Page 18 - Phoenix Vol 11 No 2

Although retired, I still stay connected to the ABB and try to help the next generation of African- American lawyers.”
Planting Seeds in Juvenile Court
BY JUDGE MAURICE PORTLEY (RET.)
Ifyou had suggested to me in law school that working with children and families in the juvenile court would be my voca-
tion, and that I would understand the inter- play of federal child welfare law, state law and court rules, you would have gotten a puzzled look. But, the seeds for my vocation were planted during my time with Professor Don Duquette in Michigan’s Child Advocacy Clin- ic, in just its second year.
e clinic was a faint memory a er I re- turned to Arizona, took the bar and packed my bags for Fort Dix to begin active duty in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. It, however, was useful a er the Army transferred me to Fort Huachuca and, as the chief of administrative law. I sat on commit- tee of Army and child welfare agency sta to review domestic violence or child abuse alle- gations on the post. I knew some of the child welfare language, but quickly learned about the military rates of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect.
A er being invited to join Jennings, Strouss & Salmon and moving to Phoenix, I reached out to the then-Arizona Black Lawyers As- sociation (later the Hayzel B. Daniels Bar As- sociation and now the Arizona Black Bar). I learned about Judge Daniels, his history with Fort Huachuca, through his father, a 10th Cavalry trooper, and his experience at teach- ing at a post school, one that I attended in seventh grade when my dad, a NCO, served on Ft. Huachuca. More importantly, I learned from Clovis Campbell, a legislator and pub- lisher of the Arizona Informant, and others, about Judge Daniels’ role in the Phoenix law- suit that desegregated the local schools before the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education.
His legacy, as well as the leadership of Lon- nie Williams, Cecil Patterson and others, was a reminder help comes in many di erent ways. Jennings provided me with nearly a 10-year education into a world that I could not nd growing up in the military. More importantly, my partners continually helped improve my client skills, writing skills, and trial skills. Jen- nings also encouraged and valued participa-
tion in bar activities and pro bono work; it too valued giving back to the legal and larger community, and has a long history of provid- ing those opportunities.
Governor Rose Mo ord gave me the op- portunity for public service. A er a year on a civil calendar and four on criminal, Judge Kim Rose “asked me” to go to the Juvenile Court. My rst call a er that conversation was to Don Duquette and I asked, “What do I need to do to learn how to do the job?” He recommended joining the National Council for Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and sent me one of its publications for new judges. e seed that was planted in me in 1977 was beginning to blos- som.
e Juvenile Court was wonderfully dif- ferent. It focuses on resolving a delinquency or dependency case, by trying to nd ways to help children and families to try to be success- ful. I tried to plant seeds, as all juvenile court judges try, and hope they blossom. And when we get a copy of good grades or some award, a high school graduation announcement, a basic graduation picture, or learning that a re- uni ed family or one that had adopted a child were doing well, we’re hopeful that the blos- soms will grow.
A er my time on the juvenile court and then family court, Governor Janet Napolitano appointed me to the Arizona Court of Ap- peals. I was lucky enough to serve with Judge Patterson, though for only a month before he retired. I followed him 13 years later, a er working with great colleagues, and having a beer with Chief Justice John Roberts in the atrium of the Supreme Court Building.
Although retired, I still stay connected to the ABB and try to help the next generation of African-American lawyers nd their way to the bench. And I still pursue my vocation – to work with the juvenile court as works to handle its dependency cases, while try- ing to fully understanding the newest federal law, the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018, along with its opportunities for the courts and community to continue to make a positive di erence for children, families and the community.
ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · PHOENIX· VOL. 11 NO. 2 18