For the Snyders, the law is a family affair

By Bill Mears
CNN Washington Bureau

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- There was a Snyder lawyer for each justice on the Supreme Court, as nine members of the extended family were sworn in Monday to the Supreme Court bar.

The event set an unofficial record at the nation's highest court for the largest number of family members to be sworn in at one time.

In a brief courtroom ceremony, they took an oath to uphold the Constitution and obey the rules laid down for newly admitted attorneys.

Chief Justice John Roberts had only one question: "Didn't anyone want to be a doctor?"

Besides parents Donald and Theresa Snyder, attorneys from upstate New York, the group of attorneys includes children Elizabeth, Mary, John, and Graceann, sons-in-law Patrick Radel and Patrick Quinn, and Donald's brother, Gerard.

"I've wanted to join the Supreme Court's bar since I passed the state bar in 1966," patriarch Donald Snyder said. "But I wanted to wait for my family. I wasn't expecting them to all turn out to be lawyers, but I was hoping, and I guess I had enough faith."

Elizabeth Snyder remembers that her parents never pushed her and her siblings to pursue law, but created the right environment at home. "Always at the dinner table, we were holding our own, not afraid to argue a point or to stick up for each other if we got in trouble."

Elizabeth, who represents the mentally ill in claims before the government, was the driving force behind getting everyone admitted to the bar.

It is a months-long and complicated procedure, complete with endless paperwork, security clearances, and sponsorships from other court officers who can attest to an applicant's good standing in the legal community. But when the process is finished, attorneys are allowed to argue cases before the highest court in the land.

"You have to wait three years after being admitted to a state bar before you can apply to the Supreme Court's bar," Elizabeth said. "Then one day I was thinking about it, I knew we could now qualify, and I thought we can all do this together, as a family."

The Snyders faced some challenges along the way. Elizabeth failed her bar exam the first time, her sister Mary Snyder Radel is a cancer survivor, and mother Theresa was the only woman in her Albany Law School class of 1964.

"I was told by the dean that I was taking the place of a male student, and that I best take being a lawyer seriously," said Theresa. "It seemed like I was given a harder time in school because of who I was."

The family all live near one another in the Utica area, and drove down in a caravan of about 30 people to Washington.

"It's lovely," said Donald. "I put this off for four decades, but it's worth it. Oh, yes, worth the wait."

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