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January 27, 2025

ABA House will tackle issues, including judicial security, lawyer well-being at Phoenix session

CHICAGO, Jan. 27, 2025 — The American Bar Association House of Delegates will consider more than two dozen policy matters, including three resolutions addressing the judiciary, when it meets Feb. 3 during the 2025 ABA Midyear Meeting in Phoenix.

Additional resolutions focus on lawyer well-being, antisemitism education, righting wrongful convictions and admission to the bar. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs will deliver welcoming remarks. ABA President Bill Bay, Executive Director Alpha Brady and ABA President-elect nominee Barbara Howard also will deliver remarks. Jonathan Cole, chair of the House of Delegates, will preside over the one-day meeting.

The yearly winter meeting opens in Phoenix on Wednesday, Jan. 29. The policymaking House, known as the HOD, encompasses nearly 600 delegates from ABA entities and state, local and specialty bar associations. The HOD meeting begins at 9 a.m. MST Monday, Feb. 3, at the Phoenix Convention Center, Ballroom 301 A-C and is scheduled to continue until no later than 5:30 p.m.

With the posted agenda set weeks in advance of the HOD meeting, late resolutions could be added under certain circumstances to reflect proposed ABA policy responses to national and other developments during the past few weeks.

The HOD will consider two resolutions concerning judicial security. Resolution 201 encourages state, local, territorial, tribal and specialty bar associations to adopt policies to prioritize enhancing judicial security in their jurisdiction. Resolution 202 urges jurisdictions to enact legislation, regulations or take judicial action to prohibit the disclosure of personally identifiable information of active or former government officials and employees, and the immediate family members with whom they share a residence.

Resolution 200 looks to address so-called “judge shopping” and urges Congress to pass federal legislation to eliminate federal case assignment mechanisms that predictably assign cases to a single United States district judge without random assignment to judges in a district when such cases seek to enjoin or mandate the enforcement or declaratory relief concerning enforcement of a state or federal law or regulation.

The Young Lawyers Division has put forth two resolutions dealing with lawyers’ well-being. Resolution 505 urges all legal employers to adopt policies and practices that encourage all their lawyers to unplug at least one week per year. Resolution 506 encourages legal employers to adopt policies and practices that promote flexible work arrangements and permit lawyers time off to address personal and family needs.

Other HOD proposals include:

  • Resolution 606 promotes the introduction and teaching of Jewish and Holocaust studies in K-12 public schools as a tool to combat antisemitism, and anti-Jewish hate and discrimination.
  • Resolution 503 looks to assist prosecutors seeking to remedy wrongful convictions overcome hurdles such as procedural bars or skepticism by the courts.
  • ·       Resolution 609 urges state and admission authorities to narrowly tailor inquiries made during the bar admission process to only include questions related to a person’s fitness to practice law such as propensity for fraud, deceit, dishonesty or misrepresentation.

HOD proposals do not become ABA policy until approved by the House, which meets twice annually. The next HOD meeting will be held during the ABA Annual Meeting, Aug. 6-12, in Toronto.

NOTE: ABA Midyear Meeting programming is available to news reporters according to the ABA Open Meeting policy. Media credentials include free access to fee-based association events, including the award receptions. For general assistance regarding the Annual Meeting, contact [email protected] or 202-662-1090. Stay up to date on conference developments at the Reporter Resources page, which has details on all policy resolutions and other matters for consideration during the session.

The ABA is one of the largest voluntary associations of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement online. Follow the latest ABA news at www.americanbar.org/news and on X (formerly Twitter) @ABANews.