Midyear Meeting

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

Danger of doxing for governmental officials has to be addressed, says ABA House

Government entities should adopt legislation and policies to prevent the disclosure of personally identifiable information of active and former officials and employees as well as the family members who live in their homes, the ABA House of Delegates says.

Feb 3, 2025 12:10 PM CST

2025 ABA Midyear Meeting brings members to Phoenix

ABA members will come together in Phoenix this week to discuss and debate the latest issues and trends impacting the legal profession.

Jan 28, 2025 8:51 AM CST

Meeting the Moment: ABA leaders call for lawyers to respond to current challenges and look to the future

ABA President Mary Smith is urging members to “meet the moment” by helping the next generation of lawyers, protecting democracy and addressing how technology will change the practice of law.

Apr 1, 2024 12:25 AM CDT

ABA member dues will be raised for the first time since 2015

For the first time in a decade, ABA member dues will be rising. A new member dues structure will go into effect on Sept. 1.

Apr 1, 2024 12:20 AM CDT

Academic freedom standards are now part of ABA’s accreditation process for law schools

Law schools will now be asked to explicitly protect free speech rights for faculty, students and staff as part of the ABA accreditation process. Though law school faculty have long enjoyed protections for academic freedom, this would be the first accreditation standard to address free speech for the entire community…

Apr 1, 2024 12:15 AM CDT

Do state abortion bans conflict with federal Medicare funding law? Delegates take a position

Resolution 507 opposes all legislation, regulations, administrative interpretations and litigation that restrict the right of health care providers or hospitals that receive Medicare funding to provide patients with abortions in emergency situations.

Feb 5, 2024 6:03 PM CST

‘Prisons Are Often Horrible Places’: How can Death in Custody Reporting Act be better enforced?

The House of Delegates addressed the national “deaths in custody crisis” during the ABA Midyear Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday.

Feb 5, 2024 5:34 PM CST