News from the Annual Meeting

House of Delegates Hot Topics

Synopsized below are 10 important issues to come before the ABA House of Delegates during its meeting on August 7 and 8. For a complete version of the report or resolution, please click the report number.

If you wish to be alerted by e-mail of the disposition of each issue, please send us your email address:

304	TASK FORCE ON PRESIDENTIAL SIGNING STATEMENTS AND THE SEPARATION OF POWERS Opposes, as contrary to the rule of law and our constitutional system of separation of powers, the issuance of presidential signing statements that claim the authority or state the intention to disregard or decline to enforce all or part of a law the President has signed, or to interpret such a law in a manner inconsistent with the clear intent of Congress. *- Approved as amended*
302B	Attorney-Client Privilege *- Unanimously approved as revised*
302A	TASK FORCE ON ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE TENNESSEE BAR ASSOCIATION SECTION OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW Supports the preservation of the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine in connection with audits of company financial statements and urges the Securities and Exchange Commission and other relevant organizations to adopt standards, policies, practices and procedures and take other appropriate steps to ensure that attorney-client privilege and work product protections are preserved throughout the audit process. *- Unanimously approved*
120D	ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE *- Approved*
10A	COLORADO BAR ASSOCIATION Urges federal, state, territorial and local governments to assure that adequate and appropriate services are made readily available to at-risk youth and their caretakers. *- Approved as revised*
106A	SECTION OF LEGAL EDUCATION AND ADMISSIONS TO THE BAR Concurs in the action of the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar in adopting Interpretation 302-10 providing opportunities for law student participation in pro bono activities, as an addition to the Standards for Approval of Law Schools and the Interpretations of the Standards, dated August 2006. *- Withdrawn*
106B	SECTION OF LEGAL EDUCATION AND ADMISSIONS TO THE BAR Concurs in the action of the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar in adopting revisions to Standards 210-212 concerning equal opportunity and diversity, of the Standards for Approval of Law Schools and the Interpretations of the Standards, dated August 2006. *- Approved*
112A	TASK FORCE ON ACCESS TO CIVIL JUSTICE SECTION OF BUSINESS LAW COMMISSION ON INTEREST ON LAWYERS’ TRUST ACCOUNTS COMMISSION ON LAW AND AGING SECTION OF LITIGATION STEERING COMMITTEE ON UNMET LEGAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN DEATH PENALTY REPRESENTATION PROJECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AID & INDIGENT DEFENDANTS COMMISSION ON IMMIGRATION THE ASSOCIATION OF THE BAR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK KING COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION MAINE STATE BAR ASSOCIATION NEW YORK COUNTY LAWYERS ASSOCIATION PHILADELPHIA BAR ASSOCIATION NATIONAL LEGAL AID AND DEFENDER ASSOCIATION SECTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND REGULATORY PRACTICE BOSTON BAR ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON STATE BAR ASSOCIATION COLORADO BAR ASSOCIATION Urges federal, state, and territorial jurisdictions to provide legal counsel as a matter of right at public expense to low income persons in those categories of adversarial proceedings where basic human needs are at stake, such as those involving shelter, sustenance, safety, health or child custody. *- Unanimously approved as amended*
113	ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSITY IN THE PROFESSION KANSAS BAR ASSOCIATION AMERICAN IMMIGRATION LAWYERS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN JUDGES NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION BAR ASSOCIATION OF ERIE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF THE BAR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION THE FLORIDA BAR NEW JERSEY STATE BAR ASSOCIATION SECTION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW SAN DIEGO COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION NATIONAL LESBIAN AND GAY LAW ASSOCIATION STATE BAR OF NEW MEXICO KING COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION MARYLAND STATE BAR ASSOCIATION BAR ASSOCIATION OF BALTIMORE CITY SECTION OF TAXATION BAR ASSOCIATION OF SAN FRANCISCO SECTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND REGULATORY PRACTICE NEW YORK COUNTY LAWYERS ASSOCIATION SECTION OF BUSINESS LAW SENIOR LAWYERS DIVISION SECTION OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION OREGON STATE BAR JUDICIAL DIVISION TENNESSEE BAR ASSOCIATION ILLINOIS STATE BAR ASSOCIATION STATE BAR OF WISCONSIN LOS ANGELES COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION HENNEPIN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION OHIO STATE BAR ASSOCIATION SOUTH CAROLINA BAR DADE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION HEALTH LAW SECTION DUPAGE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION SECTION OF LITIGATION Urges all state, territorial and local bar associations to work with national, state and territorial bar examiners, law schools, universities and elementary and secondary schools to address significant problems facing minorities within the pipeline to the profession. *- Approved*
122A	SECTION OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES CRIMINAL JUSTICE SECTION COMMISSION ON MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITY LAW DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT DEATH PENALTY REPRESENTATION PROJECT BEVERLY HILLS BAR ASSOCIATION Without taking a position supporting or opposing the death penalty, urges each jurisdiction that imposes capital punishment to implement specific policies and procedures as it relates to mental illness. *- Approved*