ABA State, Local, and Tribal Government Law Section

03/26/2026

Local governments are deep in the social media landscape—but so are legal and ethical minefields. ⚖️💬

If you work with or advise local governments, this new Second Edition of Social Media and Local Governments: Navigating the New Public Square is your guide to staying on the right side of the law.

Get practical, real-world advice on:
✅ Comment policies and moderation
✅ Official vs. personal accounts
✅ Records and sunshine law compliance
✅ Accessibility, privacy, and AI issues
Keep your communications clear, compliant, and connected.

📘 Order Now ⟶❯❯ https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/455460719/

02/25/2026

Join judges, public officials, attorneys, and scholars in Atlanta, April 30 - May 2, 2026, for Defending Democracy and Strengthening Justice, a dynamic conference hosted by the ABA Section of State, Local, and Tribal Government Law, Judicial Division and State Bar of Georgia. Explore how the law protects democratic institutions, advances equity, and upholds public trust through engaging CLE sessions on election integrity, government settlements, state constitutional law, and emerging issues like ma*****na and driving. The program also features a judicial clerkship session, tours of Georgia’s highest courts, and networking events at Troutman Pepper Locke LLP and sponsored by Dentons LLP at Ponce City Market. Strengthen your practice, expand your network, and join the national conversation on law’s role in preserving democracy.

Register here:

Join judges, public officials, attorneys, and scholars in Atlanta for a dynamic, two-day conference exploring how the law protects democracy, reinforces public trust.

09/30/2025

ABC's of Arbitrage, available for order now!

Available here: https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/453989274/

09/04/2025

Hot off the press!

https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/09/aba-state-local-tribal-govt-90th-anniversary/

We’re celebrating our 90th anniversary and have officially changed our name. Meet the American Bar Association Section of State, Local, and Tribal Government Law!

08/22/2025

Please join us in congratulating our 2025 Jefferson B. Fordham Society Awards Honorees! Their commitment embodies Jefferson B. Fordham's unswerving faith in the capacity of our bar and in the profession to advance society.

Beverly McQueary Smith (Daniel J. Curtin Lifetime Achievement Award)
Sam Olens (Daniel J. Curtin Lifetime Achievement Award)
Robert H. Thomas (Anita P. Miller Advocacy Award)
A. June Bradley (Up & Comers Award)
Natanaelle Germain, Esq. (Elizabeth Clark Young Lawyers Fellowship Award)

This event was a highlight of the 2025 American Bar Association Annual Meeting in Toronto this year. If you missed it, please check out our tribute and program book at https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/state_local_government/2025/2025-jefferson-fordham-program-book.pdf.

We hope to see you next year in Chicago!

08/12/2025

Congratulations to Ellen Rosenblum, our past Chair and the first woman Attorney General of Oregon, on her election as a Delegate-at-Large to the American Bar Association House of Delegates!

08/11/2025

The 2025 American Bar Association Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates is underway.

We are pleased to announce that our resolution, urging Congress to amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) to address the inability of U.S. citizens residing overseas to vote, was adopted unanimously as ABA policy today.

07/25/2025

GRAB YOUR BOOKS!📚 This month, our virtual book club discusses "Meeting the Legal Needs of Disaster Survivors: Third Responders," edited by David Hoa K Nguyen.

This volume brings together some of the most knowledgeable experts on disaster law to provide a critical resource for pro bono attorneys to understand the essentials of disaster law practice.

REMINDER‼️ABA members can use the promo code BOOKCLUB40 to receive 40% off this title🏷️💸
➡️Register for the discussion at the link in bio.

07/10/2025

Register for Part 2 today!

Date: July 22
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET

Part two features distinguished panelists Ashley Taylor, Jared Libet, and Helen Mac Murray, who will examine the Multistate Investigations and Settlements chapter. This chapter provides a thorough examination of the formation and operations of multistate investigations, explaining their typical structure and function. The discussion will highlight both the advantages and challenges of such investigations, exploring the implications for entities targeted by multistates and the unique dynamics of each investigation. The group will also provide recent updates on state activity and discuss how these developments apply to the insights and guidance provided in the book.

Don't miss this opportunity to acquire valuable insights from leading experts in the field. We look forward to your participation in this engaging and informative series.

Register here: https://www.americanbar.org/events-cle/mtg/web/451305088/

06/16/2025

Join us for an discussion series hosted by the ABA Section of State and Local Government Law, highlighting our recently published book, "Consumer Protection: Understanding Enforcement Actions Brought by State Attorneys General". This part of the complimentary webinar series, titled "State Attorneys General Enforcement Actions and Litigation: The Unwritten Rules," offers an in-depth exploration of the complexities and nuances surrounding enforcement actions led by State Attorneys General.

Part one features an introduction by former Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, followed by distinguished panelists Brian Bowcut, Adam Welle, and Michael Yaghi, who will examine the State Consumer Protection Statutes and Forms of Recovery: Public Relief for Public Injury chapters. The panelists will focus on two critical areas where Attorney General enforcement diverges from typical enforcement approaches, providing a detailed understanding of the differences between public and private consumer protection law.

Part two features distinguished panelists Ashley Taylor, Jared Libet, and Helen Mac Murray, who will examine the Multistate Investigations and Settlements chapter. This chapter provides a thorough examination of the formation and operations of multistate investigations, explaining their typical structure and function. The discussion will highlight both the advantages and challenges of such investigations, exploring the implications for entities targeted by multistates and the unique dynamics of each investigation. The group will also provide recent updates on state activity and discuss how these developments apply to the insights and guidance provided in the book.

Register for Part One: https://www.americanbar.org/events-cle/mtg/web/451296837/

Register for Part Two: https://www.americanbar.org/events-cle/mtg/web/451305088/

05/12/2025

Join us for an insightful panel discussion series hosted by the American Bar Association to promote our recent publication, Consumer Protection: Understanding Enforcement Actions Brought by State Attorneys General.

This series, titled "State Attorneys General Enforcement Actions and Litigation: The Unwritten Rules," will provide an in-depth look at the complexities and nuances of enforcement actions led by State Attorneys General.

Part One: May 21, 1:00 -2:00 pm ET

In the first session, our distinguished panelists Ashley Taylor, Helen MacMurray, and Jared Libet will focus on the chapter, "Multistate Investigations and Settlements." This chapter examines the formation and operations of multistate investigations, explaining what a multistate investigation is and how it typically operates. The discussion will cover the upsides and downsides of such investigations, exploring the implications for targets of multistates and the particular dynamics of each investigation.

Learn more and register here for Part One: https://www.americanbar.org/events-cle/mtg/web/451296837/

Learn more and register here for Part Two (June 18, 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET): https://www.americanbar.org/events-cle/mtg/web/451305088/