The American Law Institute (ALI), the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize and improve the law, is holding its 87th Annual Meeting from May 17- 19 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Annual Meeting combines tradition, scholarly debate and important addresses. Over the course of three days, ALI members and guests will participate in the consideration of intellectually-challenging issues relating to the Institute’s projects and have the opportunity to hear interesting and thought-provoking speeches from renowned leaders in the legal profession.
Speakers
On Monday, May 17, the Honorable Stephen Breyer, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, will speak on the topic: “Making the Constitution Work: A Supreme Court Justice’s View.” Carolyn B. Lamm, President of the American Bar Association, also will make remarks on Monday.
Seth Waxman, former Solicitor General of the United States, will address attendees at the Annual Dinner on Tuesday, May 18. Bennett Boskey, ALI’s Treasurer and a lawyer in the District of Columbia, will make remarks at a luncheon on May 18 honoring ALI’s 2010 life (25-year) members and 50-year members. At a luncheon for members and guests on Wednesday, May 19, Christopher F. Edley, Jr., Dean of Berkeley School of Law of the University of California, will speak on the topic: “Race & Law in the Obama Age.”
Projects
Final Tentative Drafts will be presented for membership approval in two Restatement of the Law projects: Property and Restitution. Approval of the drafts will clear the way for publication of the official texts of these projects.
Reporters Lawrence W. Waggoner and John H. Langbein will present the Restatement of the Law Third, Property (Wills and Other Donative Transfers) on May 18. The final Tentative Draft contains material on present and future interests and the Rule Against Perpetuities. Two volumes of this Restatement have already been published; the material approved at this Annual Meeting will be published in a final volume along with previously-approved material on class gifts and powers of appointment. This work will replace the Restatement of the Law Second, Property (Donative Transfers).
On May 19, Andrew Kull, the Reporter for the Restatement of the Law Third, Restitution and Unjust Enrichment, will submit the final Tentative Draft, dealing with defenses to restitution and remedies. When published, this project will replace the original Restatement of the Law of Restitution promulgated in 1936.
The Annual Meeting agenda includes four additional projects to be considered by the membership; three will be presented for approval and one for discussion only.
ALI members will discuss the Model Penal Code: Sentencing on May 17. Kevin Reitz, the project’s Reporter, will present a Discussion Draft containing material on several topics, including life sentences, sentencing juveniles convicted in adult court and terms of post-release supervision.
Also on May 17, Edwin Smith and Steven L. Harris will submit a Tentative Draft of amendments to Article 9 (Secured Transactions) of the Uniform Commercial Code. ALI members will consider the Restatement of the Law Third, Employment Law on May 18. Reporters Samuel Estreicher and Stewart J. Schwab will present a Tentative Draft containing chapters on the employee duty of loyalty and restrictive covenants.
On May 18-19, George A. Bermann, Jack J. Coe, Jr., Christopher R. Drahozal and Catherine A. Rogers, the Reporters for the Restatement of the Law Third, The U.S. Law of International Commercial Arbitration, will submit a Tentative Draft on recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards.