4/16/04

The State Bar of Michigan's 69th Annual Meeting has been scheduled for September 30 to October 1 2004, at the downtown Lansing Center and Radisson Hotel. This year's program is being held in conjunction with the Governor's Task Force on Children's Justice, chaired by Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Weaver. The task force is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

The president of the American Bar Association (ABA), Dennis W. Archer, will be the keynote speaker at the noon luncheon on Thursday, September 30. Mr. Archer, who is the chairman of Dickinson Wright PLLC, a Detroit-based law firm, is the first African American and the first person of color to head the ABA.

A special dinner will be held that evening from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to honor State Bar of Michigan 2004 awards recipients. Afterwards, a Capitol Celebration to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the State Capitol will be held, with tours of the building and opportunities to meet Bar members who are leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Other featured speakers at the Annual Meeting are: Dr. R. Dale Lefever from the University of Michigan Medical School, who has conducted more than a thousand leadership and management development programs for judges, court administrators, prosecuting and defense attorneys and others in the justice system; Dr. Kyle Pruett, an internationally respected child psychiatrist and parenting expert; and Dr. James Garbarino, coordinator of the Family Life Development Center and Professor of Human Development at Cornell University, who has authored or co-authored 18 books.

On Friday, October 1, Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Maura Corrigan will swear in the 70th president of the State Bar, Nancy J. Diehl. During the course of the two-day event, Board of Commissioners and Representative Assembly meetings, as well as Section and group programs and university receptions will take place. An added attraction is the return of exhibitors this year after a one-year hiatus. As in previous years, a 5K walk and run, the Race for Justice, will be held in conjunction with the Annual meeting. For more information about the Annual Meeting, please contact State Bar Events Coordinator, Caryl Markzon at (517) 346-6371.

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