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- The American Bar Association is a private professional association
- Public honors from private organizations often cause understandable confusion
- Official reporting shows that the ABA honored Sen. Durbin with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022
- Award announcements often include a few core details
- The ABA described the recognition as tied to legislative work on justice system priorities
- These honors are separate from how laws are made and enforced
- Sources
Key Facts
- Federal and state: The American Bar Association states that it was founded in 1878 and describes itself as working to advance the rule of law by providing resources for legal professionals, law school accreditation, and model ethics codes.
- Federal and state: ABA News reported that the ABA presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas at the ABA 2022 Annual Meeting in Chicago.
- Federal and state: ABA News reported that these Lifetime Achievement Awards were created to mark the 25th anniversary of ABA Day, which the ABA describes as a grassroots advocacy event.
- Federal and state: ABA News stated that the Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented by then ABA President Reginald Turner during the ABA General Assembly.
- Federal and state: ABA News reported that Sen. Durbin participated virtually because a change in the Senate’s schedule required him to remain in Washington, D.C.
- Federal and state: ABA News reported that the ABA cited Sen. Durbin for legislative work connected to access to justice and preserving the rule of law.
- Federal level: The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary published a press release stating that ABA President Deborah Enix Ross presented Sen. Durbin with an ABA Lifetime Achievement Award on November 16, 2022.
- Federal level: The same Senate Judiciary Committee press release described Sen. Durbin at that time as Senate Majority Whip and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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The American Bar Association is a private professional association
The American Bar Association, often called the ABA, is a nationwide professional association rather than a federal or state government agency. On its “About” page, the ABA states that it was founded in 1878 and that its work includes practical resources for legal professionals, law school accreditation, and model ethics codes.
Public honors from private organizations often cause understandable confusion
When a headline says a senator is being “honored” by the ABA, many people wonder whether that honor is an official government action or whether it changes any legal rights. In most cases, an award from a private organization is a form of recognition by that organization and is separate from Congress, courts, or state legislatures.
Official reporting shows that the ABA honored Sen. Durbin with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022
ABA News reported that, at the ABA 2022 Annual Meeting in Chicago, the ABA presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. John Cornyn. The same ABA News coverage said the awards were created to mark the 25th anniversary of ABA Day, which it described as the ABA’s annual grassroots advocacy event.
Separate official reporting also exists from the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. A Senate Judiciary Committee press release stated that ABA President Deborah Enix Ross presented Sen. Durbin with an ABA Lifetime Achievement Award on November 16, 2022, during a meeting in Washington, D.C.
Award announcements often include a few core details
Readers commonly look for basic information that helps distinguish an official statement from an unofficial summary. In general, award announcements often include details such as who made the presentation, the name of the award, and what the organization says the award recognizes.
The ABA described the recognition as tied to legislative work on justice system priorities
In its 2022 coverage, ABA News described the Lifetime Achievement Award as recognizing Sen. Durbin’s “enduring commitment” to improving the administration of justice and preserving the rule of law through the legislative process. That ABA News coverage also listed areas the ABA connected to its advocacy, including support for the Legal Services Corporation and the federal judiciary, student debt relief and public service loan forgiveness, and criminal justice and immigration reforms.
These honors are separate from how laws are made and enforced
Federal law generally changes through Congress passing legislation that becomes law, through regulations issued by executive agencies, or through court decisions interpreting law. State law generally changes through similar state processes. A professional association’s award can be influential as public recognition, but it is not the same thing as a statute, regulation, or court ruling.
