The American Bar Association Governmental Affairs Office wrapped up its 2025 ABA Day on April 10, bringing together lawyers from all 50 states to engage with their elected officials and advocate on issues important to the legal profession. More than 200 people attended events in Washington, D.C., with 42 states and the District of Columbia sending advocates in person and 8 other states and the Virgin Islands having people meet in home districts or engage with their representatives online using the ABA Congressional Messaging Portal.
April 14, 2025 ABA Day 2025
ABA lobbies Congress on behalf of legal profession
This year’s issues included the ABA’s support of funding for the Legal Services Corporation. The LSC promotes equal access to justice by providing funding assistance to civil legal aid programs in every congressional district. ABA Day also concentrated on issues surrounding the judiciary.
The ABA urged Congress to pass legislation that would establish a State Judicial Threat Intelligence and Resource Center within the existing State Justice Institute to enhance judicial security for state judges. The ABA also advocated for Congress to pass legislation to authorize additional district and circuit court judgeships in those circuits where the Judicial Conference of the United States has determined a need exists based on rising caseloads and complexity of the issues presented for resolution.
"There is no substitute for contact between a representative and a constituent," ABA Day Chair Palmer Gene Vance said.
The ABA Governmental Affairs Office presented several awards during the event. Two House representatives — Claudia Tenney (R-NY) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) — were presented with Justice Awards on April 9.
Tenney was honored for her steadfast support for LSC and legal representation for children and stressed that it was "important for me to be part of the legal aid community."
Bonamici was recognized for her support for public defense funding and her leadership in championing the Ensuring Quality Access to Legal (EQUAL) Defense Act to increase access to counsel at a time of public defender shortages. She noted that there was a need for 500 more public defenders in Oregon alone.
Grassroots Awards were presented to Amanda Brown, director of ABA Disaster Legal Services, for her efforts for disaster legal relief and Judge Nathan L. Hecht, former chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, for his unwavering support for legal aid. Brown, in accepting the award, said "I know that the work I do changes people's lives."
Hecht addressed the need for more legal aid, noting that "we really are in a dire situation" and pointing out that in 75-80% of civil cases, people don't have a lawyer.