Juan Williams
I wrote before about the State Bar of Arizona’s choice for this year’s keynote speaker at the annual convention.
As we all know, Juan Williams was embroiled in controversy while commentating at Fox News, which led to his leaving National Public Radio (which led to his getting hired at Fox News).
A few Arizona lawyers have contacted me offline to voice their opinion of Williams as the Bar’s choice. (More on the convention, including registration, is here.) But love him or the opposite, he’s likely to put butts in the seats, which is a primary goal.
Here is some of the PR copy that the Bar has used to describe Williams (and I am sorry to say that it is word-for-word identical to the PR copy that Williams’ own speakers bureau posts on its website to sell his services):
“With uncompromising integrity and insight into issues and ideas that dictate our nation’s discourse, Juan Williams has risen to the top of the media as one of our most accomplished writers, thinkers, and journalists.
“Bridging the political spectrum with ease, Williams conveys a knowledgeable perspective of the news that is grounded in the truth and the facts. With a breadth of experience spanning over 20 years at The Washington Post, where he served as an award-winning editorial writer, op-ed columnist and White House correspondent, to his current role as Senior Correspondent for NPR and a political analyst for FoxNews, Williams understands the hot button topics that affect the way we live and do business.
“As an Emmy winner for television documentary writing, Williams has won widespread critical acclaim. He has written six highly regarded books on the state of our nation, including Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure That are Undermining Black America—and What we Can Do About It, igniting nationwide debate with his point-blank analysis of black leadership.
“Williams generates informed and intelligent discussion, whether engaging an audience or appearing on Nightline, Washington Week in Review, Crossfire, or Capitol Gang Sunday. Stimulating and compelling, he is a credible and experienced voice of the media.”
A bit much, do you think? Or does that sound about right to you? Will Williams be a convention draw for you? Take the poll:
AZ Attorney 
April 12, 2011 at 10:40 am
I have no complaint about having Mr. Williams speak. He seems like an interesting guy. I do think the State Bar, in its promotion of his appearance, should do more than uncritically regurgitate his lecture agency’s boilerplate bio.
http://www.apbspeakers.com/speaker/juan-williams
Mr. Williams, while certainly accomplished, can hardly be said to “have risen to the top of the media.” There is some doubt as to his “uncompromising integrity and insight,” as his recent misreading of Washington press coverage indicates.
We attorneys are not supposed to be in the puffery business. The announcement of the Williams appearance would be more useful if it included facts, such as the fee we’re paying him. It might also explain why he’s a better choice than, say, NBC News White House correspondent Savannah Guthrie, a Tucson native and a member of our own bar, or any other media figure.