'We are in the storm,' warns ABA President Mary Smith
"There are sustained threats to our democracy," ABA President Mary Smith told the ABA House of Delegates on Monday. (Photos by Mitch Higgins/ABA Media Relations)
ABA President Mary Smith warned of upcoming threats to democracy and urged the protection of American democracy during the 2024 ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago.
“These are extraordinary times,” Smith told the packed Hyatt Regency ballroom filled with House of Delegates members on Monday morning. “Last year, I told you to run toward the storm. Well, we are in the storm, and the importance of the role of lawyers has never been clearer.”
Smith, who is the first Native American woman to serve as president of the ABA, has spent much of her tenure focusing on the conflicts that continue to divide the country.
During her address to the House, Smith repeatedly warned of threats to American democracy, including robocalls discouraging the public from voting; the Capitol attack on Jan. 6; the continued discrimination against Native Americans and African Americans; changes to DEI initiatives; and the recent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
At this critical crossroads, Smith said, the ABA’s dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion needs to be fair and unyielding. The concept that diversity is a strength has been a long-held belief, but it’s a concept that’s under attack, she warned. The association has stood as a pillar of justice, but it needs to continually evolve to meet the needs of an ever-changing society, she said.
“There are sustained threats to our democracy,” Smith said, adding that the ABA was able to mobilize 1.3 million lawyers to establish trust in the election and arranged for more than 120 law school deans to sign a letter affirming their commitment.
“We cannot let our democracy be politicized,” Smith told delegates.As part of her work as president, Smith established the ABA Task Force for American Democracy. Earlier in the week, the association held the ABA Democracy Summit to discuss the task force’s work and discuss roles lawyers can play in election protection.
But there is more work to be done. During this defining moment for the country—just three months from the presidential election—the ABA has a special duty to defend justice and the freedom of the press, she said.
“We cannot let our voices be silenced,” Smith said. “We cannot let our democracy be politicized.”
Smith also touted the ABA’s new strategic plan, which includes amplifying social media for younger attorneys. Smith proudly mentioned that the ABA’s TikTok page had around 50,000 views over the past year.
During her term, Smith launched the ABA Presidential Speaker Series, which featured guests like Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese and Sen. Mazie Hirono, and was watched by more than 2 million people.
The goal is to spread the ABA’s voice more broadly, reaching younger audiences and creating strategic plans for the future.
Follow along with the ABA Journal’s coverage of the 2024 ABA Annual Meeting here.
“It’s about laying a foundation to make it clear that equal opportunities must truly be available to all,” Smith says.
Smith began her term as ABA president in August 2023, and she will finish her term at the close of the annual meeting on Tuesday when President-elect Bill Bay will begin his tenure. But before she steps down, she is casting a final warning about the future of the ABA and the United States.
“Let’s use our defining moment to vote; to stand up for the judiciary; and to protect the freedom of the press,” she said. “We cannot let our associations be silenced.”
