Midyear Meeting

‘Our Finest Hour’: ABA ‘will not shrink from the things we believe in,’ President Bill Bay says

While 2025 will bring changes to the organization and challenges to the rule of law, the American Bar Association will continue to do its work “safeguarding the fundamental American values of due process and access to justice,” ABA President Bill Bay said in February in a speech to the ABA House of Delegates at the midyear meeting in Phoenix.

Apr 1, 2025 12:40 AM CDT

Downtime: Proposal encouraging lawyers to unplug from work sees debate in the House

What can make the ABA House of Delegates have an hourlong lively debate? Apparently, it’s a resolution aimed at helping ease lawyer stress and achieve a better work-life balance.

Apr 1, 2025 12:35 AM CDT

‘Taking a Toll’: Privacy protections for judges, civil servants are needed, House says

Security for judges, courts and civil servants was one of the most-discussed topics by attendees of the 2025 ABA Midyear Meeting in Phoenix, and it was a concern reflected in resolutions approved by the House of Delegates.

Apr 1, 2025 12:30 AM CDT

Guard Dogs: Protect domestic violence survivors by protecting their pets, ABA House urges

To many people, pets are members of the family—and in abusive families, violence and threats of violence against pets are often used to victimize their human owners.

Apr 1, 2025 12:25 AM CDT

House asserts bar associations’ First Amendment rights, says AG’s Honors Program should be reinstated

The House also called for changes in President Donald Trump’s Jan. 21 executive order that encouraged the government and private sector to end “illegal preferences and discrimination.”

Feb 3, 2025 7:57 PM CST

Should lawyers get billable-hour credit for time off? It should be encouraged, ABA House says, but not before debate

What can make the ABA House of Delegates have an hourlong lively debate? Apparently, it’s a resolution aimed at helping ease lawyer stress and achieve a better work-life balance.

Feb 3, 2025 6:58 PM CST

Protect domestic violence survivors by protecting their pets, ABA House says

At the ABA Midyear Meeting in Phoenix on Monday, the ABA House of Delegates considered how to best meet the needs of pet owners in family law and civil protection order proceedings.

Feb 3, 2025 6:42 PM CST

Misuse of digital replicas should be addressed by federal law, ABA House says

Resolution 501 calls for federal legislation to prevent the unauthorized use of an individual’s voice, visual likeness or image through technological means. It recommends that legislation include safeguards to protect First Amendment rights and address right of publicity and privacy laws and other related issues.

Feb 3, 2025 6:26 PM CST

Prosecutors need easier paths to remedy wrongful convictions, ABA House says

The ABA House of Delegates on Monday at the 2025 ABA Midyear Meeting in Phoenix passed a resolution to help prosecutors trying to vacate wrongful convictions who come up against procedural obstacles or court skepticism.

Feb 3, 2025 5:30 PM CST

Barbara J. Howard is nominated to serve the 2026-2027 term as ABA president

Lawyers should get out from behind their desks and actively engage in educating their communities about the government, separation of powers and rule of law, Barbara J. Howard said during her first speech to the House of Delegates as the ABA president-elect nominee on Monday.

Feb 3, 2025 5:20 PM CST

What questions about criminal history are appropriate to ask bar applicants?

The ABA House of Delegates at the ABA Midyear Meeting in Phoenix on Monday overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging bar admissions authorities to limit the scope of inquiries into an applicant’s criminal record.

Feb 3, 2025 4:44 PM CST

Better education can combat discrimination against Jewish community, ABA House says

The ABA House of Delegates on Monday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution urging K-12 public schools and teachers to provide age-appropriate Holocaust and antisemitism education to their students.

Feb 3, 2025 4:15 PM CST

The Road Back: How should conditional bar admissions be handled?

The ABA House of Delegates agreed to adopt a new model rule on conditional admission to the practice of law that focuses on conduct instead of mental health-related diagnoses. The rule pertains to the character and fitness portion of the bar admissions process.

Feb 3, 2025 3:50 PM CST

Climate migrants deserve stronger protections, ABA House says

The ABA House of Delegates called for increased protection for immigrants in a pair of resolutions at the ABA Midyear Meeting in Phoenix on Monday.

Feb 3, 2025 2:05 PM CST

ABA ‘will not shrink from the things we believe in,’ President Bill Bay says

“There is one message I want to emphasize,” ABA President Bill Bay told the ABA House of Delegates at the midyear meeting in Phoenix. “The American Bar Association will not shrink from the things we believe in.”

Feb 3, 2025 12:45 PM CST