ABA HOUSE DEBATES INTERNATIONAL LAW
HON . DAN TRAYNOR ABA Delegate
The Mid-Year Meeting of the American Bar Association ( ABA ) was supposed to be the first fully in-person meeting of the association since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic . With the continued emergence of new COVID-19 variants and health concerns , the meeting was switched to a virtual meeting with the leadership appearing from the ABA home base in Chicago , and not Seattle , as initially planned .
The ABA House of Delegates debated an array of topics related to elder law , criminal law and social justice . The latest projects from the Uniform Law Commission resulted in approval of several proposals for draft legislation . The predominate theme , however , appeared to be a focus on international law and the promotion of the rule of law abroad .
Resolution 601 urges the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services ( CMS ) to enhance the transparency and accountability of nursing home ownership and management . Resolution 602 adopts the recommendation of the Fourth National Guardianship summit meant to improve adult guardianship laws , policies , and practices . Resolution 603 urges the Department of Defense ( DOD ) to review the processes and procedures used when determining Veterans ’ discharge upgrade petitions to ensure fundamental fairness .
Resolution 604 encourages bar associations and attorneys to review model state statutes to facilitate understanding of the legal needs and structures related to youth homelessness .
Resolution 605 urges permanent members of the United Nations Security Council ( UNSC ) to “ voluntary restraint ” in exercising veto power regarding resolutions proposing measures to prevent genocide , serious war crimes , ethnic cleansing , or crimes against humanity .
Resolution 608 seeks support for Afghans at home and abroad to facilitate continued evacuation of Afghanistan and streamline the processing of immigration benefits .
Resolution 609 urges an asylum system that affords transparency and due process to those seeking protection from persecution or torture .
Resolution 610 urges several federal agencies to identify and eradicate actual and perceived racial bias , discrimination , and xenophobia in the enforcement of the Immigration and Nationality Act .
Resolution 611 encourages the counting of all persons in each state , regardless of immigration status , for the decennial census for redistributing seats in the United States House of Representatives .
Resolution 612 urges federal , state , and local governments to adopt law and policy consistent with the ABA ’ s Ten Guidelines for Residential Eviction Laws . Many of the guidelines identify due process concerns in the eviction process .
Resolution 701 encourages court decisions on pretrial release from jail that refrain from the use of risk assessment tools and pretrial release evaluations where data demonstrates continued conscious and unconscious racial and economic bias .
The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Law advanced several model legislation projects : Resolution 701 – Uniform College Athlete Name , Image , or Likeness Act ; Resolution 702 – Uniform Cohabitants ’ Economic Remedies Act ; Resolution 703 – Uniform Community Property Disposition at Death Act ; Resolution 704 – Uniform Personal Data Protection Act ; Resolution 705 – Uniform Restrictive Employment Agreement Act ; and Resolution 706 – Uniform Unregulated Child Custody Transfer Act .
More information about the various resolutions and deliberations of the ABA House of Delegates is available on the ABA ’ s website : americanbar . org .
Jim Hill Appointed to Presidential Appointment Committee
Each year , the ABA President-Elect makes approximately 600 appointments to standing and special committees , commissions , and other entities and initiatives . President- Elect Deborah Enix-Ross of New York appointed ABA State Delegate Judge James S . Hill of North Dakota to the Presidential Appointment Committee .
The Appointments Committee evaluates the candidates submitted for consideration . Each member is assigned to vet certain committees . The Appointments Committee members do not actually make the appointments . Instead , they relay information to the president-elect , who makes the ultimate decision .
Candidates for the various ABA committees , commissions , and other entities and initiatives can self-nominate , or they can be nominated by the chair , another ABA member , or entity staff . The application deadline is March 1 of each year . If any SBAND members are interested in applying for an ABA committee , please apply at americanbar . org .
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