ABA to co-host 'The First 50 Years of the 25th Amendment' anniversary program on May 10

The American Bar Association will co-host The First 50 Years of the 25th Amendment, a discussion on how the amendment was drafted and ratified, on May 10 at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C. The event is co-sponsored by Fordham University School of Law and the Bipartisan Policy Center.

John Fortier, director of the Democracy Project of the Bipartisan Policy Center, will make introductory remarks at 9:30 a.m. ABA President Linda Klein will present former Indiana Sen. Birch Bayh with a Presidential Citation honoring him as a lawyer and the only non-founding father to draft two enacted Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

"The passage of the amendment is important because it not only filled a longstanding need of an orderly process for presidential and vice-presidential succession, but it also represents the important and enduring legacy of the lawyer's role in public service. The American Bar Association is proud to have joined together, in a bipartisan effort, with state and local bars to ensure the passage and ratification of the 25th Amendment," said ABA President Linda Klein.

Panel highlights include:

"The Origins of the 25th Amendment and the Role of Lawyers in Public Service," moderated by John Rogan. This panel will discuss the role the ABA and lawyers played with regard to the 25th Amendment and promoting its ratification including the concept of citizen lawyers, the importance of professional organizations' participation in government, and the importance of bipartisan cooperation in creating the 25th Amendment. Panelists include John Rogan, adjunct professor, Fordham University School of Law; John Feerick, former dean, Fordham University School of Law; and Linda Klein, ABA president, managing shareholder, Baker Donelson; Jay Berman, former Senate aide to Sen. Birch Bayh and director of the Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments; and Lowell Beck, former assistant director of the ABA Washington office, and ABA deputy executive director.

"The 25th Amendment, Vice Presidential Selection and Remaining Issues in Presidential Succession," moderated by John Fortier. This panel will highlight the uses and non-uses of the 25th Amendment, remaining reforms, the role of the vice president in the 25th Amendment, and the vice presidency. Panelists include Bob Bauer, partner, Perkins Coie, former White House counsel; A.B. Culvahouse, partner, O'Melveny & Myers, former White House counsel, and advisor, ; John Feerick, former dean, Fordham University School of Law; and Joel Goldstein, Vincent C. Immel Professor of Law, Saint Louis University School of Law.

Published: Tue, May 09, 2017