ABA grants CNMI Bar Association delegate post

After more than two decades of effort by local CNMI and Guam lawyers, the American Bar Association recently recognized the CNMI Bar Association as a fully integrated member of the American Bar Association by granting it a delegate in its governing body, the House of Delegates.

The American Bar Association (ABA) is the largest organization of lawyers in the world. Membership is voluntary, lawyers do not need to be members to practice law in the United States or any of the U.S. territories. It is also one of the most influential lobbying groups in the country. Along with providing a variety of services to its members, the ABA sets standards for lawyers and makes recommendations as to all types of policies and laws. These recommendations are heard in Washington, D.C., at the United Nations, and throughout the world.

The governing body of the ABA that sets policies and makes recommendations is the House of Delegates. Its members are delegates from the 50 state bar associations, some large county and local bar associations and special organizations within the ABA called sections. The Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. also have delegates. Until now, the Pacific territories were not fully represented in the House of Delegates. Guam had a delegate in even years, the CNMI had one in odd years, and America Samoa was without a delegate at all.

At the ABA annual meeting which took place in Toronto last August, the ABA constitution was amended so that each territory; Guam, the CNMI, and American Samoa, now each have their own delegate. Much like the CNMI recently obtaining a full voice in the United States House of Representatives, this change to the AB House of Delegates will allow the lawyers of the CNMI a full voice in the making of rules and recommendations that not only effect all United States lawyers, but also shape national and international laws and policies. There had been a great deal of resistance within the ABA to allowing a full delegate to each territory. This constitutional amendment was only possible after years of effort by the delegates from both Guam and the CNMI, along other concerned lawyers.

The CNMI Bar Association would like to acknowledge the extra recent efforts made by Guam ABA Representative Joaquin C. Arriola Jr. and the CNMI’s elected ABA representative, Douglas W. Hartig. Although the efforts of many were required to obtain a full vote for the CNMI, we are confident that the CNMI would not yet have a delegate had it not been for Mr. Hartig’s lobbying and education efforts. We applaud Hartig and Arriola’s hard work and thank them for representing our interests so effectively. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]