the ATLA Endowment.

Mr. Smith earned his B.S.B. in 1971 at the University of Kansas; his M.B.A. in 1973 at Northwestern University, Kellogg Graduate School of Management; and his J.D. in 1976 at Loyola University of Chicago School of Law.

Kenneth M. Suggs, ATLA's new treasurer, believes in the power of trial lawyers to face down the enemies of accountability and responsibility. As members of ATLA, he says, "we can share our visions of justice, our ideas, and our knowledge." He wants the association to continue to speak in Congress for the voiceless and to advocate in the courtroom for injured consumers.

Mr. Suggs is a founding shareholder at Suggs & Kelly; the firm has offices in Columbia, Winnsboro, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and in Savannah, Georgia. He was ATLA's parliamentarian in 2000-2001. He has served on the Board of Governors since 1988 and he has been a member of the Budget Committee, the Legal Affairs Committee, and the Technology Task Force Committee. He has also served as chair of the Judicial Independence Committee and cochair of the Legal Affairs and Public Affairs Committees. He is a supporting fellow of the Roscoe Pound Institute.

Mr. Suggs received his B.A. in 1968 from Clemson University and his J.D. in 1975 from the University of South Carolina Law School.

Mike Eidson is proud to be ATLA's new parliamentarian. He says that without a strong association, led by dedicated volunteer attorneys and supported by a committed staff, there would be no civil juries for injured people and a radically different civil justice system. He believes ATLA must maintain close relations with leaders of state trial lawyer associations to combat attacks on the civil justice system.

Mr. Eidson has served on the Board of Governors since 1991. He is a member of numerous committees, including the Executive Committee, the Judicial Independence Committee, and the Exchange Committee. He is cochair of the Legal Affairs Committee. He has also served as chair of the Products Liability Section and the Aviation Law Section. He is a member of the Roscoe Pound Institute and the Civil Justice Foundation and is on the boards of the Attorneys' Information Exchange Group and Trial Lawyers for Public Justice.

Mr. Eidson received his B.A. in 1968 from the University of South Carolina and his J.D. from Emory University Law School in 1971. He studied history at the University of Warwick, Coventry, England.