Arizona State Committee Issues Statement on Governor's Comments Regarding Judge Wake
October 11, 2019
The Arizona State Committee issued a statement voicing "concerns about Governor Doug Ducey's recent comments regarding United States District Court Judge Neil Wake." Read More
Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman Receives Inaugural Beverley McLachlin Access to Justice Award
October 11, 2019
The American College of Trial Lawyers presented the Honorable Jonathan Lippman, Chief Judge, New York Court of Appeals (Ret.) with the inaugural Beverley McLachlin Access to Justice Award at its 2019 Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday, September 28, 2019. Read More
69 New Fellows Inducted During 2019 Annual Meeting
October 3, 2019
The College welcomed 69 new Fellows during the Friday, September 27 Induction Ceremony at the 2019 Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia. Read More
October eBulletin is Now Available
October 2, 2019
The latest issue of the eBulletin can be viewed online. Read More
College Elects New President, New Regents
October 1, 2019
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 Douglas R. Young of Farella Braun + Martel LLP in San Francisco, CA, as its 70th President to lead the College during the coming year.
The College also elected three new members to its Board of Regents at its 69th Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia. Read More
Fall 2019 Journal Now Available
September 25, 2019
The latest issue of the Journal can now be viewed online. A print version will arriving in the mailbox soon. This issue features a profile on 2019-2010 Douglas R. Young of San Francisco, California. It also includes a thought-provoking article on the case for nolo contendere, and updates on two new programs - the Distinguished Pro Bono Fellows Project and the Trial Advocacy Programs. Click here to view.
Two New Trial Advocacy Programs Invite Applicants
August 23, 2019
The American College of Trial Lawyers is inviting applicants for two new trial advocacy programs. These no fee programs will focus on diversity in the courtroom and in-house corporate litigation attorneys. Read More
August eBulletin is Now Available
August 1, 2019
The latest issue of the eBulletin can be viewed online. Read More
Alaska Fellows Issue Statement in Response to Governor's Veto of Court System Budget
July 19, 2019
The Alaska Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers object to the Governor's veto of the budget the Alaska legislature had enacted to fund the Alaska Court System. Read More
Summer 2019 Journal Now Available
July 3, 2019
The latest issue of the Journal can now be viewed online. A print version will arriving in the mailbox soon. This issue recaps the speakers and events of the 2019 Spring Meeting in La Quinta, California. It features tributes to two Past Presidents and an article on Fellows as mentors. Click here to view.
Bloomberg Law Publishes Insight Article From President Leon
July 2, 2019
Bloomberg Law publishes Insight: Defense Counsel's Role in Democracy--Representing Those Accused of Heinous Crimes, written by President Leon on behalf of the College. Read More
June eBulletin is Now Available
June 1, 2019
The latest issue of the eBulletin can be viewed online. Read More
New White Paper from Federal Criminal Procedure Committee
May 14, 2019
The Federal Criminal Procedure Committee released a new paper titled Statement on Criminal Justice Reform. Read More
ACTL Responds to Decision By The Ontario Government To Slash Funding To Legal Aid Ontario
May 1, 2019
The mission of improving the administration of justice requires the American College of Trial Lawyers to speak to the current decision by the Ontario government to cut funding to Legal Aid Ontario. Read the full response
New White Paper from Task Force on Judicial Independence
April 17, 2019
The Task Force on Judicial Independence released a white paper titled The Need to Promote and Defend Fair and Impartial Courts. Read More
New White Paper from Jury Committee
April 17, 2019
The Jury Committee has published a new white paper titled Improving Jury Deliberations Through Jury Instructions Based on Cognitive Science. Read More
April eBulletin is Now Available
April 1, 2019
The latest issue of the eBulletin can be viewed online. Read More
Pro Bono Students Canada’s Indigenous Human Rights Program Receives 2019 Emil Gumpert Award
March 27, 2019
The American College of Trial Lawyers has selected the Indigenous Human Rights Program of Pro Bono Students Canada as the 2019 Emil Gumpert Award recipient. Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) is being recognized for its groundbreaking proposal to create two pilot Indigenous Human Rights clinics in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province. The clinics will be staffed by volunteer law students and pro bono human rights lawyers who will provide culturally-sensitive legal services to Indigenous peoples. Read More
Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch of the Supreme Court of the United States Receives Honorary Fellowship
March 11, 2019
The American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) presented Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch of the Supreme Court of the United States with Honorary Fellowship at its 2019 Spring Meeting in La Quinta, California, on Saturday, March 2, 2019. Read More
Stephen B. Bright Receives Griffin Bell Award for Courageous Advocacy
March 11, 2019
The American College of Trial Lawyers has presented its Griffin Bell Award for Courageous Advocacy to Stephen B. Bright during the 2019 Spring Meeting in La Quinta, California. The award honors trial lawyers who have persevered in the pursuit of an important cause despite substantial personal danger, fear, unpopularity, opposition or other extreme difficulties. In its 55 years of existence, the award has been extended previously only 15 times. Read More
73 New Fellows Inducted During 2019 Spring Meeting
March 6, 2019
The College welcomed 73 new Fellows during the Saturday, March 2 Induction Ceremony at the 2019 Spring Meeting in La Quinta, California. Read More
Spring 2019 Journal Now Available
February 20, 2019
The latest issue of the Journal can now be viewed online. A print version will be arriving in the mailbox soon. This issue recaps the speakers and events of the 2018 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. It features a new series titled "Heroes Among Us," Fellows as ministers, and the new Access to Justice Distinguished Pro Bono Fellows Pilot Project. Click here to view.
Special eBulletin Edition Highlights New Task Force on Mentoring
February 6, 2019
Dating back at least 15 years, the College has expressed concern over the "vanishing trial" and the consequent need to take action in order to ensure that the trial continues as the preferred means of resolving disputes. This requires junior lawyers to have the opportunity to get sufficient trial experience in order to hone their skills and become experienced trial lawyers. It is also essential for the College to continue to be able to identify junior trial lawyers who might qualify for Fellowship. It is in this context that the College formed its Task Force on Mentoring. Read More
Pilot Launched in Ontario To Speed Civil Justice
February 4, 2019
In an effort to speed up Ontario’s civil justice system, on Feb. 1 the Ontario Superior Court launched a case management pilot called the One Judge Model. The pilot grew out of the report from the Judiciary Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers called “Working Smarter But Not Harder in Canada: The Development of a Unified Approach to Case Management in Civil Litigation.” Read More
The Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. School of Law at the University of Alabama Wins National Moot Court Competition
February 4, 2019
The Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. School of Law at the University of Alabama won the final round of the 69th Annual National Moot Court Competition held January 31 at the New York City Bar Association. The winning team was comprised of Lindsey Barber, Cory Church, and Anne Miles Golson. The Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law was the runner-up, with a team comprised of Linda Qiu, Clayton Faits and Lois Ahn. ACTL co-sponsors the competition with the National Moot Court Competition Committee of the New York City Bar. President Jeffrey S. Leon was among the judges who heard arguments during the final round. Read More
February eBulletin is Now Available
February 1, 2019
The latest issue of the eBulletin can be viewed online. Read More
ACTL Foundation Grants $50,000 To Advance Kansas City Veterans Initiative
December 7, 2018
The American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) Foundation recognized the success of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation’s (KCMBF) signature legal program “Legal Connection: Military Matters.” Read More
ACTL Issues Statement in Support of Response By Chief Justice John Roberts to Remarks By President Trump Concerning Federal Judiciary
November 21, 2018
The American College of Trial Lawyers, a non-political organization composed of the leading trial lawyers in the United States and Canada— civil and criminal lawyers representing civil plaintiffs and defendants and criminal prosecutors and defense lawyers, of all political affiliations—today issues a statement in support of the response by Chief Justice John Roberts to remarks by President Trump criticizing “an Obama judge” referencing a federal district trial judge serving within the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for the United States, for a decision that issued a temporary restraining order blocking the barring of migrants who illegally cross into the United States from seeking asylum. The College considers such an attack as a direct assault on judicial independence, the backbone of our constitutional democracy. Read More
ACTL Responds to Decision to Close Pro Bono Ontario's Court-Based Services for Unrepresented Litigants by the End of 2018
November 8, 2018
The mission of improving the administration of justice requires the American College of Trial Lawyers to speak to the current decision of the Board of Directors of Pro Bono Ontario to close its court-based services for unrepresented litigants by the end of the year due to inadequate funding. Read More
ACTL Holds One-Day Seminar in British Virgin Islands
November 8, 2018
Five College Fellows traveled to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to lead the full-day program “Being A More Effective Advocate: In And Out Of Court” on Friday, November 2, 2018. The program had around 100 participants, including legal practitioners – civil, criminal, regulatory, commercial or arbitration – as well as judges and magistrates discussing the practical aspects of effective advocacy, ethics, and civility. Read More
ACTL Creates the Beverley McLachlin Access to Justice Award to Honor The Right Hon. Beverley McLachlin, P.C.
October 15, 2018
The American College of Trial Lawyers (the College) has announced the creation of the Beverley McLachlin Access to Justice Award to The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, P.C. The award, named in her honor, is to be presented to a judge or a member of the bar in the United States or Canada, whether or not a Fellow of the College, who has played an exceptional role in creating and promoting access to justice. The award will recognize innovative measures or extraordinary personal commitment and professional dedication which have enhanced access to justice in the United States or Canada. Read More
Andrew J. Savage III Receives Griffin Bell Award for Courageous Advocacy
October 15, 2018
The American College of Trial Lawyers (the College) has presented its Griffin Bell Award for Courageous Advocacy to criminal defense attorney Andrew J. Savage III. The award honors trial lawyers who have persevered in the pursuit of an important cause despite substantial personal danger, fear, unpopularity, opposition or other extreme difficulties. In its 54 years of existence, the award has been extended previously only 14 times. Read More
The Honourable Madam Sheliah L. Martin, Judge of the Supreme Court of Canda, Receives Honorary Fellowship
October 15, 2018
The American College of Trial Lawyers (the College) presented The Honourable Madam Justice Sheilah L. Martin of the Supreme Court of Canada with Honorary Fellowship at its Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Saturday, September 29, 2018. Read More
86 New Fellows Inducted During Annual Meeting
October 4, 2018
The College welcomed 86 new Fellows during the Induction Ceremony at the 2018 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Read More
College Elects New President, New Regents
September 30, 2018
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 Jeffrey S. Leon, LSM of Bennett Jones LLP in Toronto, Ontario, as its 69th President to lead the College during the coming year. He is the second Canadian to serve as President.
The College also elected four new members to its Board of Regents at its 68th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Read More
Fall 2018 Journal Now Available
September 26, 2018
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 profile on incoming President Jeffrey S. Leon, LSM, shares the story of one Fellow's work with the thalidomide saga in Canada, and pays tribute to Past President Jimmy Morris. Click here to view.