2023 Annual Meeting
Daily Update - Monday, May 22
Daily Update - Monday, May 22

What Happened Today at the Annual Meeting – Monday Edition

This year, we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the founding of The American Law Institute. The Annual Meeting opened with the call to order by President David F. Levi, who reflected on the history of the Institute, its work, and the dedication of the ALI membership to the rule of law. “It is a privilege to be your President and part of the caretaking of an Institute that has made and continues to make a positive contribution to our legal system and this country,” said President Levi in his opening remarks.

Diane P. Wood, who assumed the role of ALI Director this month, provided her first report as Director, discussing projects on the agenda at the Meeting and reflecting on our partnership with The European Law Institute, whose leadership joined us at this year’s Meeting.

The session continued with the presentation of reports and business, and included the nomination approval by membership of new Council members.

The first project on the agenda was Copyright, chaired by Council member Wallace B. Jefferson. Reporter Christopher Jon Sprigman and Associate Reporters Daniel J. Gervais, Lydia Pallas Loren, R. Anthony Reese, and Molly S. Van Houweling presented Tentative Draft No. 4, which contains portions of Chapter 4, Copyright Formalities; Chapter 5, Duration of Copyright; Chapter 6, Copyright Rights and Limitations; and Chapter 7, Copyright Infringement.

Actions Taken*

Membership voted to approve the draft.

The next project up for discussion was Torts: Miscellaneous Provisions. Council member Lee H. Rosenthal joined Reporter Michael D. Green, R. Ammi Cutter Reporter’s Chair Nora Freeman Engstrom, and Associate Reporters Guy Miller Struve and Tanya D. Marsh to present Tentative Draft No. 2. This draft includes Sections on the topics of sepulcher and medical monitoring, among others.

Actions Taken*

Membership voted to approve §§48D-48F (Sepulcher) of the draft. Membership discussed but did not vote on the topic of medical monitoring.

The membership discussed and voted on several motions on the section on medical monitoring. Because of time constraints, discussion of the section was not completed and no vote was taken to approve the section. More details will be posted on the project page soon.

This year’s Annual Meeting includes special panel discussions, organized by ALI’s 100th Anniversary Committee. Futures program discussions will focus on the ways that technology and innovation affect all aspects of our society, including human relationships, governments, institutions, access to justice, and the rule of law. While the history panel will look back on what the Institute accomplished in its first century.

The first panel discussion addressed Social Media and Democracy. The conversation was moderated by Mary H. Murguia, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and featured speakers Cindy Cohn of Electronic Frontier Foundation, Nita A. Farahany of Duke University School of Law, Steven Feldstein of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The afternoon continued with the presentation of the John Minor Wisdom Award to Margaret H. Marshall of Choate Hall & Stewart LLP and Mary M. Schroeder of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Learn more about Marshall and Schroeder and the award here.

The first day of the Annual Meeting concluded with Property. Council member Carolyn B. Kuhl joined Reporter Henry E. Smith and Associate Reporters Sara C. Bronin, Thomas W. Merrill, and John C.P. Goldberg to present Tentative Draft No. 4, which includes portions of Volume 1 on The Basics of Property, Volume 2 on Interferences with, and Limits on, Ownership and Possession, and Volume 7 on Public Local Land-Use Regulation.

Actions Taken* 

A motion to amend §1.2A of Volume 2, Division I, Chapter 1 was withdrawn after Reporters presented edits to §1.2A in response to the motion. Membership voted to approve the draft through Volume 7, Division 1, Chapter 5. There was insufficient time to discuss Chapters 6 and 7 of Volume 7, Division I.

*All approvals by membership at the Annual Meeting are subject to the discussion at the Meeting and usual editorial prerogative.