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Already
the Annual Meeting and the end of the Bar Association
year will be here soon, along with the changing of
the guard.
What has transpired
during this exceedingly active and busy year? What
has your Association accomplished? How has the Bar
profession benefitted? Here is a brief summary which
is prepared at the risk of overlooking some very valuable
and worthy efforts of so many members of the Arkansas
Bar Association. My apologies to those who have worked
on any projects that have been overlooked. Due to
limited space in this article, only a few of the projects
can be highlighted.
The most visible, if
cyberspace is visible, thanks especially to Price
Marshall, Tom Daily, and Don Hollingsworth, is Arkansas
VersusLaw. After 1 1/2 years of planning, study, negotiating,
and testing by the Task Force on Future Internet Presence,
Arkansas VersusLaw is now on our website at www.arkbar.com.
It is the special Arkansas and nationwide legal research
resource available only to Association members at
no extra cost. This resource can save members and
law firms significant expense for legal research,
a vital requirement for the law practice. More information
about Arkansas VersusLaw is provided in Don Hollingsworth's
column in this issue of The Arkansas Lawyer.
The Committee on Professional
Ethics has been busy doing an in-depth study of the
revisions to the Model Rules of Professional Responsibility
recently adopted by the American Bar Association.
My thanks to John Lile, Chair, and the members of
his committee, with a special thanks to W. A. Martin,
Stark Ligon, and Howard Brill for their extra efforts.
When such amendments are made by the American Bar
Association from time to time, the Arkansas Bar Association
reviews these changes and decides whether the changes
are appropriate for Arkansas as written or as we modify
them. The approved changes are submitted to the House
of Delegates, and if approved, then are sent to the
Arkansas Supreme Court for its consideration. The
Arkansas Supreme Court will determine if those changes,
or a portion of them, should be adopted. The Committee
report will be presented to the House of Delegates
on June 14, 2003.
2003 is a Legislature
Year. A great deal of time and effort has gone into
review of all the bills introduced in the Legislature
by the Bar Association Legislation Committee. The
Chair of this Committee, Charles Schlumberger, has
done an excellent job, as have the other members of
the committee: Tom Daily, Boyce Davis, Bill Haught,
Dustin McDaniel, Donna Pettus, Cindy Thyer, and Mike
Wilson. As Association President, I also serve on
the Legislation Committee, and I can personally testify
to the enormous amount of time and effort expended
by the committee. Jack McNulty has served well as
the Bar Association's full-time lobbyist. Various
sections and other committees have assisted by studying
certain bills referred to them and then making recommendations
to the Legislation Committee.
Although this column
is written in mid-March while the General Assembly
is still in session, I can report that our Association,
through the Legislation Committee and the help of
many of you, have monitored hundreds of bills which
impact the legal system and legal profession, including
opposing or supporting specific bills. More specific
information on our efforts will be available after
the session, and members are welcome to contact me
or other members of the Legislation Committee at any
time.
The Judicial Article
Implementation Task Force has continued to work on
legislation to implement Amendment 80. Through the
efforts of Professor John Watkins and task force members,
a 386-page technical corrections bill was prepared
for consideration by the Legislature.
The Professional Practicum
proposal that would require new lawyers to take a
special program on professionalism has been submitted
to the Supreme Court. The program was produced by
our Arkansas Professional Practicum Committee, chaired
by Brian Rosenthal.
The Association's Judicial
Council Liaison Committee, that interacts with the
Arkansas Judicial Council, undertook a study at the
suggestion of some members of the Judicial Council.
The purpose was to set up a mechanism to respond on
behalf of any judge to unfair criticism that the judge
is unable to answer. The object is to increase the
public's understanding and to uphold the judicial
independence of the Courts. A report with a proposed
plan has been submitted by the Committee and will
likely be considered by the House of Delegates on
June 14th. The Committee has been ably chaired by
Elizabeth Danielson.
The Arkansas Bar Commission
on Diversity has had an active year. In September,
it held its first seminar on diversity and the following
day, held a job fair. It is currently studying other
ways to improve diversity in the legal profession
and our Association. It is co-chaired by Troy Price
and Peter Kumpe.
The Sustaining Members
Committee, headed by Jack Davis, has done an outstanding
job this year. The goal was to have 300 sustaining
members which would be a 20 percent increase over
the highest previous record. The final total achieved
is 302.
Our revised website
at www.arkbar.com is a product of the Website Oversite
Committee whose members did an outstanding job. Special
thanks to 2002-03 Chair Karen Halbert and 2001-02
Chair Tim Holthoff who understand the inner workings
of the Internet, etc.
It is risky to make
predictions in a column written almost two months
before its publication, but our Membership Development
Committee, so ably chaired by Mark Hodge, will lead
us in breaking last year's membership record of 4633.
Beth Deere, our Annual
Meeting program Chair, has been doing an excellent
job of organizing the program and recruiting speakers.
The program should be one that our members will find
informative, helpful to their practice, and enjoyable.
The Arkansas Bar Association Annual Meeting is recognized
across the country as being one of the most outstanding
programs.
Last, but certainly
not least of those mentioned in this column, is the
effort of our Access to Justice Working Group chaired
by Dean Charles Goldner. This new project in Arkansas
is designed to create a permanent entity that works
to ensure ongoing funding and resources to meet the
need for legal representation for the poor. There
are a number of programs that deal with some aspect
of providing such services. There are still many gaps
in coverage, and funding from year to year is uncertain.
It is essential that the needs for legal assistance
be met to truly provide justice for all ‹ and
to assure that we continue to have our system of laws.
A proposal from the Working Group is being presented
to the Board of Governors and House of Delegates,
which may request the Supreme Court to create the
new entity.
At least 15 other committees
and task forces have been active on your behalf this
bar year. And many sections have been active, including
the production of quality CLE. Their important work
is appreciated.
It has been a very great
privilege and a pleasure to know and work with so
many members of the Arkansas Bar Association this
year. The willingness, the volunteer work and the
cooperation of our colleagues is a living testament
to our profession and to the Association. I especially
have appreciated working with the officers, members
of the Board of Governors, House of Delegates, committees,
task forces, section chairs and their members, and
our dedicated and hard working staff. Much more will
be accomplished by and for the members of the Bar
Association in the future.•
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