93rd Annual Meeting
Monday, May 16

Daily Update - Monday, May 16

The Annual Meeting opened at 9:30 a.m. with the call to order and report by President Roberta Cooper Ramo. Additional reports included the nomination of new Council members and proposal of Bylaw amendments, each approved by the membership. Additionally, a short video dedicated to former ALI Council Member Bennett Boskey was presented.

The first project on the agenda was Principles of the Law, Election Administration: Non-Precinct Voting and Resolution of Ballot-Counting Disputes. Reporters: Edward B. Foley and Steven F. Huefner were joined on the dais by Council member Derek Langhauser. Part I: Principles of Non-Precinct Voting and Part III: Procedures for the Resolution of a Disputed Presidential Election were presented for approval.

Actions Taken
After reporters fielded comments from the floor, membership voted to approve both parts subject to the discussion at the Annual Meeting and to the usual editorial prerogative, including a proposed amendment to Part III, Section 304.

Just before the lunch break, ABA President Paulette Brown addressed the audience on “Reclaiming the Promise of ‘And Justice for All.’” She praised the legal community’s efforts in increasing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, and encouraged the lawyers in the room to continue efforts confronting implicit bias in the legal system.

The afternoon began with remarks from Sundaresh Menon, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Singapore and the President of the Singapore Academy of Law. In his speech “The Rule of Law: The Path to Exceptionalism,” he discussed the Academy’s commitment and opportunity to effectively shape a debate and ensure the legality of government actions by combatting legal corruption from the ground up.

The second and final project session today was Restatement of the Law, Liability Insurance. Council member Gary Sasso moderated the session, as Reporters Tom Baker and Kyle D. Logue presented Chapters 1 through 3 (excluding Section 45): Basic Liability Insurance Contract Rules, Management of Potentially Insured Liability Claims, and General Principles Regarding the Risks Insured.

Actions Taken
Chapters 1, 2 and 3 were presented and approved by membership subject to the discussion at the Meeting and to the usual editorial prerogative. The Reporters decided to revisit Section 37 based on membership comments. Sections 44 and 45 were not addressed for discussion or voting during the session. 

We had the honor of welcoming U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor to the stage this afternoon.  She was joined by ALI President Roberta Cooper Ramo and Director Richard L. Revesz. They engaged in a thought-provoking discussion about the collegiality and passion involved in conserving the integrity of the rule of law.