As the Senate prepares to vote on whether Elena Kagan should fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, there remain a substantial number of other vacancies in the nation’s lower federal courts that urgently need filling. Currently, there are about 100 vacancies in the lower federal courts. The American Bar Association says the lack of judges is affecting the efficiency and fairness of the justice system.

In a survey released today by the American Bar Association, judges indicated that a lack of representation in civil matters is hurting those individuals’ cases, and is negatively impacting courtrooms. Approximately 1,000 state trial judges responded to the survey, which posed questions about their dockets, self-representation and the impact on the courts.

Michael Goodwin of St. Anthony, Minn., a lawyer with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, is the winner of the 2010 Bert W. Levit Essay Contest sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers’ Professional Liability. LPL provides information on legal malpractice claim statistics and information on insurance for lawyer

Whether guiding the audience through the legal maze of education statutes, or sharing real world experience with bilingual education program implementation, a panel of leading local and national experts at a recent ABA Section of State and Local Government Law conference offered varying perspectives on the practical implementation of bilingual education programs in their municipalities, as well as a basic legal background of this often controversial topic.

More regulation and oversight for corporate America are on the forefront of congressional debates. In light of this, businesses should be knowledgeable about internal investigation protocol and how to be prepared in a world where communication channels seem endless, and are discoverable through E-discovery. Legal experts gathered recently to discuss “Nuts & Bolts: How to Conduct an Effective Ethical Internal Investigation,” during the American Bar Association’s Internal Corporate Investigations and Forum for In-House Counsel 2010 meeting.

The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division, in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Bar Association, will host its Spring Conference beginning Thursday, May 13, and ending Saturday, May 15, in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. With headquarters at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, the conference will provide three days of networking, continuing legal education and community service opportunities.

The second annual Diversity Leadership Award was presented at the Section of Litigation welcome reception in April. This year’s recipients included Indiana Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan Jr. and the Coca-Cola Company Legal Division. “This year’s recipients have proven their commitment to diversity through long-standing efforts to make a difference in improving the opportunities for all,” said Section Chair Lorna Schofield of New York.

When it comes to defamation suits about online comments, no one wins, according to Laurence Wilson, general counsel of the San Francisco-based Yelp! Wilson told a panel, “Astroturfing, Take-Downs and Anonymous Commentary: Protecting (and Enhancing) Reputation,” during the American Bar Association Business Law Section 2010 Spring Meeting that defending against online defamation often ricochets back on the victim.

In its July 5, 1993, issue, The New Yorker ran a cartoon by Peter Steiner showing a dog at a computer saying to his canine friend, “On the Internet nobody knows you’re a dog.” While online anonymity may have been the case in 1993, the intervening years – with advances in data collection, biometric information and global positioning, as well as with surveillance cameras everywhere – have shown that anonymity is rapidly becoming extinct.

Planning an annual meeting can be stressful for corporate secretaries and other members of a company’s law department. Margaret M. (Peggy) Foran, executive vice president, general counsel and secretary at Sara Lee, offered her suggestions for success.

ABA Day brings hundreds of state, local and specialty leaders to Washington D.C. each year for visits with members of Congress, legislative training and issues briefings. During the three-day event, held April 20 – 22, bar associations and individuals who have been active and effective in lobbying their congressional delegations throughout the year are honored in front of their peers with the ABA Day Grassroots Award.

Even with increased demands on their time, corporate law departments and their law firms are willing to make time to do pro bono work, according to a panel at the American Bar Association Business Law Section 2010 Spring Meeting in Denver on April 23.