Photo Credit: Eric Haynes
The MBA celebrated the start of its 2015-16 year with a reception in honor of President Robert W. Harnais.
The Massachusetts Bar Association held a reception on Sept. 3 at
Fenway Park to celebrate new MBA President Robert W. Harnais and
ring in the 2015-16 membership year. The President's Reception was
held in conjunction with the Hispanic National Bar Association's
Ohtli Award Reception, part of the HNBA's Annual Convention, which
was hosted in Boston this year.
Harnais was introduced and ceremonially "sworn in" as MBA
president by Massachusetts District Court Chief Justice Paul C.
Dawley. Harnais told the crowd of judges and MBA, HNBA and
Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys (MAHA) members how
proud he was to be the MBA's first Hispanic president. He also
spoke about the need for improved civility among lawyers and
pledged to do his part during his presidency.
The joint HNBA-MBA reception was a fitting event to honor
Harnais, who is a former president of MAHA and a former regional
president of the HNBA. Harnais said he was grateful for the
opportunities given to him by each association. He also thanked MBA
Past President Marsha V. Kazarosian, his fellow 2015-16 MBA
officers and his many other friends and family in attendance for
their support. Harnais' signature sense of humor was also on
display when he made a special point to thank "Judge Berman," the
federal judge whose "Deflategate" ruling earlier in the day
rejected the National Football League's four-game suspension of New
England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
In addition to the speech by Harnais and the HNBA's award
presentations, the reception featured remarks from Boston Mayor
Martin J. Walsh, American Bar Association President Paulette Brown
and MAHA Past President Jessica Massey.