Washington Letter March 2012

Featured Articles

Federal Government

ABA Supports Uniform Treatment of Privileged Materials by Banking Agencies, New CFPB

ABA President Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III last month urged prompt enactment of S. 2099 and H.R. 4014, bills that the association maintains would create a single, consistent standard for the treatment of privileged information submitted to all federal agencies that supervise banks, including the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

New Attorneys

ABA Urges Better Disability Accommodations for Administering Law School Admission Tests

ABA President Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III expressed support March 1 for efforts to ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided appropriate accommodations when taking law school admission tests.

International Law

Indian Court Decision Allows “Fly-In Fly-Out” for Foreign Lawyers

The Indian Madras High Court ruled Feb. 21 that foreign lawyers may participate in international arbitration proceedings in India and advise clients on foreign law on a “fly-in fly-out” basis.

Courts & Judiciary

ABA Concerned About Videoconferencing in Immigration Courts; Urges Allowing Requests for In-Person Hearings

The ABA last month commended the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) for undertaking a study of immigration adjudication, noting that both the ACUS draft report released in January and a detailed report issued by the ABA in 2010 focus on ensuring fairness and promoting efficiency in the adjudication system.

Courts & Judiciary

Fourth Circuit Judicial Counsel Suspends Effective Date of Attorney Compensation Procedures in Death Penalty Cases

The Fourth Circuit Judicial Council suspended the March 1 effective date for implementation of new special procedures for requesting attorney compensation requests in death penalty cases to permit the council to consider concerns expressed by individuals and groups, including the ABA.

Federal Government

ABA Submits Focus Group’s Indigent Defense Findings

The ABA submitted a report to U.S, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. earlier this year with the five key findings of the National Focus Group on Indigent Defense Reform, which was brought together to identify concrete strategies for reforming and strengthening indigent defense services throughout the United States.

Federal Government

Washington News Briefs

STOCK Act, Cameras in the Courts, Parental Representation

American Bar Association TM American Bar Association

Washington Letter March 2012

Sentencing Commission Weighs Changes in Sentencing System

Featured Articles

ABA Supports Uniform Treatment of Privileged Materials by Banking Agencies, New CFPB

ABA Urges Better Disability Accommodations for Administering Law School Admission Tests

Indian Court Decision Allows “Fly-In Fly-Out” for Foreign Lawyers

ABA Concerned About Videoconferencing in Immigration Courts; Urges Allowing Requests for In-Person Hearings

Fourth Circuit Judicial Counsel Suspends Effective Date of Attorney Compensation Procedures in Death Penalty Cases

ABA Submits Focus Group’s Indigent Defense Findings

Washington News Briefs