Midyear Meeting

Breed-neutral pet policies are needed for families in military housing, ABA House of Delegates says

After a spirited debate, the ABA House of Delegates on Monday voted to ask Congress and the Department of Defense to instruct the Armed Forces and its public-private venture housing contractors to implement breed-neutral pet policies for families living in military housing in the United States.

Jan 28, 2019 10:00 PM CST

ABA House condemns government shutdown, opposes any diversion of disaster-relief funds

In two late resolutions, the ABA House of Delegates voted overwhelmingly to condemn government shutdowns and oppose withholding or diversion of emergency relief funds.

Jan 28, 2019 9:43 PM CST

ABA House passes resolutions opposing legal discrimination against the LGBT community

The ABA House of Delegates overwhelmingly passed two resolutions Monday opposing legal discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Jan 28, 2019 9:12 PM CST

Expungement, prisoners’ rights and child abuse were criminal justice issues tackled by ABA House

The ABA House of Delegates overwhelmingly approved a trio of resolutions targeting criminal justice reforms Monday at the Midyear Meeting in Las Vegas.

Jan 28, 2019 8:53 PM CST

Immigrant and refugee rights should be protected, ABA House urges

Delegates to the ABA's House of Delegates lined up Monday afternoon to condemn the federal government's "zero tolerance" policy for people caught crossing the border illegally.

Jan 28, 2019 8:40 PM CST

ABA House opposes arming teachers and supports suicide-prevention measure

The ABA's policymaking body voted to take positions on the hotly debated topic of firearms Monday, approving measures that oppose firearms training for teachers and favor giving people who believe they’re at risk of suicide the ability to opt out of firearms ownership.

Jan 28, 2019 8:00 PM CST

ABA House urges legal employers not to require mandatory arbitration in an expanded variety of claims

In furtherance of the ABA's goal of ensuring justice for all, Resolution 107B asks legal employers not to require mandatory arbitration of unlawful discrimination, harassment or retaliation claims "based upon race, sex, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information or status as a victim of domestic or sexual violence."

Jan 28, 2019 7:36 PM CST

After a contested race, Refo selected as ABA president-elect nominee

In a rare contested race, the ABA Nominating Committee voted Sunday to confirm Patricia Lee Refo of Phoenix as the next president-elect nominee.

Jan 28, 2019 7:29 PM CST

Privacy rights of lawyers and their clients should be protected during border searches, ABA House urges

The federal judiciary, Congress and the Department of Homeland Security should protect the privacy of those crossing the border by setting standards for searches and seizures of electronic devices and for protection of attorney-client privilege, the work product doctrine and lawyer-client confidentiality, according to a resolution passed overwhelmingly by the ABA House of Delegates on Monday at the ABA Midyear Meeting in Las Vegas.

Jan 28, 2019 6:21 PM CST

ABA House of Delegates rejects changes to the bar passage standard for law schools

For the second time, the ABA House of Delegates voted against a proposal to tighten a bar passage rate standard for accredited law schools. At the ABA Midyear Meeting in Las Vegas on Monday, House members were asked to stand for a vote count, and the final vote was 88 in favor of the resolution, and 334 opposed.

Jan 28, 2019 6:07 PM CST

New logo and membership model will ‘improve member experience,’ says ABA executive director

ABA Executive Director Jack L. Rives offered the ABA House of Delegates a glimpse of the future Monday, presenting a sneak peek of the association's new branding and new membership model.

Jan 28, 2019 5:05 PM CST

ABA ‘will bend the moral arc towards justice,’ President Bob Carlson says

The ABA sets the gold standard for the American legal profession, ABA President Bob Carlson told the ABA House of Delegates on Monday—and it will never stop championing due process and the rule of law.

Jan 28, 2019 3:38 PM CST

‘Fair use’ doctrine should be consistent and protect copyright owners, ABA House says

The ABA House of Delegates on Monday approved a resolution encouraging courts to take a consistent approach to the "fair use" doctrine, a defense to copyright infringement that permits use of copyrighted works for free without obtaining a license or permission in appropriate circumstances.

Jan 28, 2019 2:40 PM CST

$150K ABE grant will help ABA facilitate pro bono immigration work

Stephen N. Zack knows firsthand how tough it is on a kid to be separated from their parents. When he was 13, his family tried to flee Cuba—and got taken off a plane by a Cuban spy agency. Each member of the family was held in a separate room overnight. They would be reunited the next morning and eventually permitted to leave Cuba, but he didn't know that at the time.

Jan 26, 2019 5:15 PM CST

Should the ABA change bar passage standards for law schools?

In the days before the ABA House of Delegates revisits a proposed standard revision to tighten bar passage requirements for accredited law schools, some say an in-depth diversity study should precede any changes made. Language for the proposed revision to Standard 316—which calls for a bar passage rate of at…

Jan 24, 2019 12:14 PM CST