President's Letter

Bipartisan efforts seek to reform sentencing and post-conviction policies

Maurice Alexander, a 61-year-old resident of the District of Columbia, was caught up in a police roundup of some young men. As he described it to National Public Radio, “I became perturbed and I shook my finger at the police and said something to the effect of ‘Shame on you.’…

Jun 1, 2015 4:50 AM CDT

Law Day and other activities honor Magna Carta, the document that set forth basic legal rights

As the world prepares to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta on June 15, it is important for us as citizens —and especially as lawyers—to reflect on the importance of this document to our legal system and our way of life.

May 1, 2015 5:40 AM CDT

ABA Day is a chance for bar leaders to lobby policymakers on critical legal issues

The 114th Congress began its term in January with 71 new members in both chambers and a fresh group of committee chairs in the now Republican-controlled Senate. This will be the backdrop for ABA Day, the three-day event—April 14-16—that brings lawyers from around the country to Washington, D.C., in a coordinated effort to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill.

Apr 1, 2015 6:05 AM CDT

ABA Rule of Law Initiative helps advance legal reforms in more than 50 countries

Lewis Powell was elected president of the American Bar Association in 1964, several years before he served on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1972 to 1987. In 1965, Powell wrote in these pages about the ABA’s effort, launched in 1958, to explore “what lawyers can do of a practical character…

Mar 1, 2015 4:50 AM CST

Early involvement, education are keys to keeping kids on track for productive lives

A close friend and law partner, Steve Morrison, devoted 10 years of his life and significant pro bono time to a landmark public education case, Abbeville v. State of South Carolina. Plaintiffs brought the original suit in 1993 on behalf of poor, rural school districts, seeking to hold the state…

Feb 1, 2015 3:50 AM CST

ABA immigration initiatives bring hope to those who come here to begin anew

In July 2014, at a detention center near San Antonio, tears flowed from the eyes of the young children describing their journeys away from violence in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Despite this trauma, you could still see the hope in their eyes that America might protect them. Between October…

Jan 1, 2015 4:00 AM CST

Domestic violence survivors need your pro bono help and other support

As we approach the holiday season and look forward to spending time with loved ones, many families in our communities cannot find peace in their homes. The American Bar Association has long recognized the legal profession’s central role in addressing the urgent national problem of domestic violence, and we are…

Dec 1, 2014 3:20 AM CST

Supporting Our Veterans: We can help those who serve our country in many ways

This month, with Veterans Day, we honor those who have worn the military uniform, sacrificing their personal freedoms to ensure our own. We are also indebted to the family members and caregivers of veterans for all they endure to support those who defend our country. The American Bar Association has…

Nov 1, 2014 4:20 AM CDT

New commission will help the ABA establish justice for the 21st century

In 1973, Martin Cooper changed the world. Inspired by something he saw on Star Trek, Cooper envisioned a personal telephone with a phone number assigned not to an office or home, but to an individual. Today, there are as many mobile phone subscriptions worldwide as there are people. The mobile…

Oct 1, 2014 5:00 AM CDT

As we honor the past, we need fresh thinking to ensure access to justice for all

Although we learn the preamble to the U.S. Constitution in our school years, we can gain from reflecting on its words and reminding ourselves of the basic priorities the founders set for our nation: “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish…

Sep 1, 2014 10:00 AM CDT

ABA initiatives have made a difference from small communities to Capitol Hill

It has been a great honor and privilege to serve as president of the American Bar Association this past year, as we mobilized our profession to work on challenging, timely issues of law and justice. A main priority was to help resolve a paradox that faces our profession and society—the…

Aug 1, 2014 10:09 AM CDT

ABA’s internationally focused entities provide education, professional connections

My earliest involvement with the American Bar Association came about when the ABA put together its first delegation to the People’s Republic of China in the mid-1970s. The organizers wanted a young lawyer to participate. Because they knew me through my leadership in the New York bar community, they asked…

Jul 1, 2014 10:00 AM CDT

800th anniversary of Magna Carta will be heralded with celebrations of the rule of law

A seminal blueprint for the rule of law is the Magna Carta, signed by England’s King John on June 15, 1215. To mark the Great Charter’s 800th anniversary next year, the American Bar Association is embarking on a variety of projects and activities to herald, honor and celebrate this landmark,…

Jun 1, 2014 10:00 AM CDT

Law Day 2014 emphasizes the importance of the right to vote

Working to establish and protect every citizen’s right to vote has been a central theme of American legal and civic history. The right to vote is the foundation of government by the people. When voters participate in free and fair elections, they reinforce the legitimacy of the rule of law.…

May 1, 2014 10:00 AM CDT

ABA Day is a chance to lobby Capitol Hill for support on key legal issues

Every April, the ABA hosts an influential and inspirational three-day event in Washington, D.C., known as ABA Day. In a coordinated effort, members of national, state and local bar associations give voice to America’s lawyers through personal visits to congressional offices. Now in its 18th year, ABA Day mobilizes lawyers…

Apr 1, 2014 10:00 AM CDT