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.
Texas Fellows Offer All-Day Litigation CLE Program
August 13, 2018
As a follow up to last year's successful CLE program in Houston, the Texas Fellows will offer on October 5, 2018 an all-day Litigation CLE program focusing on the first steps of a jury trial. The program, Jury Trials: First Steps - Voir Dire and Opening, will consist of real-life trial demonstrations of voir dire and opening, and will be conducted by Fellows of the College. Read more.
August eBulletin is Now Available
August 1, 2018
The latest issue of the eBulletin can be viewed online. Read more.
ACTL Foundation Grants $50,000 to Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
July 16, 2018
ACTL Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Youth Justice Project of Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS). Read more.
Special Edition of the eBulletin Provides Update on Efforts to Help U.S. Veterans
July 3, 2018
In honor of Canada Day and Independence Day, a special edition of the eBulletin highlighting the work Fellows have done for U.S. veterans was published. Click here to view.
Summer 2018 Journal Now Available
June 26, 2018
The latest issue of the Journal can now be viewed online. The print version should be arriving in your mailbox soon. This issue recaps the speakers and events of the 2018 Spring Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. Click here to view.
Fellows Continue Fight for Veterans
June 21, 2018
Despite a recent victory in a federal appellate court, the legal fight for veterans who endure lengthy delays for decisions on disability claims appeals continues for Georgia Fellows John Chandler and Beth Tanis, who are leading the pro bono suit. Read more.
June eBulletin is Now Available
June 4, 2018
The latest issue of the eBulletin can be viewed online. Click here to view.
Fordham Law School's Feerick Center for Social Justice Receives 2018 Emil Gumpert Award
May 7, 2018
The American College of Trial Lawyers has selected the Feerick Center for Social Justice at Fordham Law School as the 2018 Emil Gumpert Award recipient. The Feerick Center is being recognized for providing pro bono legal counsel to asylum-seeking women with children in Dilley, TX along with its partner, the Dilley Pro Bono Project (DPBP). Read more.
Northern California State Committee Issues Statement on Judicial Selection
May 1, 2018
The chair of the Northern California state committee writes that the judiciary should "be independent of the two political branches and follow the law, not the vagaries of partisan politics." Read more.
April eBulletin is Now Available
April 10, 2018 The latest issue of the
eBulletin can be viewed online. Click
here to view.
Wake Forest Wins National Trial Competition
April 10, 2018
The Wake Forest School of Law won the National Trial Competition on April 8, 2018 in Austin, Texas, with not one, but two teams competing in the final round. Read more.
President Franklin Issues Midterm Message
March 27, 2018
Click here to watch President Franklin's midterm message to Fellows.
Canadian Supreme Court Justice Becomes Honorary Fellow
March 16, 2018
The College presented The Honourable Mr. Justice Malcolm Rowe of the Supreme Court of Canada with Honorary Fellowship at its Spring Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, March 3, 2018. Read more.
ACTL Statement Regarding Criticism of Canadian Federal Judge Included In The Lawyer's Daily Article
March 15, 2018
The appointment of Justice John Norris, a former lawyer to Omar Khadr, a child soldier who was indoctrinated into al-Qaeda by his father, to the Federal Court bench may have received criticism on social media, but legal associations came forward in support of the decision. Canadian associations were not the only legal groups voicing support for Justice Norris. ACTL released a statement calling the criticism of Justice Norris “unjustified” and “misplaced.” Read more.
ACTL Presents Sandra Day O'Connor Jurist Award To Florida Supreme Court Justice
March 14, 2018
The American College of Trial Lawyers has presented its Sandra Day O’Connor Jurist Award to Florida Supreme Court Justice the Honorable Barbara J. Pariente. The award recognizes a judge for his or her exemplary judicial independence in the performance of his or her duties. Justice Pariente is only the third recipient of the award. To view her presentation, click here. Read more.
New White Paper From Attorney-Client Relationships Committee
March 13, 2018
The Attorney-Client Relationships Committee has published a new white paper to serve as a key resource on current trends in attorney-client privilege. Read more.
Spring 2018 Journal Now Available
March 8, 2018
The latest issue of the Journal can now be viewed online. The print version should be arriving in your mailbox soon. This issue recaps the speakers and events of the 2017 Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec. Click here to view.
Ninety-Five New Fellows Inducted at 2018 Spring Meeting
March 7, 2018
The College welcomed 95 new Fellows during the 2018 Spring Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. Read the complete list.
The College Issues Statement on Latest Round to Defund Legal Services Corporation
March 6, 2018
The mission of the College requires the College to speak to the 2019 proposed budget of the Administration regarding the defunding of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). LSC provides, for those who cannot afford a lawyer, access to the courts in civil cases. We have spoken to Fellows in many States and the conclusion is that completely defunding the LSC would impede the rights to fair and just representation and access to the courts for the poorest among us. Read more.
The College Responds to Criticisms Concerning the Appointment of John Norris to the Federal Court of Canada
March 6, 2018
The College considers criticism that has been published over the past several days concerning the appointment of John Norris to the Federal Court of Canada unjustified and entirely misplaced. Those criticisms have been made on the basis that during the course of his long and distinguished career as a lawyer, Justice Norris represented people who were accused of serious crimes. Read more.
Northwestern Law Wins National Moot Court Competition
February 2, 2018
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law won the final round of the 68th Annual National Moot Court Competition held February 1 at the New York City Bar Association. The winning team was comprised of Brendan Gerdes, Taylor Mullaney and L.J. Pavletic. The USC Gould School of Law was the runner-up, with a team comprised of Zoe Steinberg and Rachel Yang. ACTL co-sponsors the competition with the National Moot Court Competition Committee of the New York City Bar. Read more.
Fellows Lead Three-Day Workshop in Guam
February 2, 2018
Eleven College Fellows traveled to Guam to lead the 2018 American College of Trial Lawyers Workshop for Judges and Lawyers from Jan. 17 through Jan. 19, 2018. The program exposed more than 100 participants, including judicial officers, attorneys general, public defenders and lawyers from Guam and neighboring islands, to the trial and advocacy skills for which Fellows of the College are known. Read more.
Fellows Head To Guam For 2018 American College of Trial Lawyers Workshop for Judges and Lawyers
January 19, 2018
With social media use in the mainstream, the question of curbing jurors' use of social media across the different platforms was raised during a session at the 2018 American College of Trial Lawyers Workshop for Judges and Lawyers. The Pacific Judicial Council held the first of a three-day workshop Wednesday at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa in Tumon. Read more.