Deborah Enix-Ross sworn in as president of the American Bar Association
She is the 11th woman to hold this office
The American Bar Association (ABA) has sworn in Senior Debevoise & Plimpton adviser Deborah Enix-Ross as its new President. She has replaced Clark Hill, a Partner at Reginald Turner.
Enix-Ross was sworn in by recently retired US Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer at the conclusion of ABA’s annual meeting in Chicago.
For the first time, both the largest associations of lawyers in the UK and the US are led by black women, with the Law Society’s Stephanie Boyce due to step down in October.
Enix-Ross will continue Turner’s work of promoting public understanding of the judiciary. Some of the recent US Supreme Court decisions have placed it in the public gaze, both nationally and internationally.
Addressing ABA’s House of Delegates, the association’s policymaking assembly, Enix-Ross said she would focus on, “Civics, civility, and collaboration. The lawyers must lead the way in promoting the cornerstones of our democracy, to restore confidence in our democratic institutions, in the judicial system and to protect the rule of the law.”
“Our differences are aggravated by incivility in public discourse,” she added. Enix-Ross maintained that lawyers needed to model themselves on the behavior they wish to see in society, outlining a range of initiatives across local, state and national bar levels, as well as enhancing those themes within ABA’s own work. She pledged to encourage voluntary efforts by ABA members to monitor the US state and federal elections by serving as poll workers.
She said, “ABA, through its incredible breadth and influence, has the power to change and inspire the legal community as no other organization can.”
Enix-Ross has served in a variety of roles at ABA, including chairing the House of Delegates, the International Law Section and founding the ABA’s Women’s Interest Network. Representing ABA, she has held leadership roles in the International Bar Association.