As we reflect on this unprecedented year, the ABF gives thanks to our Fellows. It is your support which has allowed us to continue to deliver ground-breaking knowledge and insights regarding our society's most pressing social and legal issues. This year, our researchers continued their inquiry into issues such as fair housing and eviction laws, policing and political participation, and legal defenses against democratic decline, among many others. The following newsletter includes accomplishments of our researchers and Fellows alike, as well as opportunities to get involved. |
|
ABF Researchers in the News |
|
Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Dean at the Boston University School of Law and previous ABF Neukom Chair, and Danielle Holley-Walker, Dean at Howard University School of Law and ABF SURF Fellowship Alumna, have been named recipients of the Association of American Law School's Inaugural Impact Award. The award was established this year to honor individuals who have had a significant positive impact on legal education or the legal profession.
Earlier this year, Dean Onwuachi-Willig and Dean Holley-Walker joined three fellow law school deans to create the Law Deans Antiracist Clearinghouse Project, a webpage for law deans, faculty, and the public that contains resources and information related to addressing racism in law and legal education. In addition to compilations of reading materials, websites, and other media, the webpage archives statements that law school deans have sent to their communities regarding racism.
|
|
ABF Research Professor Tom Ginsburg Discusses Constitutional Changes and Political Process in Quartz Magazine
ABF Research Professor Tom Ginsburg commented on the prospect of future changes to the U.S. Constitution for a recent Quartz Magazine article entitled "How should the US rewrite its constitution?". In the article, Ginsburg reflected on Thomas Jefferson's belief that a constitution should change with changing times, and commented on trends in constitutional changes in recent years.
|
|
Former Justice Louis B. Butler Jr., Wisconsin Life Fellow, Designated Distinguished Faculty by National Judicial College
Former Justice Louis B. Butler Jr., Wisconsin Life Fellow and attorney at DeWitt LLP, has attained the designation of Distinguished Faculty by the National Judicial College headquartered in Reno, Nevada.
The honor of Distinguished Faculty is reserved for individuals who have contributed 15 years or more of volunteer teaching service to the College, which specializes in judicial education classes. In the more than half-century that the College has existed, fewer than 150 individuals have taught for 15 or more years.
As the first African American to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Former Justice Butler participated in many decisions which have had significant legal impacts in the State of Wisconsin. In addition to being a law instructor, he spent a great portion of his career as a public servant, acting as a criminal defense attorney, an appellate attorney, a state court judge and city judge as well.
|
|
Elizabeth K. Whittenbury, California Life Fellow, Celebrated in Marquis Who's Who
Elizabeth (Beth) K. Whittenbury, California Life Fellow, has been highlighted in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value, and factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are taken into account.
In 2000, Ms. Whittenbury established a private practice through which she currently excels in the areas of sexual harassment and discrimination law. She offers organizational change consulting services which help to develop more productive and diverse workplaces that are free from harassment and discrimination. During her career, she has also developed alternative dispute resolution techniques for client companies.
|
|
Jeffrey B. Golden, Life Fellow, Recognized for Lifetime Achievement at Legal Week Innovation Awards 2020
Jeffrey B. Golden, Life Fellow and Joint Head of Chambers at 3 Hare Court, has received the inaugural Lifetime Contributor Private Practice Award from the Legal Week Legal Innovation Awards 2020. Mr. Golden received the award in a ceremony on October 2, 2020. The Awards celebrate outstanding achievement and create excellence in the legal profession. This year marked the first time that a lifetime achievement in private practice award was given at the ceremonies.
Mr. Golden has an extensive history of impact on legal innovation, with professional accomplishments in several fields including ISDA and Financial Market Legal Documentation; Harnessing Technology; Innovative Billing; Law Reform; and Sustainable Development. In 2017, Mr. Golden was called as an Honorary Master of the Bench at the Honourable Society of Middle Temple, and, in 2019, he was awarded the American Bar Association Section of International Law Lifetime Achievement Award.
|
|
On Thursday, November 19 at 12:30pm PT, the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation will host a virtual event featuring California Supreme Court Associate Justice Goodwin Liu. The event will feature a lecture by Justice Liu entitled "Who is Going to Law School? The Future of Diversity in the Legal Profession".
Justice Liu is co-author of an ABF-sponsored study that provides a fresh and thorough examination of recent U.S. law school enrollment trends since the Great Recession. He will discuss how law school demographics by gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality have changed since the financial crisis a decade ago. The discussion will focus particularly on Asian Americans, often an invisible minority in contemporary diversity discourse.
|
|
Fellow Spotlight
K. A. Day, this issue’s featured Fellow, is a current Benefactor Fellow who joined the Fellows in February 2010.
|
|
K.A. Day
Florida Benefactor Fellow
Q: What does being a Fellow mean to you?
A: Fellowship serves as an ongoing reminder of my Oath of Attorney and of my commitment to the practices of honesty, civility, decency, and fair play, at all times. Further, it is reflective of my support for the ongoing struggle to advance the progress of law (and conflict resolution). Finally, recognition as a Fellow gives me a tremendous sense of gratitude as well as one of pride and belonging, and of the possibility of developing new friendships in the future.
Q: Where were you born and raised?
A: I was born in Minneapolis where I attended elementary and middle school. I completed my high school education at a NYC private day school.
Q: Why did you decide to pursue a career in law?
A: I decided to study the law not because of a particular interest in contracts, real property, torts, or estate planning, but rather to, simply put, "right wrongs”.
Q: If you hadn’t pursued a career in law, what would you have done?
A: Had I not studied the law, I would have pursued further studies in the areas of cultural anthropology, behavioral sciences, and education.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: I spend a lot of time getting to know Atiya, my wife of 32 years, now that we are empty nesters. We enjoy travel; however, our plans are on hold until our State and Federal agencies are able to analyze the available COVID data and implement a disease management plan.
|
|
This holiday season, many of us will be gift shopping online. Now with each Amazon purchase, you can support the American Bar Foundation. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, the AmazonSmile program donates 0.5% of every purchase made to the organization of your choice. Simply visit our AmazonSmile page, confirm the ABF as your charity of choice, and remember to start your shopping at smile.amazon.com.
|
|
The American Bar Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) organization. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in publications or presentations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Bar Foundation, nor the policy positions of the American Bar Association or its affiliates. The AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION, ABF and related seal trademarks as used by the American Bar Foundation are owned by the American Bar Association and used under license.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
