ABA

Thurgood Marshall’s courage and passion celebrated by former law clerks, author

On the cusp of the 50th anniversary of Thurgood Marshall's confirmation as the first African-American U.S. Supreme Court justice, three of his former law clerks gathered to speak about his legacy.

Aug 11, 2017 6:25 PM CDT

Sanctuary policies pit state and local governments against federal immigration officials

Sanctuary cities are in the news—and the courts—as federal, state and local governments find themselves in conflict over immigration enforcement. It is this quandary that prompted “Sanctuary Cities: The New Federalism and Role of the State & Local Govts in Addressing Undocumented Immigrants,” a CLE session sponsored by the Section…

Aug 11, 2017 5:34 PM CDT

Broadway performers vocalize support for Legal Services Corp. at ABA rally

Broadway performers from War Paint, Hello Dolly and other productions voiced their support for the Legal Services Corp. on Friday by performing at a rally at the ABA Annual Meeting in New York City. The event, titled “It’s Only Fair! An ABA Concert and Rally for the Legal Services Corp.,”…

Aug 11, 2017 4:55 PM CDT

After transparency criticism, ABA law school employment questionnaire revisions postponed

Criticism over plans to change questionnaire rules for law school-funded employment—which some legal education critics say would negate all recent action for transparency—has led to the council of the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar on Friday referring the matter to the Standards Review Committee for its October meeting.

Aug 11, 2017 4:30 PM CDT

With law firms lagging in diversity, how can GCs be a force for change?

Updated: Despite decades of lip service to the importance of diversity in the legal community, the upper ranks of most law firms still fail to accurately reflect the gender and ethnic makeup of practitioners or the population at large.

Aug 11, 2017 3:07 PM CDT

Jurors take instructions seriously, but do they understand them?

Arizona jurors studied by the American Bar Foundation took jury instructions seriously.

Aug 11, 2017 2:25 PM CDT

Want to stop jailing people for failing to pay court fees and fines? Look to Biloxi, Mississippi

Jeffery Robinson, deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, thinks it’s possible for cities to reduce their dependence on fees and fines that have an unfair impact on people who are unable to pay.

Aug 10, 2017 9:55 PM CDT

ABA files amicus brief challenging money bail system as House of Delegates considers resolution

Just before the ABA’s House of Delegates considers a resolution opposing the use of money bail—systems that require large cash payments in exchange for a defendant’s freedom—the Association has filed an amicus brief calling one county’s bail system unconstitutional. The brief (PDF) was filed Aug. 9 in O’Donnell v. Harris…

Aug 10, 2017 2:18 PM CDT

ABA, senators ask CMS to rethink mandatory arbitration in nursing home admissions contracts

The American Bar Association has asked that a proposed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid rule authorizing mandatory, pre-dispute arbitration in long-term care admissions contracts not be implemented. In a letter (PDF), sent Monday to administrator Seema Verma, the ABA advocated for CMS retaining its current rule, which prohibits long-term care…

Aug 8, 2017 3:12 PM CDT

ABA Legal Ed Council will talk more about how law school-funded jobs get reported

Revisions to the ABA law school employment questionnaire—that, if implemented, will allow school-funded jobs meeting certain requirements to not be reported as such—will be discussed further this week, according to a memo from the chair of the council of the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

Aug 7, 2017 2:12 PM CDT

ABA supports rescinding enjoined ‘persuader rule’ requiring lawyer reporting on anti-union advice

The ABA is supporting rescission of changes to the so-called “persuader rule” that would have required lawyers and consultants to report on advice given to employers about persuading employees on union issues. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta has said that implementing the revised rule would make it harder for businesses…

Aug 7, 2017 11:44 AM CDT

Northwestern’s law school says it will accept the GRE as an entrance test

Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law will accept the Graduate Record Examination or the Law School Admissions Test for admissions starting in the fall of 2018 for admissions the following fall, the school announced on Monday.

Aug 7, 2017 8:26 AM CDT

ABA Center for Innovation unveils inaugural class of fellows

The American Bar Association’s Center for Innovation on Monday announced its inaugural class of NextGen Fellows and Innovation Fellows. Covering a plethora of practice areas, these fellows from across the country intend to improve legal system access and processes through data, design and technology.

Aug 2, 2017 10:30 AM CDT

Dept. of Ed seeks to toss ABA suit on loan forgiveness, says nothing final till 10 years of payments

The U.S. Education Department is seeking to toss an American Bar Association lawsuit over lawyers dropped from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program by arguing that the ABA sued too soon.

Aug 1, 2017 2:59 PM CDT

Cop to Counsel: Former police officer serves the homeless as a social worker and attorney

Jeff Yungman started his career as a street cop in New Orleans. He loved the city, and he loved his job. Somewhere along the line, though, he realized that he cared more about social justice than about criminal justice.

Aug 1, 2017 12:45 AM CDT