Section News

• Former Section Chair Hon. Cruz Reynoso to Receive Drinan Service Award
• Section Now Accepting Nominations for 2005 Thurgood Marshall Award
• Section Proposes ABA Policy on Patients' Rights
• Section Begins '04-'05 Funding Appeal
• Special Election Fills Vacancies in Officer and Council Positions
• 2005 Section Nominating Committee Selected
• Environmental Justice Committee Announces Third Annual Essay Competition
• Upcoming Events
  

Hon. Cruz Reynoso, who chaired the Section from 1981-82, has been selected as the recipient of the Section's 2005 Father Robert F. Drinan Distinguished Service Award.

Established in 2001, and named for past Section chair and former Congressman Robert F. Drinan, the award honors individuals who have shown sustained and extraordinary commitment to the Section and/or its mission of providing leadership to the profession in preserving and advancing human rights, civil liberties, and social justice.  Previous recipients are Father Drinan, John H. Pickering, John J. Curtin, and Marna Tucker.

The Drinan Award will be presented at a reception on Friday, Feb. 11, during the ABA's 2005 Midyear Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information regarding the reception, contact the Section office.

The Section is now accepting nominations for the 2005 Thurgood Marshall Award, which recognizes long-term contributions by members of the legal profession to the advancement of civil rights, civil liberties, and human rights in the U.S.  Established in 1992, the Award honors the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who epitomized individual commitment to the cause of civil rights in this country.

Nominations for the 2005 award must be postmarked by Jan. 7, 2005.  Nomination forms are available on the Section's website or by calling the Section office at 202/662-1030.

The award will be presented at the 2005 Thurgood Marshall Award Dinner on Saturday, Aug. 6, during the 2005 ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago, Ill.

• Thurgood Marshall Award Home Page
  

In February 2005, the ABA House of Delegates will consider a Section-sponsored Report with Recommendation addressing the rights of patients to receive medical information to make fully informed healthcare decisions.

The recommendation opposes governmental actions and policies that interfere with the right of patients to receive from healthcare providers, all relevant and medically accurate information necessary to make informed healthcare decisions and information with respect to their access to medically appropriate care.  The Report with Recommendation was drafted by the Section's Health Law and Bioethics Committee.

• View Recommendation
• View Full Report
  

The Section has launched its annual appeal for support of Section activities and invites all members and friends to make tax-deductible contributions through the ABA Fund for Justice and Education (FJE).  Section supporters can contribute through two FJE funds. Contributions to the IRR Support Fund are used for new or ongoing Section initiatives.  Gifts to the Thurgood Marshall Individual Rights Fund help build the Section's long-term endowment fund.

This year's fundraising goal is $25,000.  For more information about how to contribute, please visit the Fund for Justice and Education home page at www.abanet.org/fje/contrib.html.

• Contribute directly to the Section

Special elections were held during the Section's fall Council Meeting to fill vacancies in officer and Council positions.

Paul M. Igasaki was selected as Chair-elect, Robert E. Stein as Vice Chair, and Robyn S. Shapiro as Secretary.

Shelley D. Hayes of Washington, D.C., and Kay H. Hodge of Boston, Mass., were selected as interim Council members.

• Section Leadership

The following individuals have been named to the 2005 Section Nominating Committee: Virginia E. Sloan, Chair, Washington, D.C.; Paul Igasaki, ex-officio, Washington, D.C.; Drucilla S. Ramey, New York, N.Y.; Zona Hostetler, Washington, D.C.; Manual San Juan, San Juan, P.R.; and Glenn Stover, San Francisco, CA.

The Committee will select candidates for 2005-06 officer positions and vacant Council seats. Candidates for those positions must be members in good standing as of the 2005 Midyear Meeting.  Any member interested in being considered for one of these positions should provide a statement of interest and resume to the Section office no later than February 28, 2005.

The Section's Environmental Justice Committee has announced the topic of its Third Annual Law Student Essay Competition. This year, students will write essays on, "The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Environmental Justice: Integration, Implementation and Judicial Review."  Rules and additional information regarding the contest can be found at the links below.

Winners of the Second Annual Essay Competition also were recently announced. Erik Bluemel, a recent graduate of New York University School of Law, received first place for his essay entitled, "Prioritizing Multiple Uses on Public Lands after Bear Lodge."  Second place winners include, Gillian K. Bearns of the Western New England School of Law and Sarah Wheelock, a recent graduate of the University of Iowa School of Law.

• Third Annual Environmental Justice Essay Competition Rules and Information
• Results of the Second Annual Environmental Justice Essay Competition
  

February 9-15, 2005, 2005 ABA Midyear Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah

• Register for 2005 ABA Midyear Meeting

February 11-12, 2005, Winter Council Meeting, Prime Hotel and Suites, Salt Lake City, Utah

February 11, 2005, Father Robert F. Drinan Distinguished Service Award Reception honoring Hon. Cruz Reynoso, Grand Ballroom A (Lobby Level), The Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah

April 1-2, 2005, Spring Council Meeting, Howard University Law School, Washington, D.C.

August 3-9, 2005, 2005 ABA Annual Meeting, Chicago, Ill.

August 5-6, 2005, Summer Council Meeting, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Chicago, Ill.

August 6, 2005, Thurgood Marshall Award Dinner, Chicago, Ill.