ABA Announcements
2009 REGULAR STATE DELEGATE ELECTIONS
The following jurisdictions will elect a State Delegate for a three-year term beginning at the adjournment of the 2009 Annual Meeting:
Arkansas
Colorado
Delaware
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Louisiana
Maryland
Minnesota
Nevada
New Hampshire
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Rhode Island
Utah
West Virginia
PETITIONS
Nominating petitions for State Delegates to be elected in 2009 must be filed with the Board of Elections at Association headquarters not later than Friday, December 12, 2008. For each state in which more than one valid nominating petition is filed, the Board of Elections shall have the name of each nominee and the names of 25 signers of the nominating petition published in the February 2009 issue of the ABA Journal.
While it is desirable that more than the required minimum of twenty-five names of members of the Association appear on the nominating petitions, only twenty-five names of signers of any petition will be published as provided by § 6.3(b) of the Association’s Constitution. Only signatures of members of the Association will be counted. Each nominating petition must be accompanied by a typewritten list of names and addresses of the signers in the order in which they appear on the petition. A one-hundred-word biographical sketch of the nominee must also accompany the petitions. Forms for this purpose will be provided. The biographical sketch will be included in the ballot material sent to each Association member in the state in which the nominee is a candidate for the office of State Delegate.
A candidate for nominee and all signers must be members of the Association whose membership is accredited to the state where the election is being held. There is no limit to the number of candidates who may be nominated in any state, and the nominations are made only on the initiative of members themselves.
Each nominee for the office of State Delegate is entitled to receive one list of the names and addresses of the Association members in his/her state. The list is to be made available only after the proper filing of nominating petitions, after the filing deadline, and upon written request. The nominee should allow fourteen days from receipt of the request until delivery of the list.
Nominating petitions may be obtained from the Board of Elections at the headquarters office of the American Bar Association, 321 N. Clark Street, 21st Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60654 and must be filed before the close of business at 5:00 P.M., Friday, December 12, 2008.
Ballots will be mailed to members in good standing, accredited to the state in which elections are to be held, no later than Friday, February 8, 2009, so they will be received by members at approximately the same time as the February issue of the ABA Journal containing the nominating petitions of the various candidates.
In accordance with § 6.3(e) of the Constitution, no ballots will be mailed to members when a State Delegate election is uncontested. If only one valid nominating petition is filed, the Board of Elections will certify that the sole nominee is elected.
BOARD OF ELECTIONS
Glenn Murdock, Chair
Louise Michaux Gonzales
Jack B. Middleton
NOTICE OF BOARD OF GOVERNORS PETITION DEADLINE
At the 2009 Midyear Meeting, the Nominating Committee will announce nominations for district and at-large positions on the ABA Board of Governors for terms beginning at the conclusion of the 2009 Annual Meeting and ending at the conclusion of the 2012 Annual Meeting. Pursuant to § 2.1 of the Association’s Constitution, the Committee will nominate individuals from the following states to represent the districts noted: Pennsylvania (District 3), Kentucky (District 5), Minnesota (District 9), California (District 14), New York (District 15), West Virginia (District 16), and Idaho (District 17).
The Nominating Committee will also nominate members from the Section of Environment, Energy and Resources and the Criminal Justice Section to serve as Section Members-at-Large on the Board, one Judicial Member-at-Large, and a young lawyer member who is less than 36 years old at the beginning of the term to serve as a Young Lawyer Member-at-Large.
In addition, one member-at-large who is a minority shall be nominated pursuant to § 26.1(d) of the Association’s Constitution. The nominations will be made notwithstanding the fact that minority members may be nominated for the district and at-large positions on the Board of Governors.
PETITIONS
To be eligible for nomination as a member of the Board of Governors by the Nominating Committee, a person must file a petition signed by 25 Association members. Nominating petitions must be filed with the Secretary at Association headquarters not later than Friday, January 16, 2009. Nominees for district representative must be accredited to the state for which the nomination is being made and 25 Association members from the states within that district must sign the petition. While it is desirable that more than the required minimum of 25 names of members of the Association appear on the nominating petitions, only 25 names of signers of any petition will be included in the material provided to the Nominating Committee. Only signatures of members of the Association will be counted. Each nominating petition must be accompanied by a typewritten list of names and addresses of the signers in the order in which they appear on the petition. Petitions for nominations must specify which position the petitioner seeks; no person may petition for more than one position. A 100-word biographical sketch of the nominee also must accompany the petition. Forms for this purpose will be provided. The biographical sketch and a list of 25 signers from the nominating petitions will be sent to the members of the Nominating Committee prior to their meeting in February. Nominating petitions may be obtained from the Secretary at the headquarters office of the American Bar Association, 321 N. Clark Street, 21st Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60654-7598.
Hon. Bernice B. Donald
Secretary
NOTICE BY THE SECRETARY
At the 1996 Annual Meeting, the House of Delegates approved an amendment to the Constitution to provide that at least 40 days notice shall be given to Association members of the time and place of the meeting of the Nominating Committee at which nominations for officers and members of the Board of Governors will be considered. Accordingly, notice is hereby given that the Nominating Committee will meet in conjunction with the 2009 Midyear Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts on Sunday, February 15, 2009, beginning with the business session at 9:00 a.m. Immediately following the business session, the Nominating Committee will hear from candidates seeking nomination at the 2010 Midyear Meeting.
This portion of the meeting is open to Association members. Following the candidate’s forum, the Nominating Committee will vote on nominations for officers and members of the Board of Governors of the Association for terms beginning at the close of the 2009 Annual Meeting.
If you have any questions regarding the foregoing, please contact Carri L. Kerber at 312/988-5161 or [email protected].
Hon. Bernice B. Donald
Secretary
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
The Constitution and Bylaws of the American Bar Association may be amended only at the ABA Annual Meeting upon action of the House of Delegates. The next Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates will be July 30-August 4, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.
Proposals to amend either the Constitution or Bylaws may be submitted by any ABA member. It is preferable that proposals be submitted in the form of a memorandum that details the purpose and effect of the proposal.
In order to be considered at the 2009 Annual Meeting, a proposed amendment must be received by the Division for Policy Administration at the American Bar Center on or before Friday, March 13, 2009. This deadline is essential in order to allow time for proposed amendments to be considered by the Standing Committee on Constitution and Bylaws.
Exact language will be drafted by the Standing Committee on Constitution and Bylaws and submitted to the sponsors for approval. This procedure will ensure that all amendments that are approved conform to style required by the rules.
Articles 12 and 13 of the Constitution require that notice of proposed amendments must be given to all ABA members at least 30 days in advance of the meeting at which the amendments are to be considered. Therefore, proposed amendments will be published in the July 2009 issue of the ABA Journal. The proponent or his or her designee must be in attendance to present the amendment for debate by the House of Delegates at the meeting at which the proposal will be considered.
Copies of Article 12, concerning amendment of the Bylaws, and Article 13, concerning amendment of the Constitution, will be provided to any member upon request to the Division for Policy Administration at the American Bar Center, 321 N. Clark Street, 21st Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60654.
Hon. Bernice B. Donald
Secretary
CLE Programs in January
For information, contact the ABA Service Center at 800-285-2221 or [email protected], or visit abanet.org/cle.
