House of Delegates | 2000 Annual Meeting

Report	Proposed By:	Short Title	Action Taken
10A	ASSOCIATION OF THE BAR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK	Urges Congress and state legislatures to enact campaign finance reform that reflects a series of principles, including the partial public financing of campaigns.	Revised substitute 10A Approved (see attached)
10B	HARTFORD COUNTY BAR ASSN	Urges the courts of appeals, both federal and state, to provide in case dispositions (except in those appeals the court determines to be wholly without merit), at a minimum, reasoned explanations for their decisions.	Approved as Revised and Amended*
10C	BAR ASSN OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	Urges Congress to amend Chapter 53 of Title 10, United States Code, by adding a new section 1044d to require states, including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands to recognize a will prepared for a person eligible to receive military legal assistance if the will is executed under procedures in the section.	Approved as revised (see attached)
10D	FLORIDA BAR ASSN	Urges that the American Bar Association make no changes to rules because of advances of multidisciplinary practice because such change necessarily compromises the independence of the legal profession and the loyalty to clients that is codified in the Rules of Professional Conduct.	Withdrawn
10E	OHIO STATE BAR ASSN	Calls for the ABA to state unequivocally that multidisciplinary practice (MDP) not be authorized or sanctioned.	Withdrawn
10F	ILLINOIS STATE BAR ASSN NEW JERSEY STATE BAR ASSN NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSN THE FLORIDA BAR OHIO STATE BAR ASSN ERIE COUNTY BAR ASSN CUYAHOGA COUNTY BAR ASSN	Urges that the ABA make no changes to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct to permit lawyers to share legal fees with nonlawyers.	Approved as revised (see attached)
10G	BOSTON BAR ASSN COUNCIL FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC JUSTICE	Urges the states, territories and possessions to increase access to the system of justice for limited and non-English speaking people by providing through legislation or court rule that qualified interpreters who are employed by a telecommunications or other technology-based interpretation service may be appointed in any judicial or administrative proceeding.	Withdrawn
10H	BAR ASSN OF SAN FRANCISCO ASSN OF THE BAR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK SECTION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND PRACTICE SECTION OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES	This resolution: 1) reaffirms ABA support for an effective United Nations; 2) urges the U.S. to pay its outstanding dues to the UN; and 3) urges the U.S. to ratify specific treaties previously endorsed by the House of Delegates.	Approved
10I	DALLAS BAR ASSN TARRANT COUNTY BAR ASSN HOUSTON BAR ASSN SAN ANTONIO BAR ASSN TRAVIS COUNTY BAR ASSN	The ABA should establish a procedure to insure that the best interests of clients is maintained and that the core values of the legal profession are adequately protected before voting on the current MDP proposal.	Withdrawn
10J	COLORADO STATE BAR ASSN DENVER BAR ASSN	Recommends that the ABA take no action that in any way discourages further discussion of MDP until a more substantial number of state and local bar associations and ABA entities currently studying MDP have had an opportunity to conclude their studies and that MDP be subject of jurisdiction of Committee on Research into the Future of the Legal Profession.	Motion to substitute for Revised 10F failed; therefore 10J was not considered
11-1	CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT	Amends §1.2 of the Constitution to include the following language as one of the purposes of the Association: "to defend the right to life of all innocent human beings, including all those conceived but not yet born."	No action taken because there was no presenter.
11-2	CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT	Amends §2.1 and §9.2(a) of the Constitution to provide for representation of the United States Territories on the Nominating Committee.	Withdrawn
11-3	HOUSE RULES OF PROCEDURE AMENDMENT	Amends §43.1 of the Rules of Procedure of the House of Delegates to provide that the calendar for the midyear meeting of the House must include a report on the legislative priorities.	Approved
11-4	CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS AMENDMENT	Amends §31.7 of the Bylaws to eliminate the Standing Committee on Law and Literacy.	Approved
11-5	Amends §5.3 of the Constitution and §23.1 of the Bylaws to clarify and cross- reference the provisions that pertain to resolutions submitted by Association members who are not delegates.	Approves the Code of Ethics for Arbitrators in Commercial Disputes, as amended February 2000, which is intended to provide ethical guidelines to all individuals serving as commercial arbitrators.	Approved
100	ROBERT MACCRATE, FORMER ABA PRESIDENT	Urges each jurisdiction to implement in its law governing lawyers, principles that permit certain forms of multidisciplinary practice but preclude nonlawyer involvement in the practice of law and preserve the core values of the American legal profession.	Withdrawn
101	SECTION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY	Changes the name of the Section of Science and Technology to the Section of Science and Technology Law.	Approved
102	COMMISSION ON LEGAL PROBLEMS OF THE ELDERLY SENIOR LAWYERS DIVISION	Urges the federal government, states and territories to construe, apply, and if necessary, amend laws regulating the health professions, controlled substances, insurance, and both public and private health benefit programs so that these laws do not impose barriers to quality pain and symptom management.	Approved
103	StC ON LEGAL ASSISTANTS	Grants approval, reapproval and extension of the term of approval to several legal assistant education programs.	Approved
104	StC ON ARMED FORCES LAW BAR ASSOCIATION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA StC ON LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL JUDGE ADVOCATES ASSN	Grants approval, reapproval and extension of the term of approval to several legal assistant education programs.	Approved
105	SECTION OF BUSINESS LAW	Urges Congress to approve the "Electronic Commerce in Bankruptcy Recognition Act", dated July 2000, interpreting signature and writing requirements contained within Title 11 by reference to applicable non-bankruptcy law; and supports the enactment of federal legislation to eliminate unnecessary legal and functional barriers to electronic commerce contained in Title 11 of the United States Code.	Withdrawn
106A	SECTION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND PRACTICE SECTION OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES STEERING COMMITTEE ON UNMET LEGAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN	Supports U.N. adoption and U. S. ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflicts.	Approved as revised (see attached)
106B	SECTION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND PRACTICE SECTION OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES STEERING COMMITTEE ON UNMET LEGAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN	Supports U.N. adoption and U. S. ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.	Approved as revised (see attached)
107	StC ON ELECTION LAW SECTION OF BUSINESS LAW GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR LAWYERS DIVISION	Urges Congress and the states to review their respective election laws as they relate to election and campaign activity on the Internet and to apply those laws in a manner that encourages political activity through this medium, upholds First Amendment guarantees of free speech and association, and seeks to eliminate opportunities for unfairness, corruption or undue influence.	Approved as revised (see attached)
108	StC ON JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE SECTION OF BUSINESS LAW JUDICIAL DIVISION SENIOR LAWYERS DIVISION COALITION FOR JUSTICE TORT AND INSURANCE PRACTICE SECTION	Adopts the black letter of the "Standards on State Judicial Selection", dated July 2000.	Approved
108	StC ON JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE SECTION OF BUSINESS LAW JUDICIAL DIVISION SENIOR LAWYERS DIVISION COALITION FOR JUSTICE TORT AND INSURANCE PRACTICE SECTION	Adopts the black letter of the "Standards on State Judicial Selection", dated July 2000.	Approved
109A	SECTION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND PRACTICE SECTION OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES STEERING COMMITTEE ON UNMET LEGAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN	Supports U.N. adoption and U. S. ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.	Approved as revised (see attached)
109B	SECTION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND PRACTICE SECTION OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES STEERING COMMITTEE ON UNMET LEGAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN	Recommends that court-mandated mediation include an opt-out prerogative in any action in which one party has perpetrated domestic violence upon the other party.	Approved
111	YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION STEERING COMMITTEE ON THE UNMET LEGAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN	Urges the extension of remedies, protections and services within domestic violence statutes to adolescents, and urges educational authorities, law enforcement officials, juvenile courts, and other government agencies to support more effectively adolescent dating awareness programs, domestic violence awareness programs, adolescent victim services and teen offender intervention programs.	Approved
112	COMMISSION ON WOMEN IN THE PROFESSION TORT AND INSURANCE PRACTICE SECTION	Recommends that the ABA partner with the public health community to improve access to legal services for breast cancer and patients; and urges Congress, states, territories and local governments to provide adequate funding for basic research and clinical trials to find a cure for breast cancer in that the present level of spending is not adequate to find a cure.	Approved as revised (see attached)
113	JUDICIAL DIVISION TORT AND INSURANCE PRACTICE SECTION	Urges Congress to consider certain guidelines in connection with any future legislation mandating hearings and to amend the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) to provide for the use of formal APA proceedings in such legislation in the absence of an express contrary congressional determination.	Approved
114	JUDICIAL DIVISION SENIOR LAWYERS DIVISION TORT AND INSURANCE PRACTICE SECTION JUDICIAL DIVISION LAWYERS CONFERENCE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES APPELLATE JUDGES CONFERENCE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF SPECIAL COURT JUDGES NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE TRIAL JUDGES	Adopts the Standards for State Judicial Retirement, dated July 2000, which calls for mandatory retirement of a judge at age 75 years, with the opportunity for a retired judge at any age, up to age 80 years, to apply for Senior Judge status for a two-year term, if the judge is physically and mentally fit.	Approved as revised to replace "Disability" with "Incapacity" throughout Standards.
115	CRIMINAL JUSTICE SECTION NATIONAL LEGAL AID AND DEFENDER ASSN StC ON LEGAL AID AND INDIGENT DEFENDANTS	Urges federal, state, local and territorial jurisdictions to adhere to principles concerning biological evidence collected in conjunction with the investigation of a criminal case.	Approved as revised to replace "Disability" with "Incapacity" throughout Standards.
116A	Supports the greater use of "ombudsmen" to receive, review and resolve complaints involving public or private entities and endorses the Standards for the Establishment and Operation of Ombudsman Offices, dated July 2000.	Urges federal, state, local and territorial jurisdictions to adhere to principles concerning biological evidence collected in conjunction with the investigation of a criminal case.	Approved as revised to replace "Disability" with "Incapacity" throughout Standards.	Withdawn
116B	ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND REGULATORY PRACTICE SECTION JUDGE ADVOCATES ASSN StC ON ARMED FORCES LAW	Urges Congress to expand the jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to include review of all purely legal issues decided by the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, formerly the Court of Veterans Appeals.	Approved
117	COMMISSION ON MULTIDISCIPLINARY PRACTICE COLORADO BAR ASSN DENVER BAR ASSN LAW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SECTION SECTION OF TAXATION	Recommends that the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct be amended to permit lawyers to share fees and join with nonlawyer professionals in a practice that delivers both legal and nonlegal professional services (Multidisciplinary Practice), provided that the lawyers have the control and authority necessary to assure lawyer independence in the rendering of legal services.	Withdrawn
177A	BOARD OF GOVERNORS	Continuation of Committees as listed in Board Transmittal Report to the House of Delegates.	Approved
300A	LEGAL EDUCATION AND ADMISSIONS TO THE BAR	Concurs with the action of the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar that the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of Law be granted provisional approval by the American Bar Association.	Approved
300B	LEGAL EDUCATION AND ADMISSIONS TO THE BAR	Favors in principle that Congress provide that all revenue generated by fees paid by patent and trademark applicants and owners to the United States Patent and Trademark Office remain with the USPTO without limitation, and specifically, that the Association opposes the withholding or diversion of any such revenue to fund any unrelated programs.	Approved
301	SECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW	Concurs with the action of the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar in adopting revisions to the Standards for Approval of Law Schools by the American Bar Association.	Approved
400	REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON ARCHIVING	Recommends that certain Association policies that pertain to public issues and are 10 years old or older be archived.	Approved as revised (see attached)
If you need additional infomation, Contact: Bridgette S. Williams williamb@staff.abanet.org or Rochelle E. Evans evansre@staff.abanet.org.

House of Delegates 2000 ANNUAL MEETING

If you need additional infomation, Contact: Bridgette S. Williams williamb@staff.abanet.org or Rochelle E. Evans evansre@staff.abanet.org.

House of Delegates
2000 ANNUAL MEETING

If you need additional infomation, Contact: Bridgette S. Williams williamb@staff.abanet.org or
Rochelle E. Evans evansre@staff.abanet.org.