Washington Letter March 2011

Featured Articles

Federal Government

Senate and House Judiciary Committees for the 112th Congress

Senate and House Judiciary Committee members

Federal Government

Legislative and Governmental Priorities: Adopted by the ABA Board of Governors February 2011

Legislative and governmental priorities adopted by the ABA Board of Governors in February 2011

Elder

Senate Hearing Puts Spotlight on Elder Abuse

Witnesses appearing March 2 before the Senate Special Committee on Aging drew attention to an issue they said often receives far less interest than it deserves: the abuse, neglect and financial exploitation of the nation’s senior citizens.

Rule Of Law

Obama Announces Changes in Guantanamo Policy

President Obama, who had sought to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay within one year of his January 2009 inauguration, issued an executive order March 7 signaling that the facility will remain open indefinitely with a new review policy for detainees and also announced the resumption of trials before military commissions.

Courts & Judiciary

Appeals Court Dismisses FTC Appeal in Red Flags Case; Seals ABA Victory in Fight Against Coverage of Lawyers

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit agreed with the ABA’s position this month that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cannot regulate lawyers under the Red Flags Rule that requires “creditors” to establish and implement programs to detect, identify, and respond to activities that signal possible identify theft.

Trade, Sports & Professional Associations

Chicago Lawyer Laurel G. Bellows Named ABA President-Elect Nominee

Chicago lawyer Laurel G. Bellows was selected last month to be the association’s president-elect nominee and, if elected at the Annual Meeting in August, she will serve as president-elect for one year before assuming the presidency in August 2012.

Courts & Judiciary

ABA Urges Sentencing Guidelines Changes

The ABA urged the U.S. Sentencing Commission Feb. 16 to fix the advisory federal guidelines for the sentencing of high-loss economic crimes, pointing out that the guidelines have been criticized in recent judicial opinions as “patently absurd on their face” and a “black stain on common sense.”

Federal Government

Senate Passes Patent Overhaul Bill

The Senate passed patent legislation March 8 that was hailed by President Obama as the “most significant patent reform in over half a century.”

American Bar Association TM American Bar Association

Washington Letter March 2011

Delegates Adopt Numerous Policies; Board Approves Priorities for the Year

Featured Articles

Senate and House Judiciary Committees for the 112th Congress

Legislative and Governmental Priorities: Adopted by the ABA Board of Governors February 2011

Senate Hearing Puts Spotlight on Elder Abuse

Obama Announces Changes in Guantanamo Policy

Appeals Court Dismisses FTC Appeal in Red Flags Case; Seals ABA Victory in Fight Against Coverage of Lawyers

Chicago Lawyer Laurel G. Bellows Named ABA President-Elect Nominee

ABA Urges Sentencing Guidelines Changes

Senate Passes Patent Overhaul Bill