On Sept. 22, the Massachusetts Bar Association's House of
Delegates convened for the first time for the association year. The
group, which met at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, will
hold its remaining four meetings for the 2011-12 association year
at the university's other campuses across the state.
Anthony J. Garro, the UMass Dartmouth provost and vice chancellor
for academic affairs, was the meeting's guest speaker and devoted a
portion of his remarks to the progress of the recently established
UMass School of Law, the state's first public law school.
A second guest speaker, Probate and Family Court Chief Justice
Paula M. Carey, shared a sobering snapshot of her department's lean
operations given the reality of the court system's continually
slashed funding, as well as the "massive change" in probate law to
come with the January 2012 enactment of the Massachusetts Uniform
Probate Code.
MBA President Richard P. Campbell focused his report on the
association's three goals for the year:
- Public awareness on the grave consequences to the rule of law
from underfunding the justice system;
- Direct engagement in the many issues facing our commonwealth's
gateway cities; and
- The evaluation of the ongoing relevancy of law schools.
The new members of the association's Executive Management Board
were voted on and approved. Walter Costello, Gavin Reardon and
Christopher Sullivan were elected to three-year terms, while Scott
Peterson was elected to a one-year term to fill the vacancy created
by Robert Harnais' ascension to MBA secretary. Also, Thomas Barbar,
Christopher Kenney, Radha Natarajan and Gloria Tan were elected for
one-year terms.
Although HOD delayed a vote on the presented resolution on
Mandatory Continuing Legal Education until the January meeting, a
task force will be formed to dissect the issue further and develop
recommendations. Likewise, a vote on the resolution to support, in
principle, legislation to establish a mandatory mediation procedure
prior to foreclosure, was postponed until its Nov. 10 meeting at
UMass Amherst.
A special tribute to MBA immediate Past President Denise
Squillante was also part of the September meeting. Campbell and his
fellow officers personally gifted a portrait of the past president,
who led the MBA through its successful centennial anniversary
celebration. Carey also offered Squillante congratulations