Annual Meeting

SCLAID celebrates centennial by recognizing 2 young lawyers’ work to promote access to justice

The ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense is celebrating its 100th anniversary by also celebrating the contributions two young lawyers have made to advance access to justice in their communities.

Sep 3, 2020 9:25 AM CDT

Calls for police reform and racial justice spur a flurry of resolutions before the ABA House

The ABA House of Delegates responded forcefully to calls for police reform at this year's annual meeting, passing resolutions calling for a curtailing of the qualified immunity doctrine blocking civil lawsuits and for heightened oversight of law enforcement through a national use-of-force database.

Aug 4, 2020 4:53 PM CDT

States should postpone in-person bar exams during COVID-19 pandemic, ABA House says

A resolution urging state courts of last resort to defer in-person bar exams during the COVID-19 pandemic and develop alternate plans to license candidates was adopted Tuesday by the ABA.

Aug 4, 2020 3:45 PM CDT

Incoming president-elect calls on lessons learned from Detroit riot in speech to House of Delegates

Reginald Turner has spent the past few months comparing the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, calls for police reform and resulting unrest to the anxiety he experienced during the 1967 Detroit riot, he told the House of Delegates on Tuesday.

Aug 4, 2020 2:10 PM CDT

Data on police deadly force should be tracked, ABA House urges

Amid the national debate on police brutality and racial injustice, the ABA House of Delegates adopted a resolution Monday calling for greater oversight of law enforcement, including more comprehensive data collection about deadly force incidents and excessive force complaints.

Aug 4, 2020 8:15 AM CDT

Children should be protected from unreasonable restraints, seclusion and searches, ABA House says

The well-being and rights of children and youth were addressed in three resolutions approved by the ABA House of Delegates at the annual meeting on Monday.

Aug 3, 2020 6:40 PM CDT

Legal community has a ‘special responsibility to fight injustice,’ ABA president says in final speech

“Let none of us say the job is too big or the problems of racism run too deep,” ABA President Judy Perry Martinez said in prerecorded remarks for the House of Delegates. “This is our torch to carry.”

Aug 3, 2020 5:10 PM CDT

Law schools should have flexibility in responding to ‘extraordinary circumstances,’ ABA House of Delegates says

Resolutions regarding distance-education programs, the adoption of emergency policies by law schools, teach-out plans and provisional program approval were approved this week by the American Bar Association's House of Delegates.

Aug 3, 2020 4:18 PM CDT

ABA to consider recommending in-person bar exams be postponed during COVID-19 pandemic

A resolution urging state courts of last resort to cancel in-person bar exams during the COVID-19 pandemic, and develop alternate plans to license candidates, will be considered by the ABA House of Delegates assembly.

Aug 3, 2020 10:25 AM CDT

Father-daughter duo serves together in ABA leadership

“It has taken me a lifetime to get to the House of Delegates, and now I have to answer to my daughter, who is on the Board of Governors,” says Michael Posner of Michaela Posner. “It’s pretty unique.”

Aug 1, 2020 12:20 AM CDT

How the ABA has adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic

The ABA launched its Task Force on Legal Needs Arising Out of the 2020 Pandemic on March 13 to address legal challenges facing Americans during the public health crisis and make recommendations on how to overcome those challenges.

Aug 1, 2020 12:15 AM CDT

Justice Breyer encourages ABA members to ‘convince other people, talk to them’ to end division

The ABA promised its annual meeting would combine tradition with the unexpected—and it didn't disappoint.

Jul 29, 2020 8:10 PM CDT

First all-virtual ABA Annual Meeting offers full slate of special events and programs

In a year of uncertainty, one thing is certain: The 2020 ABA Annual Meeting will once again offer attendees a memorable roster of special events, CLE programs and networking opportunities.

Jul 28, 2020 9:02 AM CDT

What can we expect from the all-virtual 2020 ABA Annual Meeting?

When COVID-19 closed ABA offices in March, staff sprang into work figuring out how the association could convert its meetings and events to virtual environments. In this bonus episode of Asked and Answered, we’re giving you a sneak peek at how the 2020 ABA Annual Meeting came together, some of…

Jul 16, 2020 3:45 PM CDT

2020 ABA Medal goes to William Neukom, founder of the World Justice Project

William Neukom, a former ABA president and founder of the World Justice Project, will be awarded this year's ABA Medal, the association announced Thursday.

Jun 25, 2020 3:41 PM CDT