Annual Meeting Daily Update – Tuesday, May 20
The second day of our Annual Meeting agenda included several project sessions, luncheon remarks from a federal circuit judge, the presentation of the John Minor Wisdom Award, and more. Read below for a recap of the day’s events. Yesterday's recap is available here.
The second day of the Annual Meeting began with Conflict of Laws. Council member Judith A. Miller joined Reporter Kermit Roosevelt and Associate Reporter Ann L. Estin on the dais. Presented during this session was Tentative Draft No. 5, which includes portions of Chapter 5 and 9, including Rules for Management of Litigation, Witnesses and Evidence, Marriage and Other Domestic Relationships, among others.
Actions Taken*
Membership then voted to approve Tentative Draft No. 5.
The day continued with the presentation of the John Minor Wisdom Award to Kenneth C. Frazier by ALI Director Diane P. Wood. Upon receiving the award, Frazier emphasized the importance of the ALI’s mission in the face of current challenges to the legal profession and the rule of law, and highlighted the responsibility of lawyers to uphold constitutional values and democracy. Learn more about Frazier and the award here.
Following the Wisdom presentation, ABA President William R. Bay addressed the current challenges of the justice system, the legal profession, and the rule of law.
David Freeman Engstrom, Reporter for the Principles of High-Volume Civil Adjudication project, was joined by Nathan L. Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court (Retired), Carolyn B. Kuhl of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, and Erika Rickard of The Pew Charitable Trusts to discuss the challenges posed by the types of high-stakes, small-scale cases. The panelists offered examples of some of the ways that courts across the country are responding to these challenges and previewed some of the Principles that will come before the ALI membership at a later date.
Today’s luncheon honoring new Life (Class of 2000) and 50-Year Members (Class of 1975). In addition to the presentation of the 2000 Class Gift by class representatives, Chief Circuit Judge William H. Pryor of the U.S. Court of Appeals, for the Eleventh Circuit provided remarks.
Members were welcomed back from lunch with the Torts: Remedies session. Council member Laura Denvir Stith joined Reporters Richard L. Hasen and Douglas Laycock for the presentation of Tentative Draft No. 4. The draft contains material from Topic 1, Injunctions, of Chapter 3 on Injunctions and Other Forms of Specific Relief, as well as two new Comments to previously approved sections—Comment h to § 43 (Availability of Injunctions) and Comment c to § 44 (Scope of Injunctions).
Actions Taken*
Membership then voted to approve Tentative Draft No. 4.
The last project session at this year’s Annual Meeting was Copyright. Council member Wallace B. Jefferson joined Reporter Christopher Jon Sprigman and Associate Reporters Lydia Pallas Loren, R. Anthony Reese, Molly S. Van Houweling, and Daniel J. Gervais (remotely) in the presentation of Tentative Draft No. 6. The draft includes the remainder of Chapter 6 (Copyright Rights and Limitations), Chapter 8 (Secondary Liability), Chapter 9 (Remedies for Copyright Infringement), Chapter 10 (Copyright-Protection-and-Management Systems), and Chapter 11 (Procedural Issues and Relationship to Other Bodies of Law), as well as a new Comment to a previously approved section in Chapter 4.
Actions Taken*
Membership voted to approve Tentative Draft No. 6. This vote marks the final membership approval of this project. Read the press release.
*All approvals by membership at the Annual Meeting are subject to the discussion at the Meeting and usual editorial prerogative.
Tuesday marks the conclusion of project sessions at this year’s Annual Meeting. Accordingly, ALI members will not receive a daily update email tomorrow. Tomorrow’s final day includes a morning program on Civil Liability for Artificial Intelligence, as well as a luncheon featuring a discussion with Bob Bauer and Jack Goldsmith on the evolving use of presidential power during the early months of President Trump’s second term. A recap of both events will be available in the next issue of The ALI Reporter.