Reply #20: Red Mass is traditional

[WolverineDG]

going back to the Middle Ages & marks the official start of the Court's year. We have a Red Mass that is put on by the local bar association & all the judges & attorneys are invited to attend regardless of whether they're Catholic or not. With one exception (a federal appellate judge who decided to take notes from Karl Rove & use GOP talking points in his speech to the crowd), the speeches have been non-partisan.

Red Masses are traditionally held after hours in a local church, or cathedral if the city has one. No one is forced to attend. No one is excluded. You don't get demerits for not attending, either. (I should know, because I boycotted Red Mass after they used the highly partisan speaker) Afterwards, there's a dinner or reception & opportunity for networking. If it were held in the courthouse during business hours, I'd have an issue with it. But it's not.

It's no BFD, except to those who don't know squat about Red Mass & want to make a mountain out of a molehill.

We also have a "Blue Mass" for first responders & "White Mass" for doctors.

dg