Janice Rogers Brown: Methinks the Diva Doth Protest Too Much
Last Friday, we attended a fantastic lunch talk by Judge Janice Rogers Brown (near right; her celebrity doppelganger, Wanda Sykes, is on the far right).
In case you're not familiar with her, Judge Brown is a leading judicial diva. She's a former justice of the California Supreme Court and a current member of the D.C. Circuit. In light of her inspirational life story -- she's an African-American female, the daughter of sharecroppers -- and her seat on our nation's most prestigious circuit court, Judge Brown is frequently mentioned as a possible Supreme Court nominee.
We'll have more to write about the event later -- plus some of our fabulously horrendous photographs, an ATL trademark. For now, though, we just want to share you the best quip of the day (or the "money quote," as those political bloggers like to say):
"I have NEVER thought of myself as a diva."
What caused her to utter this sentence? During the Q and A, we got up and asked her (among other things): "Judge Brown, you're a fabulous judicial diva. But you're stuck on a court that focuses on administrative law. Do you feel that being on the D.C. Circuit cramps your diva style?"
This was just one of several delightful moments from a great event. We'll provide a more detailed report later.
Calendar of Lawyer Division Events [Federalist Society]
Fili-BUSTED! Magnificent Judicial Divas [UTR]
Comments
Wanda Sykes to the right of Janice Rogers Brown? Priceless.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 30, 2007 01:38 PM
Honestly, can we stop with the black female/diva comments? I know, I know, you all don't mean it like *that*, and irony saves the day, etc.
But I've met several white men in my working life who would qualify as the biggest and baddest divas this side of a Dreamgirls audition. Bitchy, loud, angry, demanding, neurotic, self-centered...but oh wait, that's being "tough" if you're a man.
And I know, save it - I'm being too PC and he's just making a joke and don't take it so seriously! Well, I won't stop until I see ATL label a balding, obese white male partner a diva bitch.
Posted by: Shalini | January 30, 2007 02:06 PM
To be fair, the use of "diva" has been applied uniformly across races on both here and A3G, though I understand that some people might infer racial connotations, given the way "diva" is typically used in the musical context.
I grant you that I don''t think that Dave or A3G has typically used "Diva" to refer to male attorneys, but I think that he has been pretty consistent at applying it regardless of appearances.
Posted by: A3G Groupie | January 30, 2007 04:58 PM
Umm, name one black female lawyer ever mentioned on this site who HAS NOT been dubbed a "diva."
I rest my case.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 30, 2007 07:07 PM
Have you READ any of Janice Rogers Brown's writings (esp. the non-judicial ones)? And have you been following the Shanetta Cutlar coverage on this website?
Does Lat have an overinclusive definition of "diva"? Maybe. Clearly he likes drama. But both JRB and SYC would fall well within the heartland of ANYONE's conception of a "diva."
Posted by: Anonymous | January 30, 2007 07:17 PM
4:58 PM: Actually, the musical reference goes in the opposite direction. Historically most divas have been white women.
Posted by: opera lover | January 30, 2007 07:29 PM
"She's a former justice of the California Supreme Court"? Doesn't that make her automatically "icky," Lat?
Posted by: Anonymous | January 30, 2007 08:09 PM
8:09 PM: A fair point. But the purity of the D.C. Circuit's prestige can cleanse residual ickiness.
Posted by: David Lat | January 30, 2007 09:17 PM
7:07 PM: We respond to your point over here:
http://www.abovethelaw.com/2007/01/atl_public_service_announcemen_3.php
(Scroll down to the "P.S.")
Posted by: David Lat | January 30, 2007 09:18 PM
I look forward to your write-up about the event, David. There has been too much about law firms lately.
As to the term "diva," use it as you see fit. This is, after all, only a blog.
Posted by: Mac | January 30, 2007 11:31 PM