President-Elect Candidates Lay Out Vision for the Bar

President-Elect Candidates Lay Out Vision for the Bar

May 07, 2026

By Jeff Leon

The D.C. Bar hosted a member reception on April 28, providing Bar members and others in the D.C. legal community a chance to meet, connect, and hear from the two president-elect candidates running in this year's elections.

The reception kicked off with comments from D.C. Bar President Sadina Montani, who emphasized that the Bar is here to support attorneys at every step of their careers by providing essential resources, opportunities for growth, and an ability to build community in a demanding profession. She added that members of the Bar also have the power to shape where the Bar is headed.

"The strength of the D.C. Bar depends on the members who step forward to serve and the members who take the time in participating to choose them," said Montani.

The candidates running for president-elect of the Bar for the 2026-2027 term are Amy L. Bess, managing shareholder for the Washington, D.C., office of Vedder and the firm's regional lead for labor and employment, and Joshua L. Mogil, a senior associate in regulatory compliance and enforcement at WilmerHale.

In her comments, Bess shared that at her core, she "believes deeply in the power of this profession to solve problems," and that she has pushed to open doors and strengthen the community. Bess said that she is the right person for the job because she has spent her entire professional life working at the intersection of law, leadership, and service. She highlighted her work as an employment lawyer representing and supporting clients through difficult and deeply emotional legal challenges.

Bess also mentioned her experience in mentoring young lawyers and striving to make the legal profession more inclusive and fair. Bess has served on the D.C. Commission on Judicial Disabilities since 2022 and was elected its chair in January.

"The work of the commission is not glamorous. It's not headline-grabbing, but it's an example of the ways that so many of us can and do roll up our sleeves quietly and behind the scenes," said Bess. "I was drawn to this work because of my deep respect for the courts and the extraordinarily dedicated and hardworking judges who serve them."

If elected, Bess said she will focus on three priorities: leveraging the Bar's voice to educate members and the public about judicial independence as well as its role in protecting the rule of law, expanding access to justice through the work of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, and championing relationship building and mentorship between junior and senior Bar members.

"I believe I can lead the Bar to be even stronger, more connected, more inclusive, and more willing to speak with clarity and courage when it matters most," said Bess.

Mogil began his remarks by thanking Bess for her contributions to the legal field. He touched on his experiences working for USAID and the U.S. Department of Justice, and he cited his extensive service to the Bar. In addition to currently serving as treasurer of the Bar, Mogil also sits on several Bar committees, including the Executive, Investment, and Budget Committees, as well as treasurer of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center.

Mogil, a past president of the District of Columbia LGBTQ+ Bar Association, said that a large part of his area of focus is supporting the rule of law, the rights of lawyers, and the Bar's very existence. He added that critical work must be done to move through this difficult time.

"I believe deeply that if we can reimagine the D.C. Bar to meet this moment as a central hub for dedicated action and joyful community building, we can face these challenges head on and together," said Mogil.

Mogil added that his vision is grounded in action - empowering the Bar to defend the legal profession, supporting attorneys who are working on the front lines of democracy, and expanding Pro Bono Center clinics to meet the increased need for access to justice in areas such as immigration.

He encouraged attendees to advocate for the restoration of the city's budget for access to justice initiatives, sign up to volunteer at pro bono clinics, and support legal organizations and voluntary bars. "I believe the antidote to all the awfulness going on around us is good lawyers - empowered and standing together with courage, energy, and joy," said Mogil.

Bar members will hear from Bess and Mogil again at a virtual candidate forum on Wednesday, May 20, from 6 to 7 p.m. Voting is open through June 3.