ABA Update

ABA REPORT

By: Chris Jennison, ABA Representative

The YLS sent a delegation of young lawyers to attend the ABA’s Young Lawyers Division Assembly and conference during the ABA’s Annual Meeting, held in Chicago, IL, from August 4-6, 2022. The delegation included Chris Jennison, Heather Krick, Kaitlin Corey, Valerie Desroches, Jasmine England-Ceasar, and Rima Kikani, in person, as well as Desiree Luckey virtually. Along with young lawyers from across the country, policies were debated and adopted, including: • Urging the Biden Administration to cancel student loan debt and Congress to adopt legislation that reduces all student loan debt and cancellation for public service borrowers;

• Urging all national, state, and local bar associations to establish a professional advancement program for new and young lawyers to provide meaningful education surrounding wage negotiations and financial planning; • Urging federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal courts, as well as attorneys, judges, legislators, governmental agencies, and other policymakers to take actions to address issues of racism in America’s civil and criminal justice systems; • Urging all legal employers to adopt policies and practices that prioritize mental health needs of employees following the return-to-office;

• Urging federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to enact legislation to include Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history in the

United States in school curricula, including the Teaching Asian Pacific American

History Act (H.R. 2283–117th Congress); and encourages educators and educational institutions to develop and include Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander curricula throughout all levels of the American educational system; and • Urging federal, state, local and territorial governments to prioritize tribal consultation and urges the passage of the RESPECT Act (H.R. 3587) or similar legislation, to strengthen the federal government’s ability to uphold its trust and treaty responsibilities by codifying requirements for meaningful tribal consultation processes.

We look forward to sending a MSBA delegation to the next YLD Assembly at the Midyear Meeting, February 2-4, 2023, in New Orleans, LA. If you’re interested in attending, please email Chris Jennison at chris.s.jennison@gmail.com.