Lawyers March in Solidarity with Jailed Pakistani Colleagues

ABA President Bill Neukom. Photos by Terry Carter

UPDATED: An estimated 600 lawyers marched on Washington Wednesday in solidarity with lawyers arrested in Pakistan.

They were among thousands of U.S. lawyers galvanized by photo and video images of Pakistani lawyers battling in the streets in protest of the state of emergency—de facto martial law—imposed by Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

In an unusual move, the ABA organized the street demonstration that took lawyers from the Library of Congress past the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Nov 14, 2007 6:26 PM CST

House Approves Attorney-Client Privilege Protection Act

The Attorney-Client Protection Act was adopted in the U.S. House of Representatives by a voice vote today, but it may not be addressed by the Senate until the spring. Supported by an unusually broad-based coalition of organizations that includes the American Bar Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the…

Nov 14, 2007 1:33 AM CST

March on Washington Nov. 14 to Support Pakistan Lawyers

Updated: In a highly unusual move, the American Bar Association is spearheading a lawyers’ march on Washington, D.C., tomorrow that is also being promoted by state and local bar associations throughout the country. It is intended to support protesting lawyers in Pakistan, who have been at the forefront of efforts…

Nov 13, 2007 9:42 PM CST

ABA Experts: Cut Crack Cocaine Sentences

In testimony this week before the U.S. Sentencing Commission, experts representing the American Bar Association are among the scheduled witnesses expected to call for the reduction of relatively high prison sentences imposed on a largely African-American group of defendants convicted of crimes related to crack cocaine. In written statements concerning…

Nov 13, 2007 5:00 PM CST

New Pakistan Court Coup: Military Trials

As an individual lawyer reportedly challenged, in the country’s highest court, the suspension of Pakistan’s constitutional system of government a little over a week ago, Pakistan’s president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, appeared to be a step or two ahead of him. Yesterday he amended the 1952 Army Act, to allow the…

Nov 12, 2007 3:48 PM CST

ABA Prez Calls for March on Washington to Support Pakistan Lawyers

Updated: In response to this week’s attack by the Pakistan government on the country’s judiciary and lawyers, the president of the American Bar Association is calling for fellow attorneys to march on Washington in sympathy with their beleaguered colleagues there. “On Wednesday, November 14, the ABA is organizing a lawyers’…

Nov 10, 2007 12:18 AM CST

ABA Creates Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Updated: In an effort to help eliminate bias against gays and transgender people in the legal profession and in society, the ABA has created a Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Chair of the commission is Jeffrey Gibson. He says he hopes the commission will educate and encourage law…

Nov 9, 2007 6:14 PM CST

BigLaw Firms End Mandatory Retirement

Another BigLaw firm has just announced that it will end its mandatory retirement program for lawyers, following a high-profile $27.5 million settlement in a law firm partner age discrimination case and an ABA recommendation against such policies. Effective immediately, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis will no longer require its…

Nov 7, 2007 6:13 PM CST

25 Percent of Pakistan’s Lawyers Arrested; Fired Top Judge Urges Defiance

Under house arrest but having somehow gained access to a cell phone, the ousted chief judge of the Pakistan supreme court urged the country’s lawyers today to continue to defy a state of emergency imposed by Pakistan’s president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, on Saturday. “The lawyers should convey my message to…

Nov 6, 2007 4:28 PM CST

Pakistan Fires Top Court, Lawyers Protest There and Elsewhere

The protesters wore conservative business suits today as thousands of lawyers throughout Pakistan clashed with authorities over the suspension of the constitution and the firing of the country’s chief judge, along with numerous other supreme court and appellate judges. Many of the 17 supreme court judges, including fired Chief Judge…

Nov 5, 2007 10:07 PM CST

UK-Based Lawyer Heads ABA Section

A lawyer based in Allen & Overy’s London office is chair of the ABA’s Section of International Law and Practice. He is the first lawyer outside the United States to lead the group. “Our sense is that I won’t be the last chair overseas—quite the contrary,” section chair Jeffrey Golden…

Nov 5, 2007 4:26 PM CST

Crack Sentences Cut

New federal sentencing guidelines took effect yesterday that will cut the recommended sentences for crack cocaine offenses and reduce the prison population. The U.S. Sentencing Commission’s new guidelines cut the average sentence for crack possession to 8 years 10 months from 10 years 1 month, the New York Times reports.…

Nov 2, 2007 3:04 PM CDT

It’s Only Fair

ABA urges Congress to clarify filing rules for wage discrimination claims

Nov 1, 2007 9:06 PM CDT

Overcoming Our Obstacles

We must work together to fight the corrosive effects of discrimination

Nov 1, 2007 7:43 PM CDT

ABA: Perception vs. Reality

What I’ve learned in 30 years—and 12 months

Nov 1, 2007 7:27 PM CDT