Review of 2006 ABA Annual Meeting in Honolulu

By Jaime M. Hawk

The Washington State Bar is gaining influence and representation in the American Bar Association. From a newly-elected ABA president coming from Washington to a strong representation from the WYLD in the ABA YLD, the Evergreen State was well represented at the ABA Annual Meeting in Honolulu, August 3-7, 2006.

More than 5,000 lawyers from across the country traveled to Hawaii for the meeting, with many coming from Washington. The ABA is initiating many new efforts and projects that provide numerous leadership opportunities for young lawyers. The seven representatives from WYLD provided a united voice on behalf of its membership to the ABA YLD related to ABA policy and programs.

Throughout the weekend, the ABA YLD Assembly debated and voted upon important policy considerations, including a right to counsel in civil proceedings where basic human needs such as shelter, safety, health, or child custody are at sake. The ABA YLD narrowly defeated the resolution, but it was later adopted by the ABA House of Delegates.
The YLD Assembly, however, did pass a resolution sponsored by the ABA Commission on Domestic Violence, which encourages jurisdictions to provide civil protection orders to victims in all abusive relationships regardless of the victim’s status. Many states only permit protection orders to victims of domestic violence who reside with or have a child in common with the alleged perpetrator. The supporters of the resolution explained that such a law often leaves victims of teen dating violence and in same-sex relationships without protection. The ABA House of Delegates adopted the policy recommendation.

The ABA House of Delegates also announced opposition to what it stated was the misuse of “signing statements” by the President. The ABA went on to say that these signing statements as used by the President are “contrary to the rule of law and our constitutional system of separation of powers...”

In addition to this policy-making role undertaken by WYLD leadership, the meeting provided all attendees an opportunity to appreciate excellent programming, to connect with lawyers from around the nation, and to listen to nationally-recognized speakers, including Supreme Court Justices, national politicians, and legal scholars.

At the Annual Meeting, Bill Neukom with Preston, Gates & Ellis in Seattle began his tenure as president-elect of the ABA. During the YLD Assembly, Neukom received a vocal welcome from the WYLD delegation and outlined some of his initiatives and policy priorities for 2007-2008, which include a strong focus on the rule of law.

The WYLD also celebrated the election of Benes Aldana, another Washingtonian, as a YLD Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates. Aldana has served the YLD for years and has mentored many young lawyers, especially those from Washington.

The ABA President for 2006-2007 is Karen Mathis from Colorado. Ms. Mathis is the third woman to serve as ABA President. At the Annual Meeting she announced her Youth at Risk Initiative and focus on juvenile justice issues as a top priority for her time in office. For more information on this initiative, please visit www.abanet.org/initiatives/youthatrisk. Also, if you are interested in getting involved as a young lawyer in this effort, please visit our ABA YLD Juvenile Justice and Criminal Law Committee website at www.abanet.org/yld/committees.html, or contact me at jaimehawk@abanet.org.

One can also get connected with the work of the ABA YLD by participating in its public service project for this year “Choose Law: A Profession for All,” an initiative and DVD to encourage minority youth to enter the legal profession. For more information on this project, please visit www.abanet.org/yld/chooselaw/home.shtml.

The growing representation and involvement by Washington lawyers provides many opportunities for all WYLD members to get connected with the ABA and its efforts to promote law and justice within America and around the world.

Jaime M. Hawk is working as a public defender for a pilot project in Grant County with the Washington Office of Public Defense. She can be reached at jaimehawk@abanet.org.