The American Bar Association hosted its annual ABA Day in Washington from April 20-22. The event brought state and local bar leaders to the nation’s capital to meet with legislators about issues of importance to the legal profession, including increased LSC funding and reauthorization of the Corporation by Congress.

In connection with the event, ABA President Carolyn B. Lamm joined the presidents of 50 state bar associations, four national Bars of Color and two territorial bar associations in signing a letter urging Congress to provide LSC with at least a $15 million increase for Fiscal Year 2011 “as the next step toward closing the justice gap and meeting the critical need that exists today because of the rise in foreclosures, unemployment and related issues resulting from the economic downturn.”

On April 20, the ABA hosted a Congressional awards ceremony to honor Senators Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), and Congressmen Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and John Lewis (D-Ga.) for their efforts to improve the American justice system.

Letter from Bar Presidents to Congress

From LSC Updates, May 6, 2010