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Judge Baddour is working on - or following - several very important projects. Please click on one for more information, or scroll down to read about each: 1. Speaking with Students 2. District 15-B Creed of Professionalism 3. District 15-B Local Rules Revisions 4. Orange County Judicial Building addition 5. Chatham County Justice Facility 6. District 15-B Kirk Osborn Internship Program
Judge Baddour has spoken with over 600 students about the law and the courts. He has spoken with kindergarten students through high schoolers. He has invited many classes into his courtroom to conduct mock trials, or to tour the courthouse. For more information or to schedule Judge Baddour, click on the Contact tab to the left.
2. District 15-B Creed of Professionalism Our local Bar Association has recently created a Creed of Professionalism. Judge Baddour is working to post the Creed in every courtroom in Orange and Chatham Counties. Here is the text to the Creed: Creed of Professionalism of the 15-B Judicial District BarOur legal system embodies our nation’s shared values of individual freedom, dignity and equality. As lawyers, we are guardians of that system, and we have a professional responsibility to recognize and honor it. We are in a privileged position, and as such we have special obligations. To forget these obligations is to dishonor our profession. Professionalism encompasses a dedication to excellence in serving clients, a respect for the rule of law, the court and other lawyers, and an unwavering commitment to justice. The practice of law is a profession and not a business. A lawyer need not sacrifice the opportunity to prosper, but the practice of law must be motivated by service and not inspired by profit. Chatham County and Orange County have a great legal, historical, cultural, and educational tradition. We in the legal community who live and work here have a duty to honor and enhance that tradition. We pledge to do so through our words and actions. Individual Commitment to Professionalism My word is my bond. Integrity is an absolute. I will value fairness and civility. I will not let financial considerations override my professional responsibility. To my clients, I offer loyalty, competence, honesty and diligence. I will represent you as I would want to be represented. I will provide timely information and regular communication. I will prove worthy of your trust by providing vigorous advocacy, reasoned counseling and fair value in my services. I will work to maintain proficiency in my practice and continue to expand my legal knowledge. To the public, I offer service. I will strive to make our legal system more accessible and responsive to all. I will contribute my time and talents to professional, community and civic activities. I will honor the words and spirit of the Rules of Professional Conduct. To my colleagues in the practice of law, I offer concern for your welfare. As we work together, I will respect your personal and family commitments. I will share my experience so that we may all grow and improve as lawyers. To the courts and court personnel, I offer respect, candor, and courtesy. As an officer of the court, I will encourage respect for the law. I will avoid the misuse of the law, its procedures and participants. I will express professional courtesy to the court, and I will expect professional courtesy from the court. To opposing parties and their counsel, I offer honesty, fairness, and courtesy. I will strive to resolve our client’s disputes in a dignified, reasonable and efficient manner. I will always seek the truth.
Portions adopted from the 10th Judicial District Bar’s Creed of Professionalism; “A Lawyer’s Creed” by the Georgia Commission on Professionalism; The Professional Creed of the American Inns of Court; an essay by Edward Abbey; and writings of Robert L. McMillan.
3. District 15-B Local Rules Revisions Effective July 1, 2008, new local rules for Civil and Criminal Superior Court have taken effect. These rules were crafted by a dedicated group of attorneys who deserve much credit. Local Rules for Civil Superior Court (pdf) Local Rules for Criminal Superior Court (pdf)
4. Orange County Justice Facility addition The scheduled renovation and addition to the courthouse in Hillsborough has begun. For up-to-date information on parking and progess on the construction, click here. For more information on the geothermal heating and cooling system being installed in the Justice Facility, click here. This is the first county government building in Orange County to benefit from geothermal heating and cooling.
5. Chatham County Justice Facility The Superior Court Judges now have a staffed office open in Chatham County. The offices are located on the third floor of the old courthouse in the middle of the circle in Pittsboro. Judge Baddour and the architects hired by the County presented preliminary plans to the Board of Commissioners at a work session. The Chatham County Board of Commissioners has approved construction of the new Justice Facililty. Architectural planning continues. Green building principles will be incorporated into the Chatham facility as well. Click here to view a gallery of photos of the Union County Judicial Facility taken by Judge Baddour when he held court in Union County. This gallery was put together to assist the committee planning the new Justice Facility.
District 15-B is helping to support a new internship program. This program will hire an Intern from the UNC School of Law to work with the local Public Defender's office during the summer. Kirk Osborn was a wonderful criminal defense attorney and public servant, and his life is honored with this Internship. For more information, please contact George Doyle at attydoyle@mindspring.com |