Larry Levy Honored as 2017 Republican Lawyer of the Year

Next Wednesday evening at the City Club of Washington, DC, the RNLA will host a reception honoring Larry Levy, who was selected by the RNLA Board of Governors as the 2017 Republican Lawyer of the Year.  RNLA's leadership praised Mr. Levy as very deserving of this honor:

RNLA President Elliot Berke praised the selection: “Larry is a true lawyer’s lawyer, and a consummate professional. I had the honor of nominating him to the RNLA board many years ago, and I couldn’t be happier to see him receive our Lawyer of the Year award. I thank him for all he’s done for the cause and his friendship.”

RNLA Chair Kimberly Reed highlighted Mr. Levy's core strengths: “In the decade I have known and worked with Larry Levy, I can attest to the values that Mayor Rudy Giuliani sees in him. Most importantly, he is dedicated to the United States Constitution and rule of law. On a personal note, Larry's steadfast dedication to the children who lost a parent or sibling on September 11th speaks volumes about his character. On behalf of the RNLA Board of Governors, I thank Larry for his service to RNLA and our mission.”

RNLA Co-Chair and former RNC General Counsel John Ryder added: “Larry has been a strong leader for the integrity of the ballot, for RNLA and for the country. He is truly deserving of Republican Lawyer of the Year.”

RNLA Executive Director Michael Thielen agreed: “Larry is one of the most influential lawyers I know; his influence is very broad. His efforts, both personally and professionally, in the 2016 election were essential to ensuring that it was an open, fair, and honest election that led to historic victories for Republicans at every level of the ticket. Yet he is very humble and would not ‘toot his own horn.’ Working with Larry for years has been one of my great pleasures, and I can think of no lawyer more deserving of being Republican Lawyer of the Year this year.” 

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani will attend the reception, and several very special guests, whose names we are not able to release, have also confirmed.  There is still time to purchase a ticket ahead of next Wednesday's celebration. 

RNLA Congratulates New Officers

The RNLA is pleased to announce its new officers, elected at its annual Board of Governors meeting earlier this week:

Elliot Berke was elected the new President. Mr. Berke serves as Managing Partner of Berke Farah LLP and previously was a partner and practice group co-chair at McGuireWoods LLP. He has been named by Chambers USA as a "Nationwide Best Lawyer" and by Washingtonian as one of "Washington's Best Lawyers." 

Outgoing RNLA President Larry Levy said: “I am pleased to turn over the office of President to Elliot, a very capable leader, an excellent lawyer, and a good friend. He will ably manage and grow the RNLA during this critical first year of President-elect Trump’s administration.” 

Kimberly Reed was elected the first female Chair of the RNLA. Ms. Reed serves as President of the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation. Recognized as one of the 100 Women Leaders in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), she also is on the Boards of the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, American Swiss Foundation, and National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research. 

RNLA Executive Director Michael Thielen said: “I have worked with Kimberly when she was a senior official in the U.S. Treasury Department, counsel to the U.S. Congress, and at RNLA. Her leadership skills and passion for the RNLA, the rule of law, and the advancement of women in the Republican Party will be a tremendous asset to the RNLA.” 

Other new and incumbent officers are:

Manuel Iglesias, First Vice President  

Larry Levy, Vice Chair 

David Bowsher, Vice President for Programming 

Brent A. Bramnick, Vice President for Membership 

Marc Ellinger, Vice President for Finance 

Ronald Hicks, Vice President for Communications 

Eric Lycan, Vice President for Judicial Affairs 

Stefan Passantino, Vice President for DC Operations  

David Warrington, Vice President for Election Education 

Chris Marston, Secretary 

Roger Barth, Treasurer

Politico Influence highlighted the election of Kimberly Reed as first female Chair and Elliot Berke as President in today's edition.

RNLA Calls Upon Clinton Campaign to Condemn and Stop Recounts

RNLA officially called upon the Clinton campaign to condemn plans by the Green Party to hold recounts of the presidential election results in several states:

The Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA) calls upon the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to stand down and condemn the recount effort in Wisconsin and possibly other states. We are extremely disappointed by the change of heart of Secretary Clinton in deciding to participate. This is an unprecedented effort to divide our country.  

RNLA President Larry Levy said: “The alleged concerns that the recount is to ensure every vote is properly counted is ludicrous. If that were true, why aren’t they seeking recounts in every state or at least include New Hampshire where Secretary Clinton won by a scant 2,736 votes or other states with narrow Democrat wins? This effort diverts attention from the critical work of President-elect Trump and his team to form a new Administration and to be prepared to lead America forward on day one.”  

The recount is pointless, a waste of resources, a squandering of taxpayer funds, and flies in the face of the long tradition of accepting results. Do not take our word for it. Look at the past statements of Secretary Clinton and her lawyer. Further, RNLA agrees with the Obama Administration in its opposition to the recount.  

1. Previously, Secretary Hillary Clinton called the very thought of not accepting the election results “horrifying.” . . . 2. To be clear, there is no doubt about the election results. This is why the Clinton campaign decided previously not to pursue the recount. . . . 3. The Obama Administration also agrees that there is no basis for a recount . . . .

Whatever the fundraising and publicity goals of the Green Party are, Secretary Clinton and her campaign should not approve them.  As her running mate Sen. Kaine said the day after the election, "Nobody — nobody had to wonder about Hillary Clinton, whether she would accept an outcome of an election in our beautiful democracy."

Stein's Recounts Are Not About the Election Results

The current recounts of the presidential election requested or planned by Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party are not about ensuring the integrity of the election outcomes:

RNLA President Larry Levy said: “The cynical and false narrative being pushed by Jill Stein and the Green Party that they are trying to ensure all votes were properly counted is nothing more than an effort to undermine our democracy and proud history of peaceful administration change through contested elections. Ms. Stein doesn’t concern herself with any contests won by Secretary Clinton, including the razor thin margin she enjoyed in New Hampshire, rather she is attempting to disrupt the Electoral College vote for Donald J. Trump in an un-American and vulgar attempt to delegitimize the next President chosen by the American people. And Secretary Clinton’s support for this effort is a disgrace that exposes the hypocrisy she practices.  

“We cannot and will not stand silent in the face of this malicious effort to undermine our democracy. Join the Republican National Lawyers Association and all people of good will in fighting this insidious attack and show the world that democratic elections still count in America.”  

RNLA Board of Governors Member John Ryder further explained: “A recount does not shift more than a few hundred votes unless there are allegations of irregularities or vote fraud. There are no such allegations in this case.”

Dr. Stein has said in multiple interviews that she is not attempting to change the outcome of the election through her recount requests.  But she, with the support of Hillary Clinton, is putting states and election officials through an expensive process in a fool's errand to accomplish a victory through the press that liberals could not accomplish at the polls. 

RNLA President Larry Levy: Republican Lawyers Should Support Trump

In an early summer edition of The Republican Lawyer newsletter this week, RNLA President Larry Levy urged Republicans to support Donald Trump, noting that his release of a list of 11 potential Supreme Court nominees should reassure Republican lawyers of the principled kind of judge that Trump would appoint at all levels of the judiciary:

In 1980, many Party stalwarts expressed doubts about Reagan, doubts he helped quell with a memorable debate performance against Jimmy Carter. In a sense for the legal community, as well for many of our Party’s staunchest supporters, Mr. Trump had a similar moment when he recently announced his list of potential Supreme Court nominees. Even Mr. Trump’s harshest Republican critics agree this is an outstanding list, while Hillary Clinton and the left are distraught.  

Even more importantly, for Republican lawyers this list is reassuring because it shows deference to the rule of law and is a strong indication of the types of judges Mr. Trump would appoint at all levels of the federal courts.  

For Republican Lawyers, the Trump Supreme Court list, should be our 1980 Debate moment. The moment when we knew that we had to support Mr. Trump. 

For just like 1980, the choice is binary. Does anyone think Hillary Clinton would appoint even a magistrate judge with the same impeccable credentials and respect for the rule of law that was shown on Mr. Trump’s list? We know what four more years of liberal judicial appointments would do our court system, let alone a liberal majority for the Supreme Court. Actually, four years is the wrong number. We would be looking at a liberal court with little respect for the rule of law for the next generation.

Larry Levy noted the important role that Republican lawyers will play in the elections this fall:

As Republican lawyers, our members supported and were involved in every one of the seventeen primary campaigns, as we each exercised our sacred freedoms of association and free speech. Now, we must decide how to exercise those freedoms, as well as our obligation as citizens to vote in November. Some will focus only on Senate, House, or state races, while others will heed the call to unite the Party and support Mr. Trump for President, as the person who has garnered the most votes both from citizens and delegates. Whatever you decide, do not withdraw from the battles ahead; the stakes are too high, the risks too imminent to accept abstention. I’ve made my decision to support Mr. Trump and our Party; I trust all our members will actively participate in their own way during this critical election.

All Republican lawyers should unite around Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee and work to support Republicans at every level of the ticket in November.  This fall, lawyers will be needed to assure fair, open, and honest elections more than ever before.