Having “tried” or “not tried” a case is completely a false criterion. There’s way more to the practice of law than “first-chairing” at trial. In fact I would argue that while trial lawyers may be the best actors and publicity hounds, they are seldom the sharpest knife in the drawer, so to speak. Also, it has been my experience that trial lawyers seldom care about the “right outcome” in terms of justice. They mostly want to win. By the way, the ABA is useless.
I respectfully disagree. A district judge presides over trials and every other aspect of litigation. A lawyer who has little courtroom experience is unlikely to be familiar with the the nuts and bolts of trial and motion practice, the rules of evidence, and the procedural issues that get district judges reversed on appeal.
I do agree with you regarding the ABA. I let my membership lapse long ago when it got too political.