Message from the Board

Welcome to the William B. Bryant American Inn of Court!

The William B. Bryant American Inn of Court was founded in 1987 as the 41st American Inn of Court and was named in honor of the first African American Chief Judge of the District of Columbia District Court. The William B. Bryant Inn is a collegial, diverse group of individuals practicing in both the public and private sector, including judges, law professors, senior and junior attorneys, and law students, who are or aspire to be litigators in both the criminal and civil arenas. Our purpose is to promote civility, professionalism, ethics, education and mentoring in the legal profession.

Our mission at the William B. Bryant Inn is to harvest cutting edge trial advocacy skills. We create hypothetical situations based on real cases and act as a resource for all things involved in trial practice and litigation. We encourage contacts, relationships and mentoring, both up and down, among members of the Bar.

Our goal is to be the “Trial Lawyer’s Inn” where the best and brightest trial lawyers, trial judges, professors and law students engage to explore novel legal issues and advance the legal profession. Members of the Inn dine together before attending the monthly entertaining and educational legal presentations. Divided into close-knit teams, each member on the team contributes towards the team’s presentation. The presentation includes the best ethical practices about a variety of topics through the creative use of humor, skits, hypothetical situations, guest speakers, and a review of the most recent case law on the topics affecting litigators. As a result of this work, members develop an esprit de corps and take interest in each other’s work, which provides networking opportunities and contributes to the positive advancement of the legal profession.

We meet on an academic calendar basis, starting with an opening reception in September, and we close in May, with a banquet which includes dinner and a notable speaker.  We meet at the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse or a law firm the second Tuesday of the month (except for December). Our meetings start with dinner at 6:00 p.m. in the Bryant Annex Dining Hall. At 7:00 p.m., we move to our host judge’s courtroom where we engage in a lively and engaging legal discussion. We end our meeting promptly at 8:30 p.m.

If you are interested in joining the William B. Bryant Inn of Court, please apply online.  Board Members review and vote on applications on a rolling basis and candidates are notified of their acceptance by email.  

We are honored to serve as the Executive Board of the William B. Bryant American Inn of Court. We are also privileged to work with fellow Inn members who collaborate together to reflect the highest standard in litigation practice in the District of Columbia!

Warm regards,

Executive Board