Bar Associations

Coverage Roundup: Day 5

The Am Law Daily: “ABA Hears From Sudanese Attorney on Darfur Crisis” The Blog of Legal Times: “DC’s Lamm Starting Early on Goals as 2009 ABA President” The BLT: “New ABA President Speaks Out on Judiciary” Senatus: “American Bar Association Calls for End to Partisanship in Judicial Nominations” UPI.com: “U.N.…

Aug 12, 2008 12:27 AM CDT

ABA Proposes Bipartisan Judicial Selection Process

Updated: Senators from each state should jointly appoint bipartisan commissions of lawyers and others to recommend the names of attorneys to fill federal trial court vacancies that the senators might recommend to the president, the ABA’s 555-member policy-making House of Delegates recommended today. Bipartisan commissions should also be used by…

Aug 11, 2008 8:46 PM CDT

ABA OKs Bar Exam Courses for Graduation

The ABA’s policy-making House of Delegates this afternoon concurred in Resolution 112B (PDF) of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar that law schools may now require students to take and pass bar exam prep courses given by the schools prior to graduation. House rules require it…

Aug 11, 2008 8:03 PM CDT

More In-House Counsel Regulation Needed, ABA Says

In-house counsel who advise their employers in a given state, even when they are admitted to practice only in another state, ought to be required to register with the state in which they give that advice, according to a resolution passed by the ABA’s 555-member policy-making House of Delegates this…

Aug 11, 2008 7:50 PM CDT

ABA Supports International Criminal Court

The United States should be more involved with the International Criminal Court, even though the United States doesn’t recognize the ICC’s authority over members of the U.S. government, according to a resolution passed this afternoon by the ABA’s 555-member policy-making House of Delegates. The House urged the government to cooperate…

Aug 11, 2008 6:45 PM CDT

Wells to Target Judicial Nominees, Pro Bono for Military Personnel, Voter Rights

H. Thomas Wells Jr., who officially begins his term as ABA president Monday, announced the launch of two new association initiatives during a morning news conference in New York City, the site of the 2008 ABA Annual Meeting. Both projects, Wells said, reflect his belief that “as lawyers, we can…

Aug 11, 2008 6:08 PM CDT

ABA Calls for Ban on Racial Profiling

Federal and state legislatures should ban racial and ethnic profiling, according to a resolution passed by the ABA’s 555-member policy-making House of Delegates this afternoon. “Police profiling based on a person’s accent, such as a white person speaking with an Hispanic accent, or dressed in a particular manner, such as…

Aug 11, 2008 6:02 PM CDT

ABA Urges Presentence Info Be Shared

Prosecutors and defense counsel should have access to material gathered by federal probation officers during their preparation of presentence reports, according to a resolution passed by the ABA’s policy-making House of Delegates this afternoon. The resolution calls on Congress to revise Rule 32 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure…

Aug 11, 2008 5:51 PM CDT

ABA Urges Greater Rights for Members of Military

Congress should abolish the U.S. Supreme Court-created exception to the Federal Torts Claims Act that prohibits members of the military from suing the federal government for tortious government conduct, according to a resolution passed by the ABA policy-making House of Delegates this morning. The exception was created by the Supreme…

Aug 11, 2008 1:54 PM CDT

Virtual World Here to Stay, Lawyers Must Adjust

Among those who inhabit Second Life—a virtual world on the Internet where individuals interact through electronic alter egos known as avatars, is the SL Bar Association, where lawyers actually hold meetings and conferences. Perhaps Sunday afternoon’s ABA Annual Meeting program on how such virtual organizations are changing the legal profession…

Aug 10, 2008 9:25 PM CDT

Firm’s Rejection Created Opportunity for Roe v. Wade Lawyer

Sarah Weddington may never have taken the case setting a landmark precedent on the right to abortion if her job interview with a Dallas law firm had gone more smoothly. The law firm had never interviewed a woman for an associate position, Weddington told an ABA awards luncheon on Sunday,…

Aug 10, 2008 8:35 PM CDT

Festive Culture Clash at Annual Meeting

Can the buttoned-down culture of lawyers and the hip-shaking beat of the Caribbean co-exist? ABA Annual Meeting attendees got a chance to answer that question Sunday afternoon. Video of parade from inside the Hilton’s 24th floor with the windows closed. New York’s annual Dominican Day Parade snaked its way up…

Aug 10, 2008 8:20 PM CDT

Coverage Roundup: Day 4

Associated Press: “Race sometimes a problem in eyewitness IDs” Associated Press: “Reduce partisan fight over judges, lawyers urge” ABA Video News, Member Discussion Board: “Biggest issue facing legal profession, leads with NYS Chief Judge Judith Kaye” The Blog of Legal Times: “ABA in NYC” The BLT: “Appeals Judges Decry Immigration…

Aug 10, 2008 7:43 PM CDT

Mukasey, Legal Ethics Debate on Tap at Delegates Meeting

U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey will give his first—and no doubt only—address to the ABA House of Delegates on Tuesday during the association’s annual meeting in New York City. The House convenes Monday. After adjourning Tuesday, the House will next meet in February during the 2009 midyear meeting in Boston.…

Aug 10, 2008 5:29 PM CDT

U.N. Official Speaks Out Against Amnesty for War Criminals

The second-ranking officer of the United Nations advocated last night for a tough policy toward individuals charged with war crimes and other serious violations of international criminal law. The question of whether amnesty, pardons or other conciliatory measures should apply toward government officials, members of military forces and others charged…

Aug 10, 2008 5:10 PM CDT