ABA 2023 ANNUAL MEETING UPDATE
ABA 2023 ANNUAL MEETING UPDATE
ZACK PELHAM ABA State Delegate
I recently attended the American Bar Association ’ s ( ABA ) Annual Meeting held in Denver . Over the course of about a week , numerous continuing education presentations , leadership meetings , and events took place . So what is the point ? The ABA is a body made up of many different parts that generally operates to move the legal profession forward through civil means . In the same way physical exercise is needed to maintain the body and mind , the ABA , as a body , must continue to exercise to ensure the continued viability and health of the American legal profession . The annual meeting gives the ABA its needed exercise .
As a delegate to the ABA ’ s House of Delegates , the highlight was hearing from United States Attorney General Merrick Garland . Ukraine was the topic . The attorney general outlined the Department of Justice ’ s ( DOJ ) commitment to its counterparts in the Ukrainian Prosecutor General ’ s Office in supporting the Rule of Law in the face of tyranny . The attorney general outlined Task Force KleptoCapture , which was launched by the DOJ to enforce sanctions by freezing and seizing assets of more than $ 500 million from oligarchs and others supporting Putin ’ s regime . The attorney general detailed the creation of the DOJ ’ s War Crimes Accountability Team , which will investigate war crimes in Ukraine that may violate U . S . law and aid in prosecution .
The annual meeting saw to a changing of the guard of the ABA President . President Deborah Enix-Ross ’ farewell address to the House of Delegates exhorted members to “ keep our eyes on the ball ” in promoting the relevance of the legal profession , to diversity , expansion of justice through pro bono and legal aid , and the promotion of ethics and professionalism . The ABA is now led by President Mary L . Smith , the first Native American to serve in this role . She was sworn into office by Stacy Leeds , dean of the Sandra Day O ’ Conner College of Law at Arizona State University and a former University of North Dakota School of Law professor ( I remember debating my grade in Remedies with her – I was unpersuasive ). President Smith , the former chief executive of the Indian Health Service , currently serves on the board of a global biopharmaceutical company , the board of a leading memberowned insurance company for the affordable housing industry , and is vice chair of a national consulting firm . President Smith affirmed the ABA ’ s commitment to serving the public and investing in and improving the legal profession .
The House of Delegates debated and acted on more than 50 agenda items at its twoday meeting . Resolution 100 outlined an amendment to Model Rule 1.16 : Declining or Terminating Representation of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct . The amendment was debated extensively and was approved . North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Daniel Crothers , who chairs the ABA Standing Committee on Professional Regulation , which advanced the resolution , explained the amendment “ tells a lawyer what the obligation is when they confront a client who wants to commit fraud or a criminal act .” The House of Delegates adopted resolutions to reform plea agreements ( Resolution 502 ), revise the Ten Principles of a Public Defense Delivery System ( Resolution 603 ), and for the adoption of provisions of the Guardianship Bill of Rights ( Resolution 506 ). A full list of resolutions acted on can be found on the ABA ’ s website ( www . americanbar . org / groups / leadership / house _ of _ delegates / journal _ home ). The House of Delegates reconvenes in Louisville , Ky ., at the ABA Midyear meeting in February 2024 .
North Dakota holds an important place within the ABA . National , regional , and local connections within and through the ABA are available to all members . Avail yourselves of these resources to improve the profession , improve your practice , and improve your community .
The opportunities that exist for involvement on a national level through the ABA allows our local communities to benefit . The resources the ABA has compiled allow you to receive the information needed to better your practice areas . The ABA is diverse enough to give you the ability to focus on an area that you are passionate about . And in doing so , you gain knowledge that benefits you and your community .
On a national level , the ABA seeks to foster member connections to the national legal community . If our local bar associations are the tie that binds local practitioners to their communities , the ABA is the tie that can bind practitioners to national legal issues . The focus is usually on what divides us . While controversies are debated , we can ’ t ignore the issues that can be solved . The ABA House of Delegates will debate issues of national importance for the legal community at the ABA Annual Meeting . There are more issues that bind us together than divide us . Find your passion in uniting threads to issues facing your community and beyond .
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