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(From Left to Right) Past CBA President Monte E. Frank, ABA Immediate Past President Mary Smith, and CBA President James T. (Tim) Shearin
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On September 4, 2024, the CBA hosted its fifth Rule of Law Conference, and the first held in person since 2018, at the state’s Legislative Office Building in Hartford. The event was hosted collaboratively with the American Bar Association (ABA) as part of the ABA Task Force on American Democracy Listening Tour, which has been composed of events across the country that discuss how to bolster confidence in American elections and officials, educate the public on American democracy and the rule of law, and suggest ideas on how to strengthen democracy and our elections. The conference consisted of an introduction from ABA Immediate Past President Mary Smith, four panel discussions on various topics related to the rule of law, and a keynote address from former United States Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh C. Johnson.
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ABA Immediate Past President Mary Smith presented the conference's introduction.
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In her introduction to the conference, ABA Past President Smith emphasized the importance of the ABA’s listening tour and how it has encouraged the local legal communities of several states to come together to ensure free and fair elections. She noted how the ABA Task Force on American Democracy has encouraged lawyers in hundreds of associations nationwide to assist in, “…rebuilding trust in our elections, educating the public on the rule of law and how democracy and the constitution underpin what we all value in our everyday lives” and she emphasized that American lawyers, “…must now answer the clarion call to defend American democracy and the rule of law.”
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(From Left to Right) ABA Immediate Past President Mary Smith, CBA President James T. (Tim) Shearin, and Lauren Stiller Rikleen
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Following the opening remarks, ABA Past President Smith and Lawyers Defending American Democracy Executive Director and ABA Task Force for American Democracy Advisory Committee Vice Chair Lauren Stiller Rikleen participated in the panel discussion, What Lawyers Can Do to Sustain Our Democracy, moderated by CBA President James T. (Tim) Shearin. The panel began with Director Rikleen explaining the origin and mission of Lawyers Defending American Democracy, a non-partisan organization formed in 2019 in response to public calls asking for legal professionals to defend against ongoing attacks on the rule of law and the integrity of American elections. She described several projects that the organization has undertaken, including collaborations with the ABA, that inform the public about alarming restrictions of freedoms at the state and federal levels and promote American civic education. During the panel, Smith and Rikleen answered questions from various attendees on the initiatives and plans being implemented to help secure future elections and promote public civic literacy.
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(From Left to Right) Helen I. Bennett, Kathryn Hauser, Eric Parker, and Megan Nielsen
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The conference’s second panel, The Role of Media in The Age of Misinformation/Disinformation, was moderated by attorney and host of WFSB’s public affairs program, CT24, Eric Parker, and included Hartford Courant Executive Editor Helen I. Bennett, attorney and former journalist Megan Nielsen, and WTNH anchor/reporter Kathryn Hauser. The panelists discussed the challenges reporters face in accurately relaying the complex details and major takeaways of legal cases and decisions. They noted that most journalists do not have a professional background in law and therefore often lack an understanding of the norms and intricacies of specific legal procedures. The panelists argued that, while many attorneys avoid communicating with the media, doing so to provide critical context and explanations of the complexities involved in cases and issues being covered can be beneficial. They explained that such communications can prevent damaging mischaracterizations of clients as well as enhance relations with the public and the press. The panelists also discussed the increasing difficulty journalists face in covering opposing sides of political issues as extreme polarization often brings even the basic facts of an issue or event into dispute.
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(From Left to Right) CBA Past President Monte E. Frank and Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas
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Panelist Nick Troiano joined the conference virtually via Zoom.
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The conference’s third panel discussion, Electoral Reforms to Increase Voter Participation, Reward Good Behavior, and Reduce Polarization, was moderated by past CBA President Monte E. Frank and included Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas and Unite America Executive Director Nick Troiano. The panelists answered questions from past CBA President Frank and explained how changes to electoral procedures can help to reduce nefarious behavior from politicians, increase voter participation, and lessen polarization. Secretary Thomas pointed to expanded voter registration policies and increased funding for civics education as preferred methods for increasing election turnout and engagement, while Director Troiano described the research that has led him to conclude that open primaries and ranked-choice voting would provide effective counters against the current climate of political polarization.
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(From Left to Right) U.S. District Court Judge Alvin W. Thompson; Connecticut Appellate Court Chief Judge William H. Bright, Jr.; U.S. District Court Chief Judge Micheal P. Shea
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The final panel discussion of the conference, moderated by past CBA President Jonathan M. Shapiro, focused on the concept of judicial independence and included U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut Chief Judge Michael P. Shea; Connecticut Appellate Court Chief Judge William H. Bright, Jr.; and U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut Judge Alvin W. Thompson. Judge Shea began the panel by discussing the importance of maintaining an independent judiciary and cautioning against sudden calls for changes to the judiciary system based on a single controversial ruling. Chief Judge Bright further emphasized the importance of discerning between criticizing the outcome of a judgment and criticizing the judicial process itself. “It is fine to say there are better things we can do in the judicial process and it is fine to suggest changes. That is completely different, though, than saying, ‘I lost because the system is corrupt. I lost because the judge is biased. I lost because the judge is part of a cabal that is trying to help lawyers make money and only certain lawyers make money,’” stated Chief Judge Bright. “I’ve heard all of those publicly and some directed towards me or my colleagues and those types of comments undermine the independence of the judiciary and the perception of the bench and the work that we do.”
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Former United States Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh C. Johnson was introduced by past CBA President Daniel J. Horgan.
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The Rule of Law Conference culminated with the keynote address presented by former United States Secretary of Homeland Security and co-chair of the ABA Task Force for American Democracy Jeh C. Johnson. Secretary Johnson began his keynote by speaking in favor of efforts toward bipartisanship. He highlighted how much the success and stability of the United States depends on the quality of our political officials. “We know today that our democracy is fragile. Much of our democracy is grey and depends very much on leaders who are reasonable, prudent, and responsible,” stated Secretary Johnson. While concluding his address, Johnson asserted that, “Americans do have to accept sooner or later something as truth, about who we are and our nation and what happens in this country,” and called upon the lawyers present to get involved in civics education and ensuring election integrity.
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Former United States Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh C. Johnson provided the keynote address for the conference.
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View the 2024 ABA Task Force on American Democracy Listening Tour/CBA Rule of Law Conference in full through the CBA YouTube Channel.