Voting laws, national security on ABA agenda

National security at the U.S. border and in the cyber realm, the impact of new voting laws on the upcoming fall elections and the integration of transgendered soldiers in the U.S. military are chief among legal issues explored at the 2016 American Bar Association Annual Meeting Aug. 4-9 in San Francisco.

More than 1,400 events are scheduled during the event, including a meeting of the ABA House of Delegates — the association’s policymaking body.

High-profile speakers at the meeting include FBI Director James Comey on emerging issues in national security and law enforcement, and Ilona Turner, legal director of the Transgender Law Center in Oakland, Calif.
Meanwhile, Hollywood writers Jonathan Shapiro and David E. Kelley (both of “The Practice,” “Boston Legal,” and other legal TV shows) will examine pop culture and the perception of justice while O.J. Simpson prosecutor-turned-novelist Marcia Clark will discuss her high-profile cases and writing career.
Several experts — including Sherilynn Ifill, president of NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, along with North Carolina Rep. Paul Stam and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama — will discuss new voting laws and their possible impact on voter suppression.

Program highlights include:

• “Knock, Knock. Who’s There? The Internet of Things” — Experts will discuss the legal implications of electronic devices such as home security systems, cellphones and fitness trackers that collect and exchange data. Topics will include data privacy, intellectual property and product liability concerns.

• “U.S. Border Wars: Preventing Terrorism and Protecting Children” — Representatives from the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Foreign Intelligence and Surveillance Court will be among panelists who will explore what the county is doing to provide border security and protection in the homeland. Discussion will include the investigation and arrest of suspected terrorists, screening visitors, tracking visa over-stays, maintaining no-fly and criminal record databases and the temporary care of vulnerable populations such as children.

• “Legal Issues Arising from the Zika Virus: Are We Prepared?” — Panelists will examine how federal, state and local government agencies are responding to the Zika virus.

• “Getting It Right the Next Time:  What the Judicial Response to Japanese-American Incarceration Can Teach Us About Providing Fair and Impartial Courts to Immigrants and Minority Groups in the Current Political Environment” — Panelists will discuss the political environment faced by immigrant and minority groups today, from calls for a border wall, to hate crimes aimed at members of those groups.

• “A Dynamic ‘Trans’-ition: A Path Forward on the Recognition of Transgender Rights, Employment Equality, and Integration of Transgender Troops Into the US Military” — As the U.S. military lifts its ban on transgender soldiers, panelists will provide a primer on the history of legal challenges in the quest for recognition of transgender rights, setting the stage for a discussion on litigation related to transgender employment matters and the unique challenges of the Department of Defense integration of transgender uniformed service members into the U.S. military.

• “America Votes 2016! Developments in Election Law” — Representatives from the ACLU and Brennan Center for Justice will examine the recent Supreme Court case involving the “one person-one vote” principle as well as voter ID laws and the possible impact of voter suppression.

• “Creating a Conscious Prosecutor: The Client Pre-Indictment” — Experts will discuss the issue of implicit bias in prosecution, examine the dangers, discuss tools and solutions, as well as unveil “The Conscious Prosecutor” Program sponsored by the ABA in conjunction with the National Black Prosecutors Association and the National District Attorneys Association.

• “Forum on Judicial Independence” — The sixth annual Forum on Judicial Independence will address issues that impact the fair, effective and accountable delivery of justice in courts across the country.

• “The Roberts Court 2015-16: A Tragic Death, Its Impacts and the Future of the Roberts Court” — Supreme Court experts will address the legacy of Justice Antonin Scalia, how his untimely death affected the 2015-16 term and what the future holds for a court now in transition.

• “Refugee Crisis:  Challenges in Europe and at the U.S. Border” — Immigration experts, including Alexander Aleinikoff, former deputy United Nations high commissioner for refugees in Geneva, will look at issues related to the surge of refugees from the Middle East and Africa to Europe, the U.S. response to the mass migration and the immigration crisis at the U.S. southwest border.

• “Fortune 500 General Counsel Share the 3Cs of Diversity and Inclusion: Commitment, Candor and Collaboration” — Top general counsel for some of the nation’s leading companies and former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer will discuss ways that corporate America can move the needle on diversity and inclusion within their ranks.

• “The Future of Legal Services – Closing the Access Gap” — The ABA Commission on the Future of Legal Services  presents its final report on why meaningful access to legal services remains out of reach for too many Americans and recommendations for ensuring that the next generation of legal services more effectively meets the public’s needs.

• “Sexual Assault on College Campuses: Balancing the Rights and Interests of the Accused and the Victim” — Experts, including Caroline Bettinger-Lopez, White House advisor on violence against women, will offer practical guidance on handling sexual violence on campus for colleges and universities as well as for those who represent them. Discussion topics will include balancing the due process rights of the accused with the interests of the victim, Title IX complaints and compliance, best practices and policies for handling allegations of sexual assault as well as best practices for reporting allegations to the government and the police.

• “How the Militarization of Law Enforcement Has Affected Peace Officers and the Communities They Serve” — Representatives from the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, the Coalition for Police Accountability and the NAACP's Ethics Project will be among panelists discussing the increasing militarization of law enforcement, which has led to confrontations that escalate to lethal force, particularly in communities of color.