Criminal Code Reform and the Interest Group Politics of the American Bar Association (From Politics of Crime and Criminal Justice, P 37-56, 1985, Erika S Fairchild and Vincent J Webb, eds. - See NCJ-99577)

• NCJ Number: 99579
• Author(s): A P Melone
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 20 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A review of the testimony of all witnesses appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify on criminal code legislative proposals during the 1970's shows that the American Bar Association (ABA) was particularly influential because of its high status, effective organization, and political leadership skills.

Abstract

In addition to reviewing such testimony, this study also reviewed the 'American Bar Association Reports' and other interactions. The ABA's effectiveness in having access to law commissions and legislative committees is due in part to its representatives being high status lawyers having high status persons and organizations for clients. The ABA's organization also facilitates its legislative influence, in that it is structured to conduct expert legislative research and provide articulate expert opinion on a wide variety of criminal law issues. Another ABA feature that enhances its legislative influence is the political skill displayed by the ABA leadership. The posturing of the ABA leadership has caused ABA representatives to be viewed by legislators as nonpartisan legal experts who give high priority to objective reasoning. Although the ABA was successful in having its way in only 50 percent of the provisions of Federal code reform, the ABA's impact on the legislation was formidable. Tables compare ABA recommendations with the provisions of various Federal Code bills, and 24 references are listed.