ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice

Join us TODAY - Thursday, August 29 at 2:00 p.m. ET - for our inaugural Chair Chat of the 2024-25 Bar Year. This Chat features 2024-25 Section Chair-Elect and Johnson & Sullivan, Ltd. Partner Mario A. Sullivan in conversation with 2024-25 Section Chair and Constellation Assistant General Counsel Lacy L. Durham as they explore her theme for the year - Advancing Civil Rights & Social Justice: A Call to Action.

Tune in for additional details on her plans for the upcoming year here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIxISXP8qrU

Join us for the next this Thursday, August 29, at 2:00 P.M. ET. This Chat features 2024-25 Section Chair-Elect and Johnson & Sullivan, Ltd. Partner Mario A. Sullivan in conversation with 2024-25 Section Chair and Constellation Assistant General Counsel Lacy L. Durham as they explore her theme for the year - Advancing Civil Rights & Social Justice: A Call to Action. Tune in for additional details on her plans for the upcoming year!

Tune in here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIxISXP8qrU

Join us for the next this Thursday, August 29, at 2:00 P.M. ET. This Chat features 2024-25 Section Chair-Elect and Johnson & Sullivan, Ltd. Partner Mario A. Sullivan in conversation with 2024-25 Section Chair and Constellation Assistant General Counsel Lacy L. Durham as they explore her theme for the year - Advancing Civil Rights & Social Justice: A Call to Action. Tune in for additional details on her plans for the upcoming year!

Tune in here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIxISXP8qrU

Join us TODAY at 2:00 P.M. ET for the next hosted in collaboration with the American Bar Association Office of the President. This Chat features 2023-24 Section Chair, The George Washington University Law School Distinguished Professorial Lecturer in Law, and Consultant Robin R. Runge in conversation with 2024-25 American Bar Association President William R. Bay as they explore his vision and goals for his upcoming year as ABA President.

Tune in here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYIt8zdq-V0

Join us for the next this Thursday, August 22, at 2:00 P.M. ET hosted in collaboration with the American Bar Association Office of the President. This Chat features 2023-24 Section Chair, The George Washington University Law School Distinguished Professorial Lecturer in Law, and Consultant Robin R. Runge in conversation with 2024-25 American Bar Association President William R. Bay as they explore his vision and goals for his upcoming year as ABA President.

Tune in here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYIt8zdq-V0

Join us for the next this Thursday, August 22, at 2:00 P.M. ET hosted in collaboration with the American Bar Association Office of the President. This Chat features 2023-24 Section Chair, The George Washington University Law School Distinguished Professorial Lecturer in Law, and Consultant Robin R. Runge in conversation with 2024-25 American Bar Association President William R. Bay as they explore his vision and goals for his upcoming year as ABA President.

Tune in here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYIt8zdq-V0

Join us TODAY at 12pm ET for this conversation on access to safe, equitable, and culturally informed midwifery care.

Watch HERE: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/events_cle/recent/hawaii-midwifery-care/

Join us on Friday, August 16, at 12:00 PM ET for the second installment in our reproductive rights In Conversation series, Kahoʻohanohano v. State of Hawaiʻi: Protecting Access to Safe, Equitable, and Culturally Informed Midwifery Care. Watch Here: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/events_cle/recent/hawaii-midwifery-care/

Tune in for a conversation with attorneys leading a landmark suit, Kahoʻohanohano v. State of Hawaiʻi, to discuss the case and what’s at stake for birthing people in Hawai’i and beyond. Join the attorneys leading this critical litigation to learn about this important case and what it means to access to safe, equitable, and culturally informed midwifery care.

Speakers:
- Hillary Schneller – Senior Staff Attorney, Center for Reproductive Rights
- Kirsha Durante – Litigation Director, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation
- Nicolle Vasquez del Favero (Moderator) – Member, ABA Reproductive Rights Initiative; Assistant Counsel, Naval Facilities Engineering and Systems Command, Dept of the Navy, Office of the General Counsel

Join us on Friday, August 16, at 12:00 PM ET for the second installment in our reproductive rights In Conversation series, Kahoʻohanohano v. State of Hawaiʻi: Protecting Access to Safe, Equitable, and Culturally Informed Midwifery Care. Watch Here: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/events_cle/recent/hawaii-midwifery-care/

Tune in for a conversation with attorneys leading a landmark suit, Kahoʻohanohano v. State of Hawaiʻi, to discuss the case and what’s at stake for birthing people in Hawai’i and beyond. Join the attorneys leading this critical litigation to learn about this important case and what it means to access to safe, equitable, and culturally informed midwifery care.

Speakers:
- Hillary Schneller – Senior Staff Attorney, Center for Reproductive Rights
- Kirsha Durante – Litigation Director, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation
- Nicolle Vasquez del Favero (Moderator) – Member, ABA Reproductive Rights Initiative; Assistant Counsel, Naval Facilities Engineering and Systems Command, Dept of the Navy, Office of the General Counsel

Recent American Bar Association Action: Resolution 607, which urges governmental entities to eschew broadened involuntary civil commitment standards for addressing unhoused people with mental health disabilities, was passed by the ABA House of Delegates this week! Many thanks to our partner entity the American Bar Association - Commission on Disability Rights for leading the way with this effort!

ABA Passes Resolution Opposing Broadening Involuntary Commitment Standards to Address Unhoused People with Mental Health Disabilities The ABA House of Delegates passed Resolution 607 on August 6, 2024, which calls for governmental entities to eschew broadened involuntary civil commitment standards for addressing unhoused people with mental health disabilities.

Remember to join us this Thursday, August 8 at 12:00 PM ET for the first installment in our reproductive rights initiative series, What Just Happened? Unpacking the Recent SCOTUS Decisions. Our panel of experts will dive into key Supreme Court decisions from cases such as FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and Moyle v. United States that have caused unease as to what the future holds for access to reproductive healthcare, the future of constitutional rights, and the rule of law in the United States. Don’t miss this vital discussion regarding the future of access to abortion, pregnancy care, and bodily autonomy.

This presentation is the first installment in a multi-part In Conversation Series focused on the ABA's Reproductive Rights Initiative. Learn more at ambar.org/reprorights.

Watch HERE: youtube.com/watch?v=Hrwe8-fkJgI

Join us next Thursday, August 8 at 12:00 PM ET for first installment in our reproductive rights initiative series, What Just Happened? Unpacking the Recent SCOTUS Decisions. Our panel of experts will dive into key Supreme Court decisions from cases such as  FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and Moyle v. United States that have caused unease as to what the future holds for access to reproductive healthcare, the future of constitutional rights, and the rule of law in the United States.  Don’t miss this vital discussion regarding the future of access to abortion, pregnancy care, and bodily autonomy. 

Speakers: 
Laura Portuondo – Assistant Professor, University of Houston Law School 
Autumn Katz – Associate Director, U.S. Litigation, Center for Reproductive Rights 

Moderator: 
Deanna L. Kwong – Director, Office of Operations, Legal, and Administrative Affairs, Hewlett Packard Enterprise 

Watch using the link in our bio!!

The 2024 Thurgood Marshall Award Dinner is tomorrow at 7:30 - 10:00 PM CT! Join us for a wonderful evening to bring those across the legal community together to pay tribute to Eva J. Paterson and her tremendous work as a civil rights champion and litigator. We look forward to seeing you there! Learn more and register at ambar.org/tma24.

Join us next Thursday, August 8 at 12:00 PM ET for first installment in our reproductive rights initiative series, What Just Happened? Unpacking the Recent SCOTUS Decisions. Our panel of experts will dive into key Supreme Court decisions from cases such as  FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and Moyle v. United States that have caused unease as to what the future holds for access to reproductive healthcare, the future of constitutional rights, and the rule of law in the United States.  Don’t miss this vital discussion regarding the future of access to abortion, pregnancy care, and bodily autonomy. 

Speakers: 
Laura Portuondo – Assistant Professor, University of Houston Law School 
Autumn Katz – Associate Director, U.S. Litigation, Center for Reproductive Rights 

Moderator: 
Deanna L. Kwong – Director, Office of Operations, Legal, and Administrative Affairs, Hewlett Packard Enterprise 

Watch using the link in our bio!!

CRSJ is flying out to Chicago today for the 2024 ! There is still time to register to the Thurgood Marshall Award Dinner, honoring the wonderful Eva J. Paterson! Be sure to join us by registering at http://ambar.org/tma24!

CRSJ lands in Chicago tomorrow for the 2024 ! Our events include our Perfecting Democracy programs, Section Council meetings, and our signature event, the Thurgood Marshall Award Dinner. We hope to see you all in Chicago!

We are five days away from our 2024 Thurgood Marshall Award Dinner in Chicago, IL! Join us for a joyous evening celebrating 2024 Thurgood Marshall Recipient Eva J. Paterson, along with a special performance from the Coolerators, remarks from social justice advocates, and programming to celebrate the accomplishments of the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice this past year. We look forward to seeing you there! Learn more and register at ambar.org/tma24.

34 years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, marking a pivotal step towards equality and inclusion for people with disabilities in the United States.

The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. It has opened doors, created opportunities, and fundamentally changed how our society views and includes people with disabilities.

As we commemorate this anniversary, we also recognize the ongoing work needed to achieve full equality and inclusion. This Disability Pride Month, let's honor the activists who fought for the ADA, celebrate the diverse contributions of people with disabilities to our society, and recommit ourselves to creating a truly accessible and inclusive world for all.

Learn more about the ABA's ongoing efforts to advance disability rights, promote accessibility in the legal profession, and support the full implementation of the ADA through the ABA Commission on Disability Rights at americanbar.org/groups/diversity/disabilityrights/