LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN THE NORTH DAKOTA DELEGATION
HON . DAN TRAYNOR ABA State Delegate
As I mentioned in my last report , the 145th Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association ( ABA ) in Chicago was a time of transition . The first fully in-person meeting since the beginning of the pandemic , the 2022 Annual Meeting united members from across the country to take part in the many forums , CLE sessions , business meetings , and award programs that took place . Highlights from the conference include :
• The General Assembly : At the 2022 General Assembly , the Soul Children of Chicago welcomed the audience with a stirring rendition of “ God Bless America ,” and ABA President Reginald Turner presented Justice Stephen G . Breyer with the 2022 ABA Medal . The highest award given by the ABA , this honor recognizes exceptionally distinguished service by a lawyer to the cause of American jurisprudence .
Justice Breyer ’ s remarks reflected a strong allegiance to the Rule of Law and an unwavering belief in judicial independence . He emphasized the point that judges achieve independence by instilling trust . To accomplish that , he said , “ they must persuade the public that they are not politicians in robes and that they make their best effort to decide cases based on the law , not on personal preferences . “
• Honors and Awards : In addition to the awarding of the 2022 ABA Medal to Justice Breyer , several other honors and awards were bestowed throughout the week , including the 2022 Thurgood Marshall Award and the 2022 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award .
• The Membership Meeting : The nominating committee convened the meeting of the membership and hosted a candidates forum on Sunday , August 8 . The following candidates seeking nomination at the 2023 Midyear Meeting provided speeches to the nominating committee and to the members of the association present , as well as answered questions from the steering committee of the nominating committee : William R . Bay of Missouri for president-elect for the 2023-2024 term and Marvin S . C . Dang of Hawaii for secretary for the 2023-2026 term .
• House of Delegates Proceedings : The House of Delegates met for a day and a half during the 2022 Annual Meeting . The daily journal of the actions of the House and the Select Committee Report can be found on the House of Delegates webpage . The gavel was passed to incoming President Deborah Enix-Ross of New York and the House welcomed the other newly elected officers : President-elect Mary L . Smith of Illinois for the 2022-2023 term ; Chair of the House of Delegates Palmer Gene Vance II of Kentucky for the 2022-2024 term ; and Treasurerelect Frank Fritz Langrock of Vermont for the 2022-2023 term , as well as the new board of governors , including Judge James Hill of North Dakota . The House also voted on amendments to the association ’ s constitution , bylaws and House Rules of Procedure , as well as considered many resolutions on various topics and issues of law including , but not limited to : civil rights and social justice , gun violence , election law , human rights , public trust , dispute resolution , supplemental nutritional assistance programs , anti-racism , cyberstalking legislation , de novo ( 2nd look hearings ), intellectual property , and domestic violence .
Please visit the ABA homepage to see the most current news on issues impacting our profession and how you can help make a difference . If you are an ABA member , be sure to utilize ABA Member Advantage , the benefits discount program exclusively for ABA members , where you can find products and services of value for your practice , your home and your leisure time .
The ABA 2023 Midyear Meeting will be held February 1-6 , 2023 , in New Orleans . More information on this will be provided in the coming months .
As always , if you have any questions or comments , or if I can be of assistance in helping you to navigate the many programs and benefits of our association , please email me .
Changes in the North Dakota Delegation
With Judge James Hill ’ s election to the ABA Board of Governors , I was elected to serve as the ABA state delegate from North Dakota . I will resign as the ABA State Bar delegate upon the affirmation of my successor . It has been a tremendous honor representing SBAND in the ABA and serving on the SBAND Board of Governors since 2014 . I look forward to welcoming and working with my successor in the North Dakota delegation .
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