NEW YORK CITY – OCTOBER 22, 2008 – Arent Fox partner Bernice Leber, who serves as president of the New York State Bar Association, and the presidents of more than 30 other state bars from across the country have joined together, calling on presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama to address a number of critical legal issues and policy topics confronting the nation during their respective bids for the White House. Signed by the leaders of 34 state bar associations, a letter focusing on substantive legal issues and challenges that lawyers, citizens and state bar presidents confront on a daily basis was sent to each candidate’s campaign staff.

The letters to the candidates was drafted following a summit meeting of the nation’s state bar presidents convened by Bernice this August at Arent Fox’s office in New York City. The contents of the letters were released on the New York State Bar Association’s Web site on October 20. To view a copy of the letter sent to the presidential candidates, please click here.

The letter asks the candidates to respond to a number of questions concerning a range of important areas, including expanding civil legal services and access to justice for the poor, maintaining a fair and impartial judiciary, working to depoliticize the Justice Department, and infusing civics education into our public schools to enhance our children’s knowledge of the central role played by the justice system in American society. 

“As we face an historic presidential election, the leaders of this nation’s legal community have an extraordinary opportunity to drive the national debate surrounding the issues of key importance to our justice system,” Bernice said. “This collaborative effort gives voice to the legal community and demonstrates that we are united in our desire to play an important, proactive role in the shaping of future legal policies. I want to personally thank everyone who participated in this historic summit for their outstanding work and for answering the call to help make a difference.”

Following the election in November, the bar presidents will ask the newly-elected President to meet with them in Washington, D.C. next April in order to discuss the President’s program on legal and justice system issues.

The summit with state bar presidents was modeled on the one convened in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy. Upon taking office, President Kennedy met with the 50 State Bar leaders in order to discuss the great issues of the day confronting the legal system and our society. This meeting among distinguished bar leaders and the President led his administration to focus heavily on civil rights and the formation of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, an advocacy organization that is still very influential to this day.

About Arent Fox

Arent Fox LLP (www.arentfox.com), with offices in New York City, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles is a recognized leader in areas including real estate, complex litigations, intellectual property, life sciences and healthcare. With nearly 350 lawyers nationwide – nearly 80 of whom are in the New York office – the firm represents Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, government agencies, not-for-profit corporations, trade associations, foreign governments, and other entities. 

About the New York State Bar Association

The 74,000-member New York State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. Founded in 1876, the Association’s programs and activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice system for more than 130 years.