[Ed. Note: The following is the report CASA gave to the AJC/AJEI at the November Kick-Off]

The Council of Appellate Staff Attorneys is supportive of the partnership between the AJEI and the Dedman School of Law in the continuing transition away from full educational sponsorship by the American Bar Association. CASA is pleased to participate in the combined annual meeting of the AJC Executive Board and the Appellate Judges Education Institute.

CASA's main goal is to build cooperative and lasting relationships with the AJEI and the Dedman School of Law and yet at the same time maintain its 28 year relationship with the American Bar Association. CASA also wishes to state its paramount objective of maintaining the existence, and quality, of its annual educational seminar for appellate staff attorneys from around the United States and its territories, which CASA has held every summer for almost three full decades. Over the years with the cutting of SJI Funding, insuring a successful and top-notch seminar has become more complex. Towards that end CASA, and its 120 members, appreciate the fine administrative support provided at this past summer's Park City, Utah Seminar by Rebecca Greenan and Rebekah Bell of the AJEI and the Dedman School of Law. According to the figures supplied to us by Rebekah Bell at the CASA Executive Board Meeting last month here in Dallas, CASA took into approximately $54,100 in income at the seminar and received a contribution from Thompson West of $4000. The total expenses of that seminar were $46,874, with some additional expenses still to come, yielding a profit of approximately $11,230. Out of the this profit, the AJEI must still reimburse the members of the Executive Board who prepared the agenda for the 2005 Annual Seminar to be held right here at the Mandalay. [Note to members: This sentence should have referred to the Education Committee's reimbursement not the Executive Board's reimbursement. This was my error which I clarified at the meeting.]

CASA wishes the AJEI, the AJC and CAL the very best wishes for its inaugural kick off seminar this weekend. Unfortunately, CASA could not participate in full at this seminar -- although some CASA members including Kembra Smith and Bill Lowe will be participating. Surveys of appellate staff attorneys have shown that the best time for appellate staff attorneys to get away from the office and attend a multi-day seminar is in the Summer, when most appellate courts are either not in session or slow down. Over the years, many CASA members use the Seminar and the many fine locations at which we have met to serve as a starting place for a summer vacation with their spouse and family members. A November Seminar would not work for children who are in school.

CASA request a total budget of $48,000 for annual Seminar to be held next July. Specifically we would like to request $2500 in scholarship money, which the CASA Scholarship Committee awards to deserving staff attorneys who cannot secure funding from their courts. (All members of the Executive Board and the Education Committee are ineligible to receive scholarship funds.) CASA would also like to request a budget for honoraria to secure some of the best speakers in the country, the kind of speakers that CASA members have come to expect at annual seminars. In the past, CASA has received upwards of $8000 in honoraria in its budget but understanding the AJEI's reluctance to budget for honoraria, we would only be asking for about half that amount. For further details on developing a budget for CASA for 2005, you may wish to consult the 2002 budget for the seminar held in Flagstaff, Arizona, which we can provide to you upon request.

The only other item CASA would like the AJEI to consider is the possibility of amending the Constitution or by-laws to include a representative of CASA on the AJEI Board of Directors. It is our understanding that this issue was considered in the past by the AJEI Board but that it has never come to a vote. If I am wrong on that point, I will stand corrected.

In conclusion, CASA wishes to reiterate its desire to work cooperatively with the AJEI and its staff to insure that CASA can continue its mission of providing quality continuing legal education, professional development and inter-court networking for staff attorneys from both state and federal appellate courts.