ABA President Stresses the Collective Responsibility to Protect the Rule of Law

ABA President Stresses the Collective Responsibility to Protect the Rule of Law

Drawing from her extensive experience as the President of the American Bar Association (ABA) and Senior Advisor at Debevoise & Plimpton, Deborah Enix-Ross delivered a keynote speech at the flagship conference of London International Disputes Week. In her address on May 16, she emphasised the crucial importance of neutrality for lawyers.

Enix-Ross underscored the need for legal professionals to embrace values such as civics, civility, and collaboration, as they play a pivotal role in upholding the rule of law. Her speech covered a wide range of topics, highlighting the significance of these principles in the legal profession.

In her address, Enix-Ross referenced the words of Justice Anthony Kennedy, who aptly described the rule of law as a promise of neutrality. Enix-Ross acknowledged that this fundamental principle is currently facing challenges not only in the United States but also in other parts of the world.

She emphasised the criticality of the present times, stating that the call to action for embracing neutrality is perhaps more vital than ever before in our lifetimes. Enix-Ross's words resonate with the urgency and importance of upholding the rule of law in today's complex and evolving legal landscape.

During her speech, Enix-Ross addressed her audience, highlighting their active role in the ongoing conversation. As practitioners in the field of arbitration, she emphasised their ability to promote the values of free, fair, and peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms, which are essential for upholding justice and freedom.

Enix-Ross further elaborated on the extensive efforts undertaken by the American Bar Association in these domains, both at an international level and within institutional frameworks.

“Alongside our promotion globally of arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution, the ABA is committed to improving our work in this field”, said, stressing the support given to the World Justice Project.

“Calls for justice provided by competent, independent and ethical adjudicators, lawyers and judicial officers who, among other things, reflect the makeup of the communities they serve,” Enix-Ross added.

In her speech, Enix-Ross also highlighted the lack of diversity within the legal profession, particularly in the field of mediation and arbitration. She emphasised that these areas are among the least diverse segments of the legal profession, which itself struggles with diversity.

Enix-Ross called upon lawyers to challenge themselves and take tangible and proactive measures to bring about the change they wish to see regarding diversity in these specific fields.

Enix-Ross highlighted that the skillset possessed by delegates in arbitration, including advocacy, cultural understanding, and effective cross-cultural communication, has the potential to contribute to greater diversity within the profession. By leveraging these skills, the legal community can work towards expanding dispute resolution practices more broadly and reinforcing the positive behaviours that uphold the rule of law.

In her speech, Enix-Ross underscored the significant personal, institutional, and historical connections between the legal professions in the United States and the United Kingdom. She emphasised her close personal relationship with Lubna Shuja, the President of the Law Society of England & Wales, who holds the distinction of being the first Asian and first Muslim to hold that role.

Enix-Ross also acknowledged Stephanie Boyce, her predecessor at the American Bar Association, who was recently honoured for her lifetime achievements at the Women and Diversity in Law Awards in March.