American Bar Association State Delegate Report
The American Bar Association held its 83rd Midyear Meeting virtually on Wednesday, February 9 – 14, 2022. The conference had 2,400+ virtual registrants that included association members, law students, and state and local bar leaders from across the country. There were interactive sessions, networking opportunities, and dynamic speakers and presentations which allowed for discussion regarding the important issues facing our profession, country, and system of justice.
Highlights included the Nominating Committee Meeting which featured the seeking office of the Association, including Hawai’i’s own Marvin Dang, who is running for ABA Secretary. The candidates provided remarks and answered questions from the membership. I had the privilege of introducing Marvin’s candidacy for ABA Secretary. If elected, Marvin’s Hawaiʻi background, his 45 years of service to the ABA, and his leadership roles with other organizations would all be a wonderful contribution to the ABA. He has the support of our Hawai’i delegation as his campaign unfolds over the coming year.
The Spirit of Excellence Luncheon provided an all-star event that celebrated the efforts, leadership, and accomplishments of lawyers for their outstanding achievements in the practice of law, and for their contributions and commitment to promoting a more racially and ethnically diverse legal profession. The biographies of each of the 2022 honorees is available via the .
The House met on Valentine’s Day, Monday, February 14th, 2022. Your Hawai‘i delegation to this meeting included myself, Marvin Dang, The Hon. (ret.) Leslie Hayashi and Chris St. Sure. for Board of Governors members were announced. The Association President Reginald M. Turner, President-Elect nominee Mary L. Smith of Illinois, and the Honorable Paul A. Suttell, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island and President of the Conference of Chief Justices, each gave compelling remarks to the House. The House voted on a variety of important current and trending topics and issues including, aging; civil rights and social justice; criminal justice; disability rights; domestic and sexual violence; election law (gerrymandering/redistricting/voting rights); health law; human rights; homelessness and poverty; immigration law; international law; intellectual property law; legal aid & indigent defense; legal education and admissions to the bar; military law; racial and ethnic justice; science and technology law; state and local government law; uniform state law; and the well-being of the legal profession. In addition, the House Committee on Issues of Concern to the Legal Profession presented a well-received panel presentation entitled:
The of actions of the House, and the which provides you with video links to the remarks of Association Officers, as well as a more comprehensive summary of the newly adopted polices and all other activities and issues that were addressed at the House meeting can be found on the
In addition, you may also find helpful information regarding the work of the ABA Coordinating Group on Practice Forward. The ABA Practice Forward provides a clearinghouse of ABA resources and information to assist legal professionals and legal employers as they adjust their practice and work amid changes triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. On the website you will also find a survey report, , which tracks current and future expectations of practicing lawyers during the pandemic and gathers information about lawyer concerns, needs and goals moving forward. We encourage you to help get the word out in your state about data-driven findings and recommendations in the survey report and the valuable resources available on the Practice Forward website. We hope you will reach out to your state and local bars to request that they link to the Practice Forward website from their websites and offer to have presentations on the survey findings at their bar meetings. Anyone interested in a presentation should contact the
Your commitment to the Association really does make a difference. The ABA greatly and involvement. All ABA Members are encouraged to advocate for the Association and help increase awareness about the value of membership. Become an ABA Ambassador by using these and help grow our community.
Thank you and I hope you will join us for the 2022 Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL, August 3-9th. If you have any questions or comments, or if I can be of assistance, please email me.
Best Regards,
ABA Hawai‘i State Delegate
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