Core Values: 'Now is not the time to walk back the progress that we have made,' ABA President Michelle Behnke says.

The article focuses on key themes from the American Bar Association (ABA) Midyear Meeting, highlighting ABA President Michelle A. Behnke’s emphasis on managing change while upholding the legal profession’s core principles during the nation’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Behnke introduced the ABA’s new Center for Civic Engagement, Education and the Rule of Law, aimed at fostering nonpartisan legal discussions, and reaffirmed the ABA’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and the rule of law. Incoming ABA leaders, including President-elect Barbara J. Howard and president-elect nominee Laura V. Farber, underscored the importance of protecting democratic values and constitutional rights amid contemporary challenges. The law firm Susman Godfrey was recognized with a Presidential Citation for its pro bono work supporting the rule of law and legal profession independence. [Extracted from the article]