ABA DELEGATE REPORT
ABA Annual Midyear Meeting August 2021
DAVID MILLER
The House of Delegates of the American Bar Association held a hybrid ( virtual and in-person ) Annual Meeting this year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic . During opening statements , ABA President Patricia Lee Refo quoted Michigan Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack noting , “[ t ] his pandemic was not the disruption that any of us wanted , but it may have been the disruption needed .” Echoing Justice McCormack ’ s sentiment , President Refo aptly suggested that “ the legal profession should take what we learned from this experience and use it to improve and enhance justice .” To this end , the House voted upon and accepted multiple resolutions aimed at doing just that , including resolutions :
1 . Urging members of the legal profession to devote at least 20 hours each year to efforts that advance and promote diversity , equity and inclusion in the legal profession , including in the judiciary ,
2 . Encouraging bar associations and legal employers to develop , disseminate and provide guidance and resources to assist with the implementation of policies and practices for safely and effectively returning to the workplace because of the COVID-19 pandemic ,
3 . To provide support for expanding and improving civic education in the United States ,
4 . Urging the enactment of legislation to provide to all employees a living wage ,
5 . Opposing any legislation , regulation or policy that prohibits transgender students from participating in athletics in accordance with their gender identity ,
6 . Promoting effective justice and accountability for atrocity crimes and gross violations of human rights law committed abroad ,
7 . Encouraging the enactment of legislation raising the minimum age for prosecution of children as juvenile delinquents to age 14 ,
8 . Seeking to end the use of chemical agents on children and youth in juvenile and correctional facilities ,
9 . Opposing the continued use of private prisons for detention or corrections purposes and urging all governmental units to terminate their contracts with private prisons ,
10 . Urging elected prosecutors or prosecutors seeking election to not seek or accept political or financial support from law enforcement unions ,
11 . Seeking to have pregnant workers provided the rights and remedies established under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ,
12 . Seeking to allow student loans to be discharged in bankruptcy without needing to prove undue hardship ,
13 . Urging the legal profession to prioritize environmental justice ,
14 . Seeking to have nursing homes become small , household model facilities with single rooms and private baths , given their safety and infection control advantages in public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic ,
15 . Seeking to create safer campus communities .
Do you have an idea on how justice could be enhanced or improved ? If so , please reach out to me at 561-684-3222 or drm @ derreverelaw . com . Let ’ s get your idea to be the next resolution accepted by the ABA House .
UPCOMING PBCBA CLE WEBINARS
Wednesday , November 17th 12:00 P . M . - 1:30 P . M . Live via Zoom
( Technology CLE Webinar ) How to Preserve & Collect Client Email for State & Federal Court Litigation
Thursday , November 18 11:30 A . M . - 1:00 P . M . PBC Courthouse ( Room 4D )
( Criminal Law CLE Webinar ) The Basics of Federal Magistrate Court for the Criminal Practitioner
Tuesday , November 23 12:00 P . M . - 1:00 P . M . Live via Zoom
( Appellate Practice Committee CLE Webinar ) Monthly Review of Recently Issued Appellate Opinions
For more information , please visit : www . palmbeachbar . org / calendar
PBCBA BAR BULLETIN 5