ABA honors Sens. Durbin and Cornyn for legislative support of priorities

Joining the American Bar Association General Assembly by video since the Senate is in its “final legislative sprint,” Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill) told attendees that “we share a common goal,” which is “equal justice under the law.”

Urging them to “stay engaged,” the senator thanked the ABA “for fighting to preserve our liberties for the next generation,” and reminded them of Ben Franklin’s warning that “we only have a republic if we can keep it.”

The senator and his colleague, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) received Lifetime Achievement Awards from ABA President Reginald Turner at the 2022 Annual Meeting in Chicago on Aug. 6. The awards were created to mark the 25^th anniversary of ABA Day, the association’s annual grassroots advocacy event.

Durbin was cited for his “enduring commitment to improving the administration of justice and preserving the rule of law through the legislative process, as demonstrated by your significant assistance in advancing the governmental and legislative priorities of the ABA,” in particular his “steadfast support for increased resources for the Legal Services Corporation and the federal judiciary, student debt relief and public service loan forgiveness and criminal justice and immigration reforms that align with our advocacy objectives.”

Cornyn was also cited for his support for the Legal Services Corporation, as well as “legislative proposals to combat domestic violence and human trafficking, student debt relief, criminal justice reform, and, most recently, your leadership in obtaining passage of the bipartisan Safer Communities Act.”

In his remarks, Cornyn thanked those “who have selflessly volunteered your services to improve our nation’s justice system.”