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There was much to discuss at the American Bar Association’s Annual Meeting. This past year marked the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, ushered in a national right to same sex marriage, witnessed widespread civil unrest with police, and saw an influx of unaccompanied minor immigrants. In addition, the practice of law is under siege from pressures to evolve. Be it data security, unavailable jobs, or gaps in justice, the wind is whispering change.
The scale of ABA Annual was enormous. With events, meetings, and presentations spanning across seven hotels in downtown Chicago, there was no way to see it all. Equal to the magnitude was the bravado of guest speakers with Senator Lindsey Graham, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Attorney General Loretta Lynch to name a few. There was certainly no shortage of expertise or topics to discuss. Whether it was language barriers in representation, domestic violence in the NFL, or combating the criminalization of homelessness, this year’s ABA Annual was loaded for bear.
Recording with ABA President William Hubbard at #ABAannual @WilliamCHubbard @ABAJournal @aba_futures @ABAesq @ABANews pic.twitter.com/AVfgbQx7oo
— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) July 29, 2015
The following series of interviews features our coverage of ABA Annual. We had the privilege of meeting with state court judges, district attorneys, and law professors as well as journalists, practitioners, and members of law enforcement. They shared their knowledge and opinions across a wide spectrum of issues including policing, voter’s rights, and medical marijuana. In addition, we talked about the number of women in the first chair, the 100th anniversary of the ABA Journal, and the launch of Ankerwycke Books, which is the ABA’s new publication outfit for entertainment and educational content.
Outgoing ABA President William Hubbard talks about his tenure, the historic Supreme Court session, problems in the criminal justice system, the 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta, and more. Listen here: President Hubbard’s Year in Review
Judges James Jordan, Christopher P. Yates, Edward L. Chavez, and Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye discuss the difficulties non-English speakers face in our court systems and possible solutions to the problem. Listen here: Removing Language Barriers to Justice in the Nation’s Courts
Assistant D.A. Cleveland Patterson, Scott Andresen, and Randy Kessler talk about the role of the NFL when it comes to punishment rehabilitation of players who engage in domestic violence. Listen here: Who’s Responsible for Domestic Violence in the NFL?
Director Sean Smoot, Professor Craig Futterman, and Professor Tracey Meares discuss perceptions of police power, crime rates, top stressors for officers, and body cams. Listen Here: Perspectives on Race, Communities, and Policing in Twenty First Century America
Casey Trupin, Brandon Smith, and Executive Director Jeremy Rosen talk about the unique legal issues faced by our nation’s homeless population and how homeless courts are being used to treat rather than punish those less fortunate. Listen here: Combating the Criminalization of Homelessness
Madeline Meacham and Michael Haddad talk about the potential for personal liability faced by police officers in the line of duty. Tune in to hear why it may be easier to sue an individual officer versus the city they work for. Listen here: Officer and Municipality Liability for Alleged Misconduct
Benjamin E. Griffith, Robert Heath, Nancy Abudu, Tanya Clay House, and Director Nicole Austin-Hillery discuss election laws, the necessities for redistricting, and how our democratic system works. Listen here: Election Law: Redistricting, Gerrymandering, and Civil Rights
Allen Pusey, editor and publisher for the ABA Journal, discusses the journal’s independence from the ABA, distribution,100th Anniversary edition, and changes for the future. Listen here: The ABA Journal’s 100th Anniversary
Executive Editor Jonathan Malysiak and authors David Lat, Ronald Fierstein, and Dina Gold talk about Ankerwycke Books, their respective novels, and inspiration for writing. Tune in to hear about this new publication outfit for entertainment and educational content. Listen here: Ankerwycke Books: The Author’s Journey
Bobbi Liebenberg and Stephanie Scharf discuss the disparity of men vs. women as the first chair at trial and the possible causes thereof. Listen here: Why Aren’t Women Becoming Head Trial Lawyers?
Joseph Yastrow joined us to talk about recent case law developments, federal vs. state laws, and how those elements affect medical marijuana use in the workplace. Listen here: Medical Marijuana and Employment Law
Tom Bolt, Robert Hirshon, Chris Zampogna, and Fred Headon talke about possible updates to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, non-tech innovations to help the practice of law, how small firms and paralegals are helping with access to justice, and suggestions from the Canadian Bar Association for maintaining a vibrant and relevant legal profession. Listen here: ABA Presidential Commission on the Future of Legal Services Hearing
Packing up for the day at #ABAAnnual -time for some great #Chicago food pic.twitter.com/O8fqKJX0VO — Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) July 30, 2015
After receiving his J.D. and MBA, Laurence Colletti went into solo practice with emphasis in general business and commercial real estate. He has always carried a strong passion for web-based media with a particular interest in podcasting and video. Laurence leverages his legal background against that passion to help bring sophisticated, relevant content to Legal Talk Network podcasts. You can follow Laurence on Twitter at @LaurenceEsq.