Massachusetts Bar Association President Marsha V. Kazarosian,
President-elect Robert W. Harnais and Director of Media and
Communications Jason M. Scally participated in American Bar
Association Day in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 15. ABA
Day gathers bar leaders from across the country to lobby their
congressional delegations on issues of importance to the organized
bar.
This year, ABA Day participants focused on over-incarceration and
asked members of Congress to reauthorize and update the Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) and enact smart
sentencing reforms, including the reduction of mandatory minimum
sentences. Funding for Legal Services Corporation at the
administration request of a minimum of $452 million was also
urged.
The MBA has participated in ABA Day since its inception 19 years
ago. At Wednesday's Opening Session, the ABA announced that this
year's group was the largest ever.
Joining the MBA representatives this year as part of the
Massachusetts delegation were Hon. Robert Collings, magistrate
judge from the U.S. District of Massachusetts; past MBA President
Alice Richmond, who is also a former ABA treasurer; attorney Mary
Ryan, chair of the ABA's Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public
Service; leaders from the Boston Bar Association, including BBA
President Julia Huston, BBA President-elect Lisa Arrowood and BBA
Director of Government Relations & Public Affairs Michael
Avitzur; and paralegal Stephanie Belz from Rubin and Rudman.