February 2020 Washington Letter

Government

Recent Developments on the ERA

The ABA has long fought for constitutional gender equality, but the ever-allusive Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) has consistently been out of reach. The ERA proposes a Constitutional amendment that would make discrimination on the basis of sex illegal.

Courts & Judiciary

ABA President Martinez defends judiciary, prosecutors at Midyear Meeting

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 18, 2020 – American Bar Association President Judy Perry Martinez delivered a strong defense Monday of the judiciary and prosecutors in remarks to the ABA House of Delegates, the association’s policy-making body, on the final day of the ABA Midyear Meeting.

Government

An Election Center You Can Share

The ABA Governmental Affairs Office (GAO) has created a digital tool to help you find answers to these questions and more called the ABA Election Center. Here, ABA members and their networks can find everything they need to get ready for the upcoming presidential election, including the ability to check their registration status and register to vote. There is also state-by-state information on early and absentee voting, voter accessibility and voting laws, key election dates, and more.

Government

Native American Voting Rights

Earlier this month, the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections held a hearing on barriers to Native American voting rights and on H.R. 1694, the Native American Voting Rights Act of 2019. On February 28, the ABA submitted comments for the hearing record based on policy just adopted during the Midyear Meeting.

Federal Government

ABA, Education Department settle student loan forgiveness case

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Education has agreed to recognize employees who work for the American Bar Association as public service workers who are eligible for student loan forgiveness. This settles a 3-year-old lawsuit that accused the department of improperly administering the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

Election

New ABA policies endorse expanding access to justice, voting

Feb. 24, 2020

The American Bar Association House of Delegates approved resolutions on Feb. 17 that both encourage states to test innovative approaches in their regulatory frameworks and would make it easier for teens to register to vote when they turn 18.