2019 Spring Conference Speakers

    Alberto Gonzales

    Former US Attorney General

    The first Hispanic Attorney General Alberto Gonzales became the general counsel of Governor George W. Bush in 1995, serving in that capacity until 1997. He was then appointed to the position of Secretary of State from December 1997 to January 1999. Additionally, Mr. Gonzales was a Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas from January 1999 to December 2000. After Mr. Bush became president, he appointed Mr. Gonzales as White House counsel in 2001. Mr. Gonzales held this position until becoming attorney general in 2005.

    Lindsey Graham

    US Senate Judiciary Chairman

    Lindsey Graham has been a big champion for Rule of Law efforts and respected voice on legal issues. He has earned a reputation as a conservative problem-solver and one of the strongest proponents of a robust national defense. A frequent visitor to American troops stationed overseas for on-the-ground assessments, Graham has consistently pushed for outcomes in the War on Terror which protect our long-term national security interests.

    Joe Kennedy III

    US Congressman

    Coming to congress as a young lawyer Joe Kennedy has become a powerful voice for social justice, championing issues like transgender rights, marriage equality, pay equity and comprehensive immigration reform. A former prosecutor and legal aid volunteer, he has also helped highlight the importance of our civil justice system, establishing the first ever Congressional Access to Legal Services Caucus.

    Scott S. Harris

    US Supreme Court Clerk

    Scott S. Harris became the 20th Clerk of the Supreme Court in September 2013. He is responsible for management of the Clerk’s Office, which maintains Court records, processes case-related filings and orders, prepares and administers the Court’s calendar, and drafts and administers the Court’s Rules. The Clerk’s Office also serves as a liaison between the Court, the bar and the general public regarding the Court and its administrative functions.

    Diane Humetewa

    Judge of the US District Court

    Diane Humetewa, a member of the Hopi Indian Tribe located in northeastern Arizona, has been named the first American Indian woman to serve as a federal judge. She won unanimous approval in the US Senate in a 96-0 vote and will serve in the federal District Court of Arizona. Judge Humetewa is leaving her position as Arizona State University Special Advisor to the president for American Indian affairs to serve on the federal district court.

    Steve Benjamin

    US Conference of Mayors President

    Steve Benjamin is the President of the US Conference of Mayors and got his start in the ABA YLD. He's an American politician and businessman serving as 36th and current mayor of Columbia, South Carolina since July 2010. He is the first African American mayor in the city's history. Before serving as mayor, he worked in the Columbia metropolitan area as an attorney and served on various charitable organizations.

    Jane Sánchez

    Law Librarian of Congress

    Jane Sánchez is the 25th Law Librarian of Congress. She manages the operation and policy administration of the Law Library of Congress, the world’s largest collection of legal materials. She assumed the position of Law Librarian on February 6, 2017.

    David Lat

    Founding Editor of Above the Law

    David Lat is editor at large and founding editor of Above the Law. Before entering the media world, David worked as a federal prosecutor in Newark, New Jersey; a litigation associate at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, in New York; and a law clerk to Judge Diarmuid F. O'Scannlain of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

    Carrie Budoff Brown

    Editor, POLITICO

    Carrie Budoff Brown is the editor of POLITICO. Previously, she was the managing editor of POLITICO Europe. As a founding member of the POLITICO Europe team, Carrie built a newsroom that now numbers more than 60 journalists in Brussels, London, Paris and Berlin. During her tenure in Brussels, she served as a bridge between newsrooms in Washington and Europe, directing POLITICO's coverage of the debt crisis in Greece, Europe’s migration challenges, Brexit and terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels.

    Karl A. Racine

    Attorney General

    Attorney General Racine draws on over 25 years of legal and leadership experience in his work on behalf of District residents. Over the course of his career, he has worked at the D.C. Public Defender Service, where he represented District residents who could not afford a lawyer, served as Associate White House Counsel to President Bill Clinton, and worked on criminal cases and complex civil litigation at private firms.

    Joe Cunningham

    US Representative and Former ABA YLD Leader

    The first ABA YLD leader to get elected to Congress, Joe Cunningham made history in 2018 by also becoming the first Democrat to get elected to South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in over 40 years. In Congress, Joe’s priorities include reinstating the ban on offshore drilling off the Atlantic coast, reducing the cost of healthcare, protecting and creating South Carolina jobs, combating climate change and investing in renewable resources.

    Working Behind the Scenes on the Hill Staff Panel - US Capitol Room HC-5 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM