New Strategic and Long Range Planning Committee
The first quarter of 2007 has been eventful and exciting for NDAA. We have held an executive committee meeting, hosted the NDAA Capital Conference, and made local and international excursions to promote the work of prosecutors.
In January, NDAA’s Executive Committee met to discuss housekeeping and governance issues affecting our organization. Financial matters were the center of discussion as the Executive Committee (and the NDAA Board of Directors) works to ensure that NDAA’s finances are secure, accurate and sound. Our effort to build a working relationship between NDAA and the American Bar Association (ABA) was discussed at length. I look forward to continuing to develop this rapport. In addition, the Executive Committee also addressed several issues facing prosecutors that have dominated media headlines in recent weeks and months. It was a very productive meeting.
Also in January, we hosted the annual NDAA Capital Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference was a spectacular success, with outstanding attendance, an organized and prepared agenda, exceptional speakers and appearances by several congressmen and women who voiced their support for our causes. The two main issues addressed at this year’s conference were our search for funding the NDAA training programs at the National Advocacy Center in South Carolina and our efforts to secure student loan repayment assistance for prosecutors. Several speakers also addressed federal Byrne Grants and other legislation important to our nation’s prosecutors. I would like to thank all of the presenters for being candid in their statements. Their honesty was a great benefit to those in attendance. In addition, it was an honor to have Senator Kerry and Senator Durbin take time to speak to our members. Senator Kerry provided guidance about how prosecutors should approach legislation, and Senator Durbin presented his vision of the “John R. Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act of 2007,” which he recently introduced in Congress. The bill would provide loan repayment assistance to prosecutors and public defenders who are struggling with law school debt. To demonstrate the need for student loan repayment assistance, two assistant prosecutors shared moving stories of how their lives have been affected by various loans and debts from law school. We are grateful to Senator Durbin for introducing this bill and we will continue to work to get it passed in Congress.
The Capital Reception was also a great success. It was very gratifying to see the number of senators and congressmen who took the time to stop by and address our members. Their attendance at the reception is an illustration of the growing presence NDAA has on a national level. I would like to thank all of those who came to the conference. Your participation is what makes NDAA successful in our legislative endeavors.
Immediately after the Capital Conference, I traveled to Quebec City, Canada, to meet with prosecutors from our bordering country. While we landed and departed in a twin-engine prop in sub-zero, snowy, windy conditions, the kindness and warm hospitality we received from the Canadian prosecutors significantly outweighed the weather. Our discussions with our fellow prosecutors demonstrated that the similarities between the U.S. and Canadian criminal justice systems considerably overshadow the differences. Canadian prosecutors face and confront some of the same challenges and issues that prosecutors face in the U.S., such as office resources, funding, gangs, drugs, child abuse and the effect the Internet has on criminal behavior. I look forward to developing NDAA’s relationship with Canadian prosecutors in the future. For more information about prosecution in Canada, please see “In Profile” on page 42 of this issue.
I also traveled domestically in the beginning of this year. I went to Miami to represent NDAA in a meeting with the ABA House of Delegates. In my address to the delegates I reported on the collaboration and discussions between NDAA and the ABA Criminal Justice Section concerning DNA, reentry and collateral sanctions. NDAA’s positions received overwhelming support from the several hundred delegates present.
In March, I had the privilege of delivering a welcoming address at the opening of the 34th National Conference on Juvenile Justice, sponsored by NDAA and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. This year’s conference site, San Diego, was selected and coordinated by NDAA. Our executive director and staff planned a most interesting and packed schedule of workshops from which the over 800 attendees could choose. The theme of this year’s conference was “Different Roles, Common Goals,” and highlighted efforts to promote community safety, competency development and accountability. Harry Shorstein, state attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit (Jacksonville) of Florida, made a key note address at the conference.
In order to fill vacancies, and to ensure a strong NDAA voice in other organizations, I have made the following appointments. David Barber and David Landefeld are re-appointed to the National College of District Attorney’s Board of Regents, and Curtis Hill (Indiana), James Thomas (Connecticut), and Debra Armanini (Ohio) will fill the three vacancies on the NCDA Board of Regents. Mary Galvin has been appointed to the ABA’s CLE Board. Robert Fertitta has been appointed as NDAA’s liaison to the ABA’s Ethics, Gideon and Professionalism Committee. Matt Redle has been appointed as NDAA’s liaison to the ABA’s Criminal Justice Standards Committee. At the NDAA Executive Committee meeting in November 2006, a motion was passed to appoint a Strategic and Long Range Planning Committee. The purpose of this committee is to study, consider and recommend policies and plans of action for the long-term benefit of NDAA and its objectives. In addition to myself as chair, I have appointed President-Elect Jim Fox, Past President Bob McCulloch, Pat Jessamy and Dan Conley to this committee.
The remainder of the year is proving to be equally as busy for NDAA. In November, NDAA will co-sponsor the ABA Criminal Justice Section 2007 Fall Conference in Washington, D.C., further enhancing our relationship with the ABA. NDAA has several additional executive committee and board meetings scheduled this year as well as our annual summer conference in Portland, Oregon. Look for details from NDAA’s spring board meeting held in Amelia Island, Florida, and other important NDAA meetings, programs and accomplishments in the next edition of The Prosecutor. Again, I thank you for the privilege of being your president.
