About the A. Sherman Christensen Inn
The American Inns of Court movement was founded in 1980 at the urging of then-Chief Justice Warren Burger. Loosely modeled on its English counterpart, an American Inn of Court is a group of judges and attorneys (and, in some Inns, professors of law and law students) who meet periodically to discuss issues of interest to the legal community, emphasizing professionalism, ethics and civility in the practice of law. Collegiality is another benefit of the Inn of Court, which provides members the opportunity to become acquainted with prominent local attorneys and judges.
The A. Sherman Christensen American Inn of Court I is in the unique position of being the first Inn established in this country. Established February 12, 1980 through the efforts of Chief Justice Warren Burger, former Solicitor General Rex Lee, Judge A. Sherman Christensen, and many other prominent members of the Utah and National Bar. Since 1980, the Inn of Court movement has grown to over 300 Inns nationwide.
The A. Sherman Christensen Inn of Court is composed of Masters of the Bench (senior attorneys, law professors and judges), Barristers (attorneys with 10 to 20 years of experience), Associates (lawyers with up to 10 years of practice) and Pupils (3rd year law students at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University).
Members are divided into groups, called "pupilages," with each pupilage having the responsibility of presenting an educational program in a designated month. The program format generally can include skits performed by the members of the pupilage, guest speakers, portions of mock trials, or other presentations followed by open discussion in which all Inn members are encouraged to participate. Pupilages are also encouraged to hold meetings outside of the formal inn meetings, for the purpose of getting to know each other on a personal as well as professional basis, and mentoring the pupils and associates.
Goals of the A. Sherman Christensen Inn
- To promote, establish and charter American Inns of Court throughout the United States.
- To help ensure the vitality and continuity of local Inns.
- To facilitate the exchange of ideas, experiences and ongoing education among members of the American Inns of Court, thereby maintaining an institutional forum where judges, lawyers, academicians and students of law, working together, pursue the highest goals of the legal profession.
- To shape a culture of excellence in American jurisprudence by promoting a commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility and legal skills in the practice of law, and transmitting these values from one generation of lawyers to the next.
- To ensure the viability and long-term stability of the American Inns of Court Foundation.