POTENTIAL AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE 2008 MIDYEAR MEETING OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
NOTE: This list includes issues that may be presented for consideration at the 2008 Midyear 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, November 14, 2007.
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW 1. Interstate Compacts Administrative Procedure Act Adopts a Model Interstate Compacts Administrative Procedure Act for effective and efficient cooperation among state agencies. Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice. Contact: William Morrow, WMATC, 1828 L Street NW, Suite 703, Washington, DC 20036, Phone: 202/331-1671, E-mail: wmorrow@wmatc.gov. Model Land Use Administrative Procedure Act for States Adopts a new Model Act of procedures for deciding land use planning disputes to provide for fair hearings for developers and persons resisting development. Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice. Contact: Michael Asimow, UCLA School of Law, 405 N. Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Phone: 310/825-1086, E-mail: Asimow@law.ucla.edu. Redistricting Urges States to adopt a set of procedures and standards for the redistricting process. Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice. Contact: Gerald Herbert, Campaign Legal Center, 1640 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20036, Phone: 202/736-2200, Email: ghebert@campaignlegalcenter.org.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE 4. Improving Procedural Fairness in the Federal Sentencing Process Supports the recent recommendation of the Sentencing Initiative of the Constitution Project regarding improvement of procedural fairness in the federal sentencing process and endorses the proposed amendments to Rule 32 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure set forth in the Constitution Project Report. Criminal Justice Section. Contact: Lenard “Barry” Boss, Cozen O'Connor, 1627 Eye Street NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20006-4022, Phone: 202/9124818, Fax: 202/912-4830, E-mail: bboss@cozen.com; James Felman, Kynes Markman & Felman, 100 S Ashley Drive, Ste 1300, Tampa, FL 33602-5309, Phone: 813/229-1118, Fax: 813-2216750, E-mail: jfelman@kmf-law.com; Jack Hanna**, Phone: 202/662-1510, Fax: 202/662-1501; E-mail:hannaj@staff.abanet.org.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
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Prosecutorial Disclosure of Evidence Recommends amendments to the ABA Model Rules that when a prosecutor knows of new, credible and material evidence creating a reasonable likelihood that a convicted defendant did not commit an offense of which the defendant was convicted, the prosecutor shall: (1) promptly disclose that evidence to an appropriate court or authority; and (2) if the conviction was obtained in the prosecutor’s jurisdiction, promptly disclose that evidence to the defendant unless a court authorizes delay, and undertake further inquiry, or make reasonable efforts to cause an investigation, to determine whether the defendant was convicted of an offense that the defendant did not commit. Criminal Justice Section. Contact: Bruce Green, Fordham University, 140 W 62nd Street, Room 221, New York, NY 10023-7407, Phone: 212/636-6851, Fax: 212/636-6899, E-mail: bgreen@law.fordham.edu; Jack Hanna**, Phone: 202/662-1510, Fax: 202/662-1501; Email:hannaj@staff.abanet.org. Sentence Mitigation for Youthful Offenders Urges all federal, state, local and territorial governments to authorize and implement sentencing laws and rules of procedure that both protect public safety and give mitigating consideration to youthful offenders. Criminal Justice Section. Contacts: Robert Schwartz, 1315 Walnut Street, Floor 4, Philadelphia, PA 19107-4705, Phone: 215/625-0551, Fax: 215/625-2808, E-mail: rschwartz@jlc.org; Kristie Kennedy**, Phone: 202/662-1511, Fax: 202/662-1501; E-mail: kennedyk@staff.abanet.org. Standards on Prosecutorial Investigation Adopts Criminal Justice Standards on Prosecutorial Investigations that are intended as a guide to professional conduct and performance for a prosecutor actively engaged in the conduct of a criminal investigation or performing a legally mandated investigative responsibility, e.g., serving as legal advisor to an investigative grand jury or as an applicant for a warrant to intercept communications. These Standards may not be applicable to a prosecutor serving in a minor supporting role to an investigation undertaken and directed by law enforcement agents. Criminal Justice Section. Contacts: Ronald Goldstock, 15 Hall Avenue, Larchmont NY 10538, Phone: 914/834-8989, Fax: 914/833-3412, E-mail: ipsig@abanet.org; Irwin Schwartz, 710 Cherry Street, Seattle, WA 98104-1925, Phone: 206/623-5084, Fax: 206/623-5951, E-mail: irwin@ihschwartz.com; Susan Hillenbrand**, Phone: 202/662-1503; Fax: 202/662-1501, Email:hillenbrands@staff.abanet.org. Vigorous Prosecution of Crimes Against the Elderly Urges steps to be taken by federal, state, local, and territorial governments and their prosecutors to vigorously prosecute cases of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Criminal Justice Section. Contacts: Lori Levin, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 120 S Riverside Plaza, Room 1016, Chicago, IL 60606-3936, Phone: 312/793-8550, E-mail: lolevin@aol.com; Benjamin Overton, Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, 5000 SW 25th Blvd, Unit 2123, Gainesville, FL 32608-8929, Phone: 352/380-2731, Fax: 352/380-2736, E-mail: bover@att.net; Jack Hanna**, Phone: 202/662-1510, Fax: 202/662-1501; E-mail:hannaj@staff.abanet.org. FAMILY LAW Assisted Reproductive Technology Adopts the Model Act Governing Assisted Reproductive Technology to provide suggested model legislation for the regulation of those technologies involved in the use of assisted human
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______________________________ *American Bar Association, 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610 th **American Bar Association, Washington Office, 740 15 Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1009
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reproduction. The Act is not intended to conflict in any way with the Uniform Parentage Act, nor to limit the ability of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws to work in these or related subject matters in the future as appropriate model legislation for consideration by the states and territories. Section of Family Law. Contacts: Steven H. Snyder & Associates, 11270 86th Avenue N, Maple Grove, MN 55369-4510, Phone: 763/420-6700, Fax: 612/719-7307, Email: steve@snyderlawfirm.com; Paula Nessel*, Phone: 312/988-5619, Fax: 312/988-6800, Email: paulanessel@staff.abanet.org.
IMMIGRATION 10. Attorney Fees for Labor Certifications Supports permitting foreign national employees to pay attorney fees for preparation of foreign labor certifications, including fees for representation of the employer. Commission on Immigration. Contact: Irena Lieberman**, Phone: 202/662-1008, Fax: 202/638-3844, E-mail: Liebermi@staff.abanet.org. Detention Conditions and Standards Supports legislation and regulations to ensure that immigration detainees are treated humanely and that detention standards are fully implemented and enforced and supports promulgation of existing detention standards and future, ABA-approved standards into regulations. Commission on Immigration. Contact: Irena Lieberman**, Phone: 202/662-1008, Fax: 202/638-3844, E-mail: Liebermi@staff.abanet.org. Family Detention Standards Establishes and urges the Department of Homeland Security to adopt and implement a set of national standards that govern conditions of confinement for detained immigrant families. The standards will incorporate, where applicable, elements of the current adult detention standards and the Flores v. Reno settlement agreement, which prescribes standards for the detention of immigrant children that apply to all federal custodians. The standards will also address the specific dynamics relating to families in institutional settings. Commission on Immigration. Contact: Irena Lieberman**, Phone: 202/662-1008, Fax: 202/638-3844, E-mail: Liebermi@staff.abanet.org.IMMIGRATION Immigration Fees Supports fee levels for immigration and naturalization benefits that are not so burdensome as to generally deter eligible applicants from filing and supports a generous and clearly-defined fee waiver policy and procedures for indigent applicants who demonstrate an inability to pay the fees associated with their applications; no fees for applications for humanitarian forms of immigration relief and associated benefits; and appropriation of federal funds for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services activities. Commission on Immigration. Contact: Irena Lieberman**, Phone: 202/662-1008, Fax: 202/638-3844, E-mail: Liebermi@staff.abanet.org.
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LEGAL EDUCATION
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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. Interpretations of the Standards for Approval of Law Schools Concurs in the action of the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar in amending Interpretation 301-6 concerning bar passage, dated February 2008, of the Standards for Approval of Law Schools and the Interpretations of the Standards. Contact: Hulett Askew*, Phone: 312/988-6744, Fax: 312/988-5681, askewh@staff.abanet.org. Law School Accreditation Concurs in the action of the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar in denying provisional approval to the Eugenio Maria de Hostos School of Law. The law school is appealing the decision of the Council. Contact: Hulett Askew*, Phone: 312/988-6744, Fax: 312/988-5681, askewh@staff.abanet.org.
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LAWYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 17. 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 including the commentary, dated February 2007. Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP). Contacts: Judge Robert L. Childers, 30 th Judicial District at Memphis, 140 Adams Avenue, Suite 212, Memphis, TN 38103-2000, Phone: 901/545-4022, Fax: 901/545-5659, E-mail: Robert.Childers@shelbycountytn.gov ; Donna L. Spilis*, Phone: 312/988-5359, Fax: 312/988-5483, E-mail: spilisd@staff.abanet.org.
JUDGES/COURTS 18. Protocols for Judges Adopts protocols for judges in the settlement and trial of cases involving unrepresented litigants. The protocols are designed as tools for judges to use in settlement proceedings to review the terms of stipulations and alternatives to settlements. New York County Lawyers’ Association. Contact: Marilyn J. Flood, Esq., New York County Lawyers’ Association, 14 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10007, Phone: 212/267-6646, Ext. 222, Fax: 212/406-9252, mflood@nycla.org.
HEALTH LAW 19. Compact for Long-term Care Urges all federal, state and local legislative bodies and governmental agencies to adopt the “Compact for Long-term Care” in accordance with regional conditions and local rules, as a means
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to provide more financially equitable long-term care services than is currently available through Medicaid. New York State Bar Association. Contact: Ellen G. Makofsky, Raskin & Makofsky, 600 Old Country Road, Suite 444, Garden City, NY 11530, Phone: 516/228-6522, Fax: 516/2286525, E-mail: EGM@raskinmakofsky.com.
SPECIALIZATION 20. Lawyer Specialty Certification Programs Grants accreditation or reaccredidation to several lawyer specialty certification programs. Standing Committee on Specialization. Contact: Tori Jo Wible*, Phone: 312/988-5753, Fax: 312/9885483, E-mail: wiblet@staff.abanet.org.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE 21. Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Urges state, tribal and territorial legislative bodies to adopt strategies that foster and encourage the prescribing of prescription medications for effective pain management and to reduce the incidence of prescription drug diversion and abuse, including the enactment of legislation to authorize and implement Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 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. Contacts: Edward H. Jurith Esq., Office of National Drug Control Policy, 750 17 th Street N.W., Washington, DC 20503-1403, Phone: 202/395-6622, Fax: 202/395-6708, Email: Edward_H_Jurity@ondcp.eop.gov; Valerie A. Adelson**, Phone: 202/662-1784, Fax: 202/662-1787, E-mail: adelsonv@staff.abanet.org.
UNIFORM ACTS 22. Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act This act addresses the issue of jurisdiction over adult guardianships, conservatorships, and other protective proceedings. The new act accomplishes for adult guardianship determinations the same certainty that has occurred in child custody law with the promulgation of the 1997 Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, now the law in 48 states. National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Contacts: David G. Nixon, david@nixonlaw.com; David M. English, University of Missouri-Columbia, 203 Hulston Hall, Columbia, MO 65211-4300, Phone: 573/882-6854, Fax: 573/882-4984, E-mail: englishda@missouri.edu; Larry Craddock, Finance Commission of Texas, P.O> Box 5667, Austin, TX 78763-5667, Phone: 512/236-8044, Fax: 512/236-9329, E-mail: larry.craddock@banking.state.tx.us; Karen E. Boxx, University of Washington, P.O. Box 353020, Seattle, WA 98195-3020, Phone: 206/616-3856, Fax: 206-6233384, E-mail: kboxx@u.washington.edu; Michelle W. Clayton, NCCUSL, Suite 1300, 211 Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611-3261, Phone: 312/915-0278, E-mail: michelle.clayton@nccusl.org; Erica F. Wood*, Phone: 312/988-8693, Fax: 312/988-8698, Email: ericawood@staff.abanet.org.
______________________________ *American Bar Association, 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610 th **American Bar Association, Washington Office, 740 15 Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1009
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Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act The Act provides efficient and inexpensive procedures to enable a party in one state to effectuate depositions of witnesses, discover documents or inspect premises in other states. Uniform procedures have become necessary as the amount of litigation involving individuals and documents located outside of the trial state has increased. The goal of the Act is to simplify and standardize the current patchwork of procedures across the various states for deposing witnesses for purposes of out-of-state litigation. . National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Contacts Richard B. Long, Coughlin & Gerhart LLP, 20 Hawley Street, P.O. Box 2039, Binghamton, NY 13902-2039, Phone: 607/584-4139, Fax: 607/723-1530, E-mail: rlong@cglawoffices.com; Thomas A. Mauet, University of Arizona College of Law, Tucson, AZ, 85721-0176, Phone: 520/621-1045, Fax: 520/621-9140, E-mail: Mauet@law.arizona.edu; Lin Hughes, McGinnis Lochridge & Kilgore LLP, Suite 2100, 600 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701-2986, Phone: 512/495-6048, Fax: 512/505-6348, E-mail: lhughes@mcginnislaw.com; Eric M. Fish, NCCUSL, Suite 1300, 211 Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611-3261, Phone: 312/988-9168, E-mail: eric.fish@nccusl.org. Uniform Limited Cooperative Association Act The Uniform Limited Cooperative Association Act is designed to promote rural development by creating the option of a statutorily-defined entity that combines traditional cooperative values with modern financing mechanisms. National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Contacts: Peter F. Langrock, Langrock Sperry & Wool, 111 S. Pleasant Street, P.O. Box plangrock@langrock.com; Thomas E. Geu, University of South Dakota, Suite 214, 414 E. Clark Street, Vermillion, SD 57069-2390, Phone: 605-677-6347, Fax: 605/677-5417, E-mail: tgeu@usd.edu; James Dean, Dean, Dunn & Phillips LLC, Suite 703, 4155 E. Jewell Avenue, Denver, CO. 80222, Phone:303/7566744, E-mail: jim@lawatddp.com; Craig A. Houghton, Baker Manok & Jensen PC, Suite 421, 5260 N. Palm Avenue, Fresno, CA 93740-2222, Phone: 559/432-5400, Fax: 559/4325620, E-mail: cah@bmj-law.com; Michael R. Kerr, NCCUSL, Suite 1300, 211 Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611-3261, Phone: 312/915-0195, Fax: 312/915-0466, E-mail: Michael.kerr@nccusl.org. UNIFORM ACTS Uniform Representation of Children in Abuse, Neglect and Custody Proceedings Act The Uniform Representation of Children in Abuse, Neglect and Custody Proceedings Act (URCANCPA) is an effort to address the issue of who should represent a child in a custody or abuse and neglect proceeding, and the nature of that representation. Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Contacts: Rhoda B. Billings, Wake Forest University School of Law, P.O. Box 7206, Winston Salem, NC 27109, Phone: 919/759-5717, Fax: 919/759-6077, E-mail: billinrb@wfu.edu; Barbara Ann Atwood, 1201 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721-0052, Phone: 520/621-1912, Fax: 520/621-9140, E-mail: atwood@law.arizona.edu; Ann M. Haralambie, Ann M. Haralambie Attorney PC, Suite 901, 3499 N. Cambell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719-2376, Phone: 520/327-6287, Fax: 520/325-1374, E-mail: ann.haralambie@azbar.org; Eric M. Fish, NCCUSL, Suite 1300, 211 Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611-3261, Phone: 312/9889168, E-mail: eric.fish@nccusl.org; Howard Davidson**, Phone: 202/662-1740, Fax: 202/6621755, E-mail: davidsonha@staff.abanet.org. Uniform Rules Relating to the Discovery of Electronically Stored Information
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The primary purpose of these new uniform rules is to provide states with up-to-date rules for the discovery of electronic documents in civil cases. The Uniform Rules provide procedures for parties in a civil case to jointly follow relating to a number of issues, including the preservation of the electronic information; the form in which the information will be produced; and the period of time in which the information must be produced. Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Contacts: Commissioner Rex Blackburn, Blackburn & Jones LLP, 1673 W. Shoreline drive, Boise, ID 83702-6736, Phone: 208/489-8989, Fax: 208/489-8988, E-mail: rex@blackburnjoneslaw.com; John L. Carroll, Cumberland School of Law, Room 102, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229-0001, Phone: 205/726-2704, Fax: 205/726-4107, Email: carroll@samford.edu; Jeffrey M. Allen, Graves & Allen, Suite 1400, 436 14 th Street, Oakland, CA 94612-2716, Phone: 510/839-8777, Fax: 510/839-5192, E-mail: jallenlaw@gravesallen.com; George Lynn Paul, Lewis & Roca LLP, Suite 1900, 40 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004-4446, Phone: 602/262-5326, Fax: 602/734-3857, E-mail: gpaul@lrlaw.com; Scott F. Partridge, Baker Botts LL, 910 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 770024916, Phone: 713/229-1569, Fax: 713/229-7769, E-mail: scott.partridge@bakerbotts.com, Eric M. Fish, NCCUSL, Suite 1300, 211 Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611-3261, Phone: 312/9889168, E-mail: eric.fish@nccusl.org.
______________________________ *American Bar Association, 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610 th **American Bar Association, Washington Office, 740 15 Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1009
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