As we prepare to celebrate the 4th of July and reflect on the founding of our nation, the BBA is reminded of its own beginnings and the meetings convened by John Adams in the 1700’s. These meetings provided lawyers throughout the city with an opportunity to discuss the practice of law in colonial America and the common desire to live in a just society. Today the BBA, as a community of attorneys and citizens, focuses on these same issues in a variety of ways.
Just one example of the ways we do this is through our public policy work. The BBA speaks out at the federal and state level on significant pieces of legislation that impact access to justice, the administration of justice and the practice of law – including civil rights and civil liberties. Our advocacy in this area spans such issues as affirmative action, the right to vote and same-sex marriage. Some of our recent work includes raising our concerns over the National Defense Authorization Act in a letter to President Obama, testifying in support of the newly enacted Transgender Equal Rights Act and collaborating with the Legislature to secure passage of a critical access to DNA bill in Massachusetts. The BBA continues to be a beacon for fair and equal treatment under the law for every citizen.
For America’s birthday we thought we’d share a quote from our founder, John Adams. In a letter to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776, John Adams wrote of the Declaration of Independence and the coming struggle for freedom:
“I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means.”
-Kathleen Joyce
Government Relations Director
Boston Bar Association
