Lawyers e-Journal
Thursday, Sep. 29, 2011
Top left: MBA President Richard P. Campbell leads the meeting.
Top right: Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Counsel Martin W. Healy delivers his report.
Bottom left: Robert Cannon presents a resolution on foreclosures.
Bottom right: Probate and Family Court Chief Justice Paula M. Carey.
Photos by Tricia Oliver.
MBA’s HOD holds initial meeting of 2011-12 association year
On Thursday, Sept. 22 the Massachusetts Bar Association House of
Delegates convened for the first time for the association year. The
group met at UMASS Dartmouth and will hold its remaining four
meetings for the 2011-12 association year at the University's other
campuses across the state.
UMASS Dartmouth Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Anthony J. Garro served as the meeting's guest speaker and devoted
a portion of his remarks to the progress of the recently
established UMASS Law School, 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 January 2012 enactment of the Massachusetts Uniform
Probate Code.
As part of his first MBA President's Report, 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 also
elected for one-year terms.
Although the delegates approved the motion to delay the vote to
approve the presented resolution on Mandatory Continuing Legal
Education until the January HOD 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 the November HOD meeting. Much
debate ensued following the presentation of each of the two
resolutions.
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 hugely successfully Centennial
anniversary celebration. Additionally, Carey participated in
offering remarks on behalf of Squillante.
The House of Delegates will meet next on Nov. 10 at UMASS
Amherst.