These Washtenaw County attorneys enjoyed a “Last Supper” dinner in December. Top row (l-r): Mark Daane, John Bredell Andy Muth, Tom Daniels; Middle row (l-r): Bruce Benz, Dave Swartz, Denny McLain, Steve Goethel; Bottom row (l-r) : Benjamin Muth, Matt Goethel, Don Ferris and Hon Patrick Conlin, Sr.
Photo courtesy of John Bredell
By John Bredell
For almost 20 years, a group of Washtenaw County lawyers has golfed, skiied, traveled and socialized with each other throughout the year.
The group of lawyers, which has grown over time, includes Andy Muth, Mark Daane, Steve Goethel, John Bredell, Denny McLain, Tom Daniels, Don Ferris, Dave Swartz, Bruce Benz, Benjamin Muth and Matt Daniels. Jim Cmejrek was part of the group until his passing.
At the end of the year, the tradition has been to attend the “Last Supper” for dinner, drinks and fellowship. Over the past few years, members of the group have begun to retire and the tradition was born to conduct a “swearing out ceremony.”
The lengthy Lawyer’s Oath that each lawyer took at the beginning of their career, has been rewritten, to relieve retiring lawyers of all of onerous obligation that lawyers are sworn to uphold.
The retiring lawyers, in addition to eschewing the practice of law and embracing their vices, also swear that they will likely only wear suits at weddings and funerals.
In the past few years, Andy Muth, Mark Daane, Don Ferris, and Tom Daniels have been sworn out from the Bar.
Although the group was unable to meet in person for dinner in December 2020, the first
Last Supper by Zoom was celebrated and for the first time, two members of the group were sworn out.
On December 23, 2020, the Honorable David Swartz administered the “oath” to Bruce Benz, who retired after a lengthy and distinguished career. Bruce was sworn in in 1974 and retired from the firm of Whitker Benz, where he focused on business and real estate litigation.
To swear out group member Judge David Swartz, who retired after an illustrious and distinguished career as a 14th District Court Judge and as a Judge of the Washtenaw County Circuit Court, the group enlisted the Honorable Patrick Conlin, Sr. Many of the lawyers in the group were sworn in by the Honorable Patrick Conlin Sr., and he also occupied the Circuit Court judgeship which Judge Swartz assumed. The senior Conlin swore out Judge Swartz via zoom.
In addition to disavowing the wearing of a suit, Judge Swartz also swore he would likely only wear a robe after showering.
The only positive development of the Zoom last supper, was that none of the attending lawyers had to call their wives for a ride home.
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