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VOL. 1, NO. 2
April 2008
What's Happening With…
Guest Column:
Mary A. Cavallini, Associate Executive Director of Professional Services, Membership, and Market Research Group, discusses the value of membership. »
Membership Update:
A report from Andrew "Josh" Markus, Chair of the SOC Membership Committee. »
diversity matters
Jeffery G. Gibson, Chair of the new ABA Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI), provides an overview. »
Jottings From the Editor…
Lee S. Kolczun discusses the mission of SOC e-News »
SOC Discussion Lists  »
Give Us Your Feedback
What do you think of the articles in this issue? What would you like to see in upcoming issues? »
Contact Us
Please feel free to contact us with your comments or questions »
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what's happening with . . .
The ABA Criminal Justice Section
White Collar Crime Institute
By Stephen A. Saltzburg, Chair, Criminal Justice Section
In 1986 Raymond Banoun created the American Bar Association White Collar Crime National Institute and 45 people showed up. Twenty-two years later, and still under the leadership of Mr. Banoun, the conference brought together more than 1,400 attendees from across the legal spectrum, and featured a faculty of the leading white collar crime experts in America. Taking place in Miami from March 5-7, this year’s event featured panels and breakout sessions focusing on the timely topics and major issues arising in white collar crime investigations and prosecutions. ABA Criminal Justice Section Chair-Elect Anthony Joseph welcomed attendees and gave opening remarks to kick off the conference.
Raymond Banoun, addressing the
White Collar Crime Institute
For the first time at the Institute, a panel titled "White Collar Basics: The Fundamentals" was presented for practitioners new to the business fraud area, featuring practice tips and expert advice from experienced white collar lawyers on issues such as internal investigations and the handling of subpoenas and search warrants.
Two other stand-alone programs addressed various aspects of the KPMG (accounting firm) criminal case, and 30 years of investigations and prosecutions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The numerous concurrent breakout sessions covered both hot issues and white collar staples such as mortgage fraud, money laundering, criminal tax enforcement, and judicial attitudes toward changes in the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey gave an informative keynote luncheon address explaining how recent U.S. financial measures targeting specific financial institutions in Iran have effectively isolated Tehran from the international financial system.
For more information on the White Collar Crime Institute – including an audio transcript of Secretary Levey’s remarks, conference photos, program materials and information for purchasing the audio recording of the entire conference, go to http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/wcc2008highlights.html.
Forty Years of Criminal Justice Standards!
By Irwin H. Schwartz, Criminal Justice Standards Committee
The Criminal Justice Section is celebrating the 40th year of the ABA Criminal Justice Standards! Following approval of the 17 original volumes (beginning in 1968 and ending in 1973), United States Chief Justice Warren Burger described the standards project as "the single most comprehensive and probably the most monumental undertaking in the field of criminal justice ever attempted by the American legal profession in our national history." Since then, most of the original volumes have been updated twice, and two are in the process of being updated for a third time.
Throughout the years, the standards have provided invaluable guidance to prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, legislators, and other policymakers on issues ranging from Pretrial Release through Post-Conviction Remedies. In recent years, new standards on Technologically Assisted Physical Surveillance, DNA Evidence, Collateral Sanctions, and Prosecutorial Investigations have been added to the original volumes addressed to specific audiences (e.g., Prosecution and Defense Function, Special Functions of the Trial Judge) or specific stages of the criminal justice process (e.g., Pleas of Guilty, Discovery and Trial by Jury, and Sentencing).
Initial responsibility for ensuring the Standards continue to be relevant, timely and of the highest quality resides in the nine-member Standards Committee appointed by the ABA President upon recommendation of the Criminal Justice Section Chair. The Standards Committee determines the priorities for updating or revising existing volumes and for developing or expanding volumes to address issues not already covered. It commissions and provides oversight to Task Forces in developing specific recommendations, and ensures thorough review by both ABA and non-ABA entities. It reviews, revises, and approves draft standards to be forwarded to the Criminal Justice Section Council and, ultimately, to the policymaking ABA House of Delegates. Following approval by the House, it oversees the preparation of and approves commentary to accompany the "black letter" standards and, finally, it ensures publication of the new volumes.
For more information about the Standards, visit the Standards homepage: http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/standards/home.html
©2008 American Bar Association. All rights reserved.
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