MARCH 2016
ABF IN REVIEW
P roducing Research that Advances Justice |  Quarterly Newsletter

The American Bar Foundation's mission is to serve the legal profession, the public, and the academy through empirical research, publications, and programs that advance justice and the understanding of law and its impact on society.
 
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ABF scholar discusses proposals to strengthen the rule of law at UN meeting 
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On  Friday, Mar. 11, 2016,  Terence Halliday , research professor at the ABF and co-director of our Center on Law and Globalization ,  spoke to foreign diplomats, ambassadors, and U.N. officials about new proposals to strengthen the rule of law. The dialogue was held at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, and marked the official launch of a report of policy proposals from the Australian government to enhance the capacity of the Security Council to strengthen the rule of law. The recommendations were developed by the Australian Civil-Military Centre and Centre for International Governance and Justice at Australian National University, and presented at the dialogue. Halliday then followed with his observations, focusing on the implications of the proposals on the U.N.'s efforts to encourage rule of law internationally. Read more. 
ABF research presented at Dept. of Justice meeting
Professor Rebecca Sandefur
ABF Faculty Fellow and University of Illinois Professor  Rebecca Sandefur  spoke about her research on civil justice experiences at a meeting held at the U.S. Department of Justice on Feb. 29, 2016. The U.S. Attorney General, Director of the the  Domestic Policy Council , and cabinet-level representatives from over 20 federal departments were all in attendance.  Read more. Listen to Professor Sandefur discuss her research. Learn more about the Access to Justice research project.

Terence Halliday co-authors letter to China's president
 Professor Terence Halliday
ABF Research Professor Terence Halliday has recently made news in the international human rights community.
In China, a recent crackdown on human rights lawyers and activists has led to the disappearance and detainment of more than 300 lawyers and their associates since July 2015 . If convicted of the "subversion" charges brought against them, they face sentences of up to life in prison. An expert on the legal system and lawyers in China, Halliday co-authored an open letter  condemning the arrests and calling on President Xi Jinping to adhere to universal legal standards. Halliday's activities have been covered extensively by major media outlets, including the New York Times, ABA Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera. Read more.
Fellows events at the 2016 ABA Midyear Meeting
The panelists & moderator at the 2016 Fellows CLE. Left to right: Sonia Gonzales, R. Alexander Acosta, Luz Herrera, Manny Medrano, Rachel F. Moran, Robert L. Nelson, & Thomas A. Saenz
Kimberle W. Crenshaw, recipient of the Outstanding Scholar Award, speaking at the 60th Annual Awards Reception and Banquet during the ABA Midyear Meeting in San Diego.
Fellows CLE on "The Future of Latinos"

The Fellows CLE seminar, "The Future of Latinos in the United States: Law, Opportunity and Mobility" was held on Feb. 6, 2016. It was based on an ABF research project of the same name and brought together leading experts to discuss the different futures of Latinos that are possible by 2050, when the Latino population is projected to account for 30% of the nation's population.   Learn more about the 'The Future of Latinos' research project. Read the recap of the program.
60th Annual Fellows Awards Banquet

The Fellows hosted the 60th Annual Awards Reception and Banquet on Feb. 6, 2016, at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Along with UCLA and Columbia Law Professor Kimberle W. Crenshaw, recipients of the 2016 Fellows Awards were  Llewelyn G. Pritchard, Outstanding Service Award; Honorable John R. Tunheim and Barbara J. Gislason, Outstanding State Chair Award ; and Selma Moidel Smith, Life Fellow Achievement Award.  For photos, visit our Flickr page.

New monthly web series launched
Prof. Elizabeth Mertz

We are excited to launch 5 QUESTIONS, a new ABF web series! Each month, we sit down with a Research Professor for a five question Q&A on their latest research, publications, and awards. Each 
installment will be posted on the homepage of our website. Our first feature is on Professor Elizabeth Mertz, who recently won an award for excellence in mentoring. We talked about the award, and the often overlooked value of mentoring in law and academia. Read the Q&A.

Professor Terence Halliday participates in World Bank panel on money laundering
Professor Terence Halliday at the panel. 
Photo courtesy of the World Bank
Professor Terence Halliday participated in a panel on anti-money laundering (AML) during the World Bank Group's (WBG) "Law, Justice and Development Week," Nov. 16-20, 2015, in Washington, D.C. In January 2014, Halliday co-authored a "dirty money" report examining the effectiveness of the global AML/Combating the Finance of Terrorism (CFT) system. Halliday was joined by Richard Lalonde, senior financial sector specialist at the International Monetary Fund, Joseph (Jody) Myers, VP of Compliance at Western Union,  Jean Pesme, practice manager in Finance & Markets Global Practice at the WBG, and moderator, Jonathan Turley, professor at George Washington University Law School. Co-sponsored by the ABA Section of International Law and the World Bank, the panel was organized by the Hon. Delissa A. Ridgway, judge of the United States Court of International Trade and a member of the ABF Fellows Research Advisory Committee. 
Researcher Spotlight: James J. Heckman
Professor James J. Heckman
ABF Research Professor and University of Chicago Nobel laureate James J. Heckman has recently received several awards for his groundbreaking research on childhood development. He was honored with the James Madison Medal from Princeton University on Feb. 20, 2016. The Madison Medal is presented annually to an alumnus or alumna of Princeton's graduate school who has led a distinguished career, advanced the cause of graduate education or achieved a record of outstanding public service. Heckman also  received the 2016 Dan David Prize  , a top international prize for outstanding scientific, technological, cultural or social achievements.The American Academy of Political and Social Science (AAPSS)  elected  Heckman as one of their distinguished 2016 Fellows. The AAPSS inducts five Fellows each year, in recognition of their significant contributions to society through research and public service. Read more.

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 Center on Law and Globalization

The Center on Law and Globalization was created to advance social scientific understanding of global law, global legal institutions, and global legal behavior. 




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The American Bar Endowment provides quality insurance for ABA member attorneys while giving back to the good works of the legal profession.