The Colorado Lawyer May 2007 ***Web Only***

Web Only
Potential Agenda Items for the 2007 Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association

NOTE: This list includes issues that may be presented for consideration at the 2007 Annual Meeting or a future meeting of the House of Delegates.  Please remember that the filing deadline for submission of Reports with Recommendations by Association entities and affiliated organizations is Wednesday, May 9, 2007.

ASSOCIATION’S CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

1.  Proposed Amendments
The House’s agenda will include the following proposals to amend the Association’s Constitution and Bylaws:

A) Amends §1.2 of the Constitution to include the following language as one of the purposes of the Association: “to defend the right to life of all innocent human beings, including all those conceived but not yet born.” Contact: Edward Haskins Jacobs,  2162 Church Street, Christiansted, VI, 00820-4604, Phone: 340/773-3322, Fax: 340/773-2566, E-mail: edwardjacobs@yahoo.com.

B) Amends §2.1(g) of the Constitution to realign Massachusetts into a two-state district. Contact: Kay H. Hodge, Stoneman, Chandler & Miller LLP, 99 High Street, Boston, MA, 02110-2355, Phone: 617/542-6789, Fax: 617/556-8989, E-mail: khodge@scmllp.com. 

C) Amends §10.1 of the Constitution to change the name of the Section of Real Poperty, Probate and Trust Law to the Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law. Contact: Christine L. Albright, Winston & Strawn LLP, 33 W. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, 60601-1723, Phone: 312/558-5585, Fax: 312/558-5700, E-mail: calbrigh@winston.com.

D) Amend §30.5 of the Bylaws to provide that non-U.S. lawyer associates may serve on the Council of the Law Practice Management Section. Contact: Thomas C. Grella, McGuire Woods, P.O. Box 3180, Asheville, NC, 28802-3180, Phone: 828/254-8800, Fax: 828/254-8633, E-mail: tgrella@mwbavl.com.   

E) Amends §31.7 of the Bylaws to discontinue the Standing Committee on Lawyers’ Title Guaranty Funds. Contact: Christel E. Marquardt,  Kansas Court of Appeals, 301 SW 10th Street, Floor 2, Room 264, Topeka, KS, 66612-1502, Phone: 785/296-6146, Fax: 785/296-7079, E-mail: marquardtc@kscourts.org. 

F) Amends §31.7 of the Bylaws to revise the jurisdictional statement of the Standing Committee on Professional Discipline to expand its scope to include increased interstate and international practice of law in its proposed policies, programs and efforts.  Contact: Barbara K. Howe, Circuit Court for Baltimore County, 401 Bosely Avenue, Suite 507, Towson, MD, 21204-4420, Phone: 410/887-2920, Fax: 410/887-2922, E-mail: bkhowe@verizon.net; Ellyn S. Rosen*, Phone: 312/988-5311, Fax: 312/988-5491, E-mail: rosene@staff.abanet.org.  

G) Amends §31.7 of the Bylaws to revise the jurisdictional statement of the Standing Committee on Professionalism to increase the size of the Committee from seven to nine members. Contact: Jim Stuckey, Littler Mendelson, PC, 1201 Main Street, Suite 1100, Columbia, SC, 29201, Phone: 803/799-9760, Fax: 803/753-9861, E-mail: jstuckey@littler.com. 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

2. Standards of Practice for Attorneys
Adopts the Standards of Practice for Attorneys Representing Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking in Civil Protection Order Cases. Commission on Domestic Violence. Contact: Robin Runge**, Phone: 202/662-8637, Fax: 202/662-1594, E-mail: runger@staff.abanet.org. 

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

3. Ecosystems and Biological Diversity
Encourages use of an ecosystems approach to preserve and enhance biological diversity, ecosystem integrity, and ecosystem services and values when undertaking actions and regulating private conduct. Standing Committee on Environmental Law. Contacts: Kenneth J. Warren, Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-Cohen LLP, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, Phone: 215/877-2776, Email: kwarren@wolfblock.com; Elissa Lichtenstein**, Phone: 202/662-1695, Fax: 202/638-3844, E-mail: elissa@staff.abanet.org.

FAMILY LAW

4. Model Code Governing Assisted Reproduction
Adopts the Model Code Governing Assisted Reproduction providing model provisions that can be considered by legislative bodies to address legal issues which have arisen from the increased use of intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, embryo transfer and other methods of collaborative reproduction. Section of Family Law. Contacts: Charles P. Kindregan, Suffolk University Law School, 120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02108-4977, Phone: 617/573-8193, Fax: 617/773-5872, E-mail: ckindreg@suffolk.edu; Paula Nessel*, Phone: 312/988-5619, Fax: 312-988-6800, E-mail: paulanessel@staff.abanet.org.

INTERNATIONAL LAW

5. Government in the Sunshine Act
Supports certain procedures relevant to the International Trade Commission’s compliance with the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S. C. § 552(b)) that would better serve the public interests of well articulated and more reasoned opinions, greater collegiality among the Commissioners and increased deliberation before the public. Section of International Law. Contacts: John Magnus, Phone: 202/744-0368, E-mail: john.magnus@starpower.net; Leanne Pfautz**, 202/662-1661, Fax: 202/662-1669, E-mail: pfautzl@staff.abanet.org.

LAWYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

6. Model Rule for Conditional Admission to Practice Law
Adopts a Model Rule for Conditional Admission to Practice Law which encompasses the best practices that jurisdictions should be mindful of when considering the adoption of a Conditional Admission Rule. Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP). Contact: Donna L. Spilis*, Phone: 312/988-5359, Fax: 312/988-5483, E-Mail: spilisd@staff.abanet.org.

LEGAL EDUCATION

7. Model Rule on Registration of In-House Counsel
Adopts the Model Rule on Registration of In-House Counsel, dated August 2007. Contact: Hulett Askew*, Phone: 312/988-6744, Fax: 312/988-5681, E-mail: askewh@staff.abanet.org.

8. Paralegal Education Programs
Grants approval, reapproval, withdrawal of approval, and/or extension of the term of approval to several paralegal education programs. Standing Committee on Paralegals. Contact:  Peggy C. Wallace*, Phone: 312/988-5618, Fax: 312/988-5483, E-mail: wallacep@staff.abanet.org.

9. Standards for the Approval of Law Schools
Concurs with the action of the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar in revising Standard 801 (a) and Rules 13, 18, 20 and 21 to bring them into compliance with the Department of Education requirements and adopting new Interpretations 302-10 (concerning pro bono), 509-3 (concerning academic calendar) and 301-6 (concerning bar exam passage data) to the Standards for Approval of Law Schools, Interpretations and Rules of Procedure.  Contact: Hulett Askew*, Phone: 312/988-6744, Fax: 312/988-5681, E-mail: askewh@staff.abanet.org.

LITIGATION

10. Civil Trial Practice Standards
Adopts the black letter of the revised and/or new Standards that have been integrated into The Civil Trial Practice Standards to become the Updated Civil Trial Practice Standards which address practical aspects of trial that regularly recur but are not fully addressed by rules of evidence or procedure.  Section of Litigation. Contact: Patricia Lee Refo, Snell & Wilmer, One Arizona Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, Phone: 602/382-6290, E-mail: prefo@swlaw.com.

11. Principles - Rule of Law in a Time of Calamity
Adopts eleven proposed Rule of Law Principles to preserve the rule of law in times of catastrophe to help insure that justice will continue to be dispensed despite the damage and disruption caused by catastrophic events. Section of Litigation. Contact: JoAnne Epps, Temple University Law School, 1719 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, Phone: 215/204-8993, E-mail: joanne.epps@temple.edu.

12. Unrepresented Litigants in Housing Courts
Recommends protocols and best practices for judges when litigants, generally the tenants, are not represented by counsel in cases that may result in the loss of their apartments and in cases of homelessness. New York County Lawyers’ Association (NYCLA). Contact: Marilyn J. Flood, New York County Lawyers’ Association, 14 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10007, Phone: 212/267-6646, Ext. 222, Fax: 212/406-9252, E-mail: www.nycla.org.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITY LAW

13. Accessibility of Legal Websites
Encourages and assists legal entities in making their websites more accessible. Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law. Contacts: Scott C. LaBarre, LaBarre Law Offices, P.C., 1660 S. Albion Street, Denver, CO, 80222-4046, Phone: 303/504-5979, Fax: 303/757-3640, E-mail: slabarre@labarrelaw.com; Jonathan Simeone**, Phone: 202/662-1576, E-mail: simeonej@staff.abanet.org.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

14. Civic Learning
Urges legislative advocacy for the inclusion of teacher preparation and student assessment of civic learning in the No Child Left Behind Act (Public Law 1-7-110), which is up for reauthorization by Congress in 2007. Standing Committee on Public Education. Contact:  Mabel McKinney-Browning*, Phone: 312/988-5731, Fax: 312/988-5494, E-mail: mckinneyb@staff.abanet.org.

SPECIALIZATION

15. Lawyer Specialty Certification Programs
Recommends the accreditation of several lawyer specialty certification programs as reorganized.  Contract:  Myron M. Sheinfield, Tommy Moss Properties, 1913 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX, 77098, Phone: 713/526-2888, Fax: 713/942-8453, E-mail: msheinfield@tmossprop.com; Tori Jo Wible*, 312/988-5753, Fax: 312/988-5483, E-mail: wiblet@staff.abanet.org.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

16. Insurance Coverage
Reaffirms the principle that abuse of, and dependence on, alcohol or other drugs of abuse are diseases, and support the principle that insurance coverage for treatment of such diseases should be at parity with that for other diseases. Standing Committee on Substance Abuse.  Contact:  Valerie A. Adelson**, Phone: 202/662-1784, Fax: 202/662-1787, E-mail: adelsonv@staff.abanet.org.

17. Non-Medical (Illicit) Use of Prescription Drugs
Urges states to adopt strategies to reduce the incidence of prescription drug diversion and abuse, including the enactment of legislation to authorize and implement Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PMDP), which are instrumental in protecting the integrity of the process of prescribing and filling legitimate prescriptions and thereby preventing prescription drug abuse. Standing Committee on Substance Abuse.  Contact:  Valerie A. Adelson**, Phone: 202/662-1784, Fax: 202/662-1787, E-mail: adelsonv@staff.abanet.org.

YOUTH AT RISK

18. Juvenile Status Offenders
Urges states and the federal government to pass laws that encourage the implementation and support of pre-court early intervention and diversion services for youth who engage in non-criminal behaviors, such as running away, truancy and ungovernability.
Commission on Youth at Risk. Contacts: Dwight L. Smith, 1800 S. Baltimore, Suite 1030,Tulsa, OK  74119, Phone: (918) 585-1446, E-mail: dls@dlstulsalaw.com; Jessica Kendall**, Phone: (202) 662-1782, Fax: (202) 662-1755, E-Mail: Kendallj@staff.abanet.org
 

19. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Homeless and Foster Youth
Encourages state legislatures, government agencies and courts to adopt anti-discrimination laws and policies to protect the safety and well-being of homeless and foster youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning. 

Commission on Youth at Risk. Contacts: Dwight L. Smith, 1800 S. Baltimore, Suite 1030,Tulsa, OK  74119, Phone: (918) 585-1446, E-mail: dls@dlstulsalaw.com; Jessica Kendall**, Phone: (202) 662-1782, Fax: (202) 662-1755, E-Mail: Kendallj@staff.abanet.org

20. Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
Encourages states and the federal government to pass laws that provide critical post-majority services to youth aging out of the foster care system including education, housing and financial services that support youths’ healthy and safe transitions to adulthood and self-sufficiency.
Commission on Youth at Risk. Contacts: Dwight L. Smith, 1800 S. Baltimore, Suite 1030,Tulsa, OK  74119, Phone: (918) 585-1446, E-mail: dls@dlstulsalaw.com; Jessica Kendall**, Phone: (202) 662-1782, Fax: (202) 662-1755, E-Mail: Kendallj@staff.abanet.org

**American Bar Association, Washington Office, 740 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1009