Virtual Possibilities American Bar Association Delegate Report Midyear Meeting 2021, 0621 RIBJ, RIBJ, 69 RI Bar J., No. 6, Pg. 23
| Position | Vol. 69 6 Pg. 23 |
May, 2021
Robert D. Oster, Esq. ABA Delegate and Past Rhode Island Bar Association President
The ABA House of Delegates met virtually on February 22, 2021, and the one-day meeting of the 597-member House of Delegates passed 31 wide-ranging measures, including a resolution that urges the federal government to implement programs to assist law graduates and law students experiencing financial hardship due to their student loans. The new student loan policy Resolution 106C recommends extending repayment terms, allowing either refinancing or transferring of obligations of federal programs to commercial programs and authorizing suspension of forgiveness of student loans.
Resolution 10E urges Congress to enact the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act of 2020, or similar legislation, to prohibit the disclosure of personally identifiable information of active, senior, recalled, or retired federal judges, including magistrate judges, bankruptcy judges, administrative law judges, administrative judges, and immigration judges, and their immediate family who share their residence, including limited home addresses or other personal contact or identifying information.
A number of resolutions addressing the use and treatment of animals in the legal system were passed. A resolution related to specially trained canines (known as facility dogs) used to assist victims/vulnerable witnesses in their participation at any stage of the criminal justice system was passed. Resolution 111 urges federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to enact statutes, rules, and regulations to prohibit the possession and display of firearms by civilians in and around locations critical to the functioning of the democratic process. Resolution 106A encourages the use of pronouns consistent with a person’s gender identity within the legal profession and justice system, including in filed pleadings, during mediations and court proceedings, and within judicial opinions.
Resolution 105 urges the highest court or bar admission authority of each jurisdiction to allow bar examinees to bring menstrual products into the bar exam. Resolution 10F urges federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments and police commissions to establish officer training...
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