| Bar Bulletin |
December,
2003 |
| MSBA News |
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Winchester Retires
as MSBA's Legislative Director
By Janet Stidman Eveleth
After 16 years of distinguished service as the MSBA’s Director of
Legislative Relations, Albert “Buz” Winchester retired on November 30,
2003. Winchester, the Association’s first legislative director and
lobbyist, was instrumental in developing the MSBA’s legislative relations
program and building it into the effective operation it is today. Working
with the Association’s leadership and the Committee on Laws, he
established a strong voice and visible presence in Annapolis for the MSBA
and Maryland lawyers.
When Winchester arrived in 1987, the MSBA had little presence in
Annapolis. Today, the Association enjoys a high level of visibility in
Maryland’s General Assembly and serves as a valuable legal resource for
state legislators. Winchester played a key role in creating this effective
legislative advocacy for Maryland lawyers and fostering an effectual
relationship with the state’s Judiciary and relevant Executive Branch
agencies. He is well-respected and is known for his integrity, excellent
communications and lobbying skills and dedication to the MSBA.
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“The MSBA has been extraordinarily fortunate to have Buz as our full time,
exclusive lobbyist in Annapolis,” states MSBA Executive Director Paul V.
Carlin. “In addition to being the eyes, ears and many times the voice of
the MSBA there, Buz was a tireless advocate for the policy dictates of our
Board of Governors, which were in the best interests of our members, the
MSBA, the legal profession and the citizens of Maryland.” |
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Albert 'Buz' Winchester |
As Cleaveland D. Miller, MSBA President in 1987, remembers, “one of the
issues we first thought about when employing someone to represent the MSBA
was whether he or she should be a lawyer and whether he or she should be
full-time. After a heated discussion, we decided being a lawyer was not
necessary but being full-time was, and Buz was hired.”
“Buz brought a great deal of energy and integrity to his job,” adds
Miller. “Over the years he has earned the respect of the legislators and
worked very well with MSBA members. We were fortunate to have him, and we
will miss him greatly.” Adds Carlin: “Buz always demonstrated impeccable
personal character traits and the highest level of professionalism and
integrity.”
MSBA had no legislative staff until Winchester began, so he laid the
foundation and constructed a process that enhanced the MSBA’s legislative
efforts in Annapolis and created a visible presence for the legal
profession. This process has been fine-tuned over the years and has
evolved into a legislative program that serves the Association and its
members quite well.
Initially, Winchester researched all previous Association positions along
with legislative correspondence and letters and recorded the MSBA’s
legislative history. He then summarized these positions and molded them
into the MSBA’s first legislative program. As issues arose, they were
integrated into the legislative program, expanding its scope.
The 1988 legislative session was Winchester’s first representing the MSBA,
and it was the first time the Association had a legislative representative
advocating on behalf of Maryland lawyers. The MSBA’s legislative priority
that year was the contested election of circuit court judges.
“We joined forces with then Chief Judge Robert C. Murphy and worked with
then Governor Schaefer’s administration in our quest to eliminate
contested elections,” recalls Winchester. “We came close - we lost by one
vote!” He characterizes this as “his greatest defeat.”
After that session, Winchester worked with the MSBA’s Laws Committee to
develop the MSBA’s legislative program. They established its format and
process and incorporated legislative issues for the MSBA to consider.
Working with MSBA leadership, they examined key issues and devised
legislative positions which became the backbone of the MSBA’s legislative
thrust.
Ultimately, the MSBA established a legislative process that resembled an
informational loop, linking legislative issues to the Laws Committee, the
MSBA and the legislature. “The Laws Committee examined the issues and
developed the positions for MSBA Board of Governors’ approval,” explains
Winchester, “then I conveyed the positions to the legislature and reported
back to the MSBA on the progress.” This legislative process was
periodically updated and enhanced to address member concerns.
Among the MSBA’s greatest legislative victories during Winchester’s tenure
is the IOLTA/IOTA battle which successfully resulted in thousands of
Maryland citizens gaining access to the courts and adequate housing in the
state. “Over the years, we have protected the judiciary from legislative
assault, preserved judicial independence and safeguarded the principle of
the separation of powers,” he adds. Additionally, “giving MSBA Sections a
legislative vehicle to convey their issues and information to the
Legislature was rewarding, too.”
“I will very much miss working with Buz,” states Timothy Meredith, former
Chair of the MSBA’s Committee on Laws. “During my six years as Chair of
the Committee, Buz provided invaluable assistance with his organizational
skill, his knowledge of the legislative process and his sagely advice. He
made my job easy. It will be very difficult to replace him.” Current Laws
Committee Chair Michael J. Baxter adds, “He was a tireless advocate for
the MSBA who crafted the Association’s legislative process.”
Winchester’s legislative vision was a depiction of “the MSBA as a
prominent association in Maryland’s legal community that offered a wealth
of information on the law.” His goal was to “make sure that the
information the MSBA conveyed to the legislature was distilled as one
voice.” He attained this goal and leaves behind this legacy as he retires
from MSBA.
“Today, the MSBA’s opinion is well-respected and most sought after,”
asserts Winchester. “Legislators seek the MSBA’s views, information and
guidance. This credibility was developed and achieved through a
concentrated MSBA leadership effort.” It was also the MSBA’s ultimate goal
in creating a new legislative staff position.
“Buz has done a spectacular job as the MSBA’s Director of Legislative
Relations,” states James P. Nolan, the MSBA’s Immediate Past President.
“He developed our legislative program and was the driving force behind it.
Buz built a strong legislative foundation for the MSBA and represented the
Association extremely well. He cared about the MSBA, Maryland lawyers and
the legal profession, and it was evident in the way he represented his
constituents. I will really miss him and wish him the best.”
So, what’s next for the retired Buz Winchester? “I am going to enjoy life
and take it year by year,” he explains. His plans include writing and
sailing and whatever else he fancies at the time. He thoroughly enjoys
traveling, which is something he and with his wife, Mary Tod, plan to do
often.
The MSBA will honor Winchester for his outstanding service to the
Association and the legal profession over the last 16 years at the
December Board of Governors meeting in the Senate Chambers of the Maryland
State House – a most appropriate spot.
“The Board, on behalf of the Association, the staff and the 16 presidents
whom Buz assisted, will offer special recognition of Buz’s exceptional
services,” concludes Carlin. “We tip our hat in gratitude to this fine
individual, who developed the stature of our program with intelligence and
humor. He will be missed.”
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