http://www.abanow.org ABA Media Relations & Communication Services Mon, 20 May 2013 20:23:34 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en WASHINGTON, D.C., March 20, 2013 — The American Bar Association is concerned about the case of Duane Buck, a death-sentenced man in Texas. It is undisputed that the prosecution improperly put the assertion before the jury that he was “dangerous” because he was black, and this assertion sealed Buck’s fate. In ... http://www.abanow.org/2013/03/statement-of-laurel-bellows-president-american-bar-association-re-death-sentence-of-duane-buck/ Human Rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa was released on bail by the Zimbabwe High Court on Monday, March 25, thanks to advocacy by many organizations, including the ABA. WASHINGTON, D.C., March 18, 2013 – The American Bar Association condemns the arrest and detention of lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa and Thabani Mpofu following the March ... http://www.abanow.org/2013/03/statement-of-laurel-bellows-president-american-bar-association-re-arrest-and-detention-of-beatrice-mtetwa-and-thabani-mpofu/ Op-ed by ABA President Laurel Bellows Imagine yourself being arrested for a crime. You are summoned before a judge. Presenting the case against you is a prosecutor, who represents the government and its immense power and legitimacy. Who would represent you? Chances are you would hire a lawyer. But if you have no ... http://www.abanow.org/2013/03/preserving-the-right-to-a-lawyer-for-criminal-defendants/ WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 28, 2013 — American Bar Association President Laurel G. Bellows issued the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to approve S.47, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. The legislation includes the Trafficking Victims Prevention Act, a comprehensive federal effort to help trafficked persons ... http://www.abanow.org/2013/02/statement-of-laurel-bellows-president-american-bar-association-re-bipartisan-vawa-house-passage/ Warren Hill, a death row prisoner diagnosed with mental retardation, is scheduled to be executed today by the state of Georgia in violation of clearly established federal law.  In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Atkins v. Virginia that defendants with mental retardation are ineligible for the death penalty ... http://www.abanow.org/2013/02/statement-of-laurel-bellows-president-american-bar-association-re-execution-of-warren-hill/ CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2013 — President Obama’s executive order on cybersecurity is a productive first step to address the serious threats posed by foreign nations, criminal syndicates and hackers to our national, corporate and individual security. The president’s order addresses many of the cybersecurity principles adopted by the American Bar Association.  ... http://www.abanow.org/2013/02/statement-of-laurel-g-bellows-president-american-bar-association-re-the-improving-critical-infrastructure-cybersecurity-executive-order/ President Obama and Vice President Biden’s announcement on guns today is the catalyst that should spur immediate and far-ranging congressional efforts to address gun violence in our country — violence that too often spills from our streets and into our schools.  The overwhelming message from American parents, first responders, educators ... http://www.abanow.org/2013/01/statement-of-laurel-bellows-president-american-bar-association-re-white-house-gun-violence-prevention-agenda/ CHICAGO – In Seattle, a 22-year-old woman was drugged and kidnapped from a local bar and forced to work as a prostitute in Las Vegas.  In New York City, an 18-year-old girl from Mexico was forced to have sex with 40 to 60 men a day — for six years. ... http://www.abanow.org/2013/01/statement-of-american-bar-association-president-laurel-bellows-re-human-trafficking-awareness-day/ Robert H. Bork was a noted jurist and an influential legal mind.  Judge Bork contributed significant legal scholarship on antitrust issues and to case law in his time on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  The American Bar Association extends ... http://www.abanow.org/2012/12/statement-of-laurel-bellows-president-american-bar-association-re-the-death-of-judge-robert-bork/ Washington, DC, Dec. 14, 2012 -- The terrible violence today at a Connecticut elementary school is every parent’s worst fear and a painful shock for our country.  Our schools must be havens for children.  The American Bar Association extends our profound sympathy to the victims and families touched by the ... http://www.abanow.org/2012/12/statement-of-laurel-bellows-president-american-bar-association-re-the-tragedy-at-sandy-hook-elementary-school/