This column is about professionalism and courage. This is about Walter Terry Batty Jr. who demonstrated  the professionalism to hold the position of Chief of Appeals in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia for 20 years and the courage to spend the next 17 years in private practice, briefing and arguing cases, while lying flat on his back confined to his bed. He died Dec. 22, 2020.

During his career, Batty counseled numerous U.S. attorneys, assistant U.S. attorneys (AUSA), federal agents and members of the criminal bar. He was the first career AUSA in the Philadelphia office. He saw the office evolve from an organization that required a political recommendation to get hired, to the now very professional organization where there is no political requirement and talented persons often remain for a career. For over five years, I was one of the fortunate United States Attorneys who experienced firsthand Batty’s advice and service.

This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.

To view this content, please continue to their sites.

Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Why am I seeing this?

LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.

For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]