American College of Trial Lawyers

ACTL Welcomes 96 new Fellows at 2020 Annual Meeting & 70th Anniversary Celebration.

The American College of Trial Lawyers Elects RODNEY ACKER as its 70th President The American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), one of the premier professional organizations comprised of preeminent trial lawyers from the U.S. and Canada, has installed Rodney Acker of Norton Rose Fulbright as its 70th President. Mr. Acker was elected as President at the College’s 2020 Annual Meeting and 70th Anniversary Celebration. More than 650 Fellows from across North America gathered virtually to also induct 96 new Fellows and to discuss issues important to the profession.

Comedy in the Age of COVID, Politics, and Correctness In this era of political correctness can you get cancelled for cracking a joke? Is comedy dead, a shadow of itself or just resting in the shade? Does the First Amendment really protect satire and ridiculing someone? Join us during the General Session on Friday, September 25th.

Observations on the COVID Pandemic - Where Things Stand Today and Outlook for the Future * Join world renowned scientist Dr. Gallo for his update on COVID-19 during Thursday's General Session.

Introducing, G. Marcus Cole, one of our many incredible 2020 Annual Meeting Speakers G. Marcus Cole is the Joseph A. Matson Dean of the Law School at the University of Notre Dame. He is considered a leading scholar of the empirical law and economics of commerce and finance. He was a faculty member of Stanford Law before coming to Notre Dame. Dean Cole will share personal stories of growing up facing racial injustice.... To read Dean Cole’s letter, I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something. I must do something. Please visit https://rb.gy/jeepxb

From racial injustice to COVID-19, what professional athletes are experiencing in their quest to play their sport Senior NFL Writer for The Undefeated, Jason Reid will introduce representatives from the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. Moderator DeMaurice Smith will lead the discussion. Topics will include player health and safety, the impact of racial injustice, fans versus no fans, player compensation in the event of an interrupted or cancelled season, and more. General Session on Friday, September 25th will start at 1:00pm EDT.

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. (September 19, 2020) - The American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) mourns the loss of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a trailblazing advocate, a meticulous jurist, a true patriot, and an Honorary Fellow of the College. The College commends Justice Ginsburg’s career as an accomplished and courageous trial and appellate lawyer while in private practice and a person of deep faith committed to the best our countries have to offer. The world is enriched by her example. We are humbled and inspired by her spirit. #leadership #ruthbaderginsburg #revolutionary #trailblazer

Perspective from Both Sides of the Aisle Thursday, September 24th, The Honorable William Cohen will provide remarks for the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Lecture. He will discuss his experiences of serving as a Republican member of the US House of Representatives and the Senate to his appointment as Secretary of Defense under Democratic President Bill Clinton.... For more about Mr. Cohen - www.cohengroup.net/our-people/william-cohen

-Presenting the ACTL 2020 Annual Meeting Judicial Panel- The Rt. Hon. Lady Arden, Honorable Stephen G. Breyer, The Rt. Hon. Richard Wagner, P.C. The topics included the effects of COVID-19 on the Supreme Courts and trial courts of their respective countries, judicial independence, the rule of law, collegiality among Justices, the mechanics of decision-making within the respective courts, the labels of Obama Judge or Trump Judge, the significance of unanimous decisions v. 5-4... decisions, advice to litigants practicing in Supreme Courts, and hopes and fears for the respective courts in the future. Joe R. Caldwell, Jr., Regent will moderate the discussion. Thursday, September 24th during the General Session. For more about each Panel Member please visit the Annual Meeting Speakers page on actl.com

Virtual CLE live-stream program is just One Week away! Explore the idea that separate could be legal through examining Plessy v. Ferguson and the Evolution of Test Cases. Wednesday, September 23rd at 3:00pm EDT... Read about our distinguished panel, download handouts, order a signed book on our CLE page at atcl.com To submit questions for the panel ahead of time, email [email protected]. During the live broadcast, use the Q&A feature on the broadcast site.

Check out these shots from our Special Event with Author and Former U.S. Attorney, Kent Alexander from this past Thursday! Mr. Alexander discussed how the investigation of the 1996 Olympic bombing profiled, targeted and ultimately cleared Richard Jewell, who had become the internet's first viral news story taking someone from obscurity to fame to villainy in the span of a single day. Fellow and Former U.S. Deputy Attorney General, Sally Q. Yates was the moderator for the di...scussion. Let us know if you watched!

"Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens." - Plato * * Do you know of an outstanding organization whose work includes maintaining and improving the administration of justice?... The American College of Trial Lawyers is accepting applications for the 2021 Emil Gumpert Award. * Click here for more information --> actl.com/gumpertaward For Questions --> [email protected] * Application Deadline: Thursday, October 1st.

*Announcement* Join other Fellows participating in this ground breaking Special Event! Be part of the College's FIRST-EVER live program on September 10th at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

The latest issue of the Journal can now be viewed online. A print version will be arriving in the mailbox soon. This issue features a recap of the speakers from the 2020 Spring Meeting in Tucson. Learn more about our newly inducted Fellows as well as the newest members of the Access to Justice Distinguished Pro Bono Fellows Project. In "Fellows Share War Stories," Fellows talk about facing the jitters. In "Heroes Among Us," one Fellow comes face-to-face with history during his visit to Normandy for the fifty-fifth anniversary of D-Day. https://www.actl.com//def/actl-journal-93-summer-2020.pdf