Text of Cordy Letter for the Alumni News
(Sent to Colangelo by email on 8/30/04)

“I have succumbed to your recent plea in the Alumni magazine for news, any news.  Since I rarely consider anything I do to be newsworthy, I leave it to you to decide whether any of this might be of interest to anyone.  This past May I traveled to a conference of Russian and American “business court” judges that took place in St. Petersburg, Russia.  It was my third trip to Russia in the last two years as part of an exchange program between New England judiciaries and the judiciaries of several regions in Russia.  The focus and purpose of the program is the implementation of Rule of Law principles in Russian jurisprudence and practice.  It is a very timely program coming in the wake of ten years of judicial reform in that country.  It was the brain child of a judge on the Vermont Supreme Court almost a decade ago, and has proven very successful for all of the American and Russian participants – which now include lawyers and law professors as well (including a member of the Russian Supreme Court) who were spending time in Boston learning about patent and copyright protection – a huge issue in Russia.  Another group comes to Boston in September, and I hope to return to Russia next spring, probably Siberia, the destination of my first trip there.  On another subject, I was honored this spring to serve as the Commencement speaker (and get my first Honorary degree) at the graduation of law students from the New England School of Law, one of the oldest and most successful independent law schools in the country.  One of the opportunities I relish in my role on the Mass. Supreme Court is speaking to law students and recent graduates – so much to tell, so many lessons learned the hard way, so many challenges ahead.  I am also responsible for presiding and speaking twice a year at large ceremonies in Fanuiel Hall at which new lawyers are sworn into the bar – always upbeat and inspirational events.  Finally, I got to travel with my family to God’s country this summer (Hawaii, not California) for a magnificent vacation with my brother Steve (Class of 1977) and his family, and my sister Chris (Middlebury Class of 1974) and her family.  What a treat.  I stopped by at the Hawaii Supreme Court to inquire as to any vacancies (there’s a waiting list).  Of course I am always available to judge moot court competitions at the Univ. of Hawaii Law School in the interim (wait list there as well!).  That’s all there is to tell.  Our 2004-2005 court term starts next week, and from there it’s pretty hot and heavy until June.  I hope to see you at the Harvard game this year (in Hanover).  We are having a get-together of East coast and West coast relatives to watch my nephew, Andy Rankin (a defensive player, no less) play out his senior year.  Hi to all!

Bob Cordy

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