February 04, 2025

ASU Law plays key role in 2025 ABA Midyear Conference

The American Bar Association’s midyear conference was held in downtown Phoenix from Jan. 29 to Feb. 3. The event, held at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, brought together more than 600 lawyers and judges from across the country. Attendees participated in 14 programs over two days covering topics such as solo and small firm practices, as well as insights from federal judges on their careers, lawyering and clerking.

The conference also recognized several ASU Law faculty and alumni with awards. ASU Law alumna Judge Diane J. Humetewa (JD ‘93) received the Spirit of Excellence Award for her pioneering career. Humetewa, the first American Indian woman to serve as a federal judge, is a leading expert on Native American legal issues. She has also been a strong advocate for public trust in the judiciary and has contributed to ASU as a special counsel and an instructor for ASU Law. 

Willard H. Pedrick Dean, Regents and Foundation Professor of Law Stacy Leeds received the GPSolo Difference Maker Award, alongside Marc L. Miller, former dean of the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. Both having led prominent law schools in Arizona, Leeds and Miller set a standard of cooperation and respect, demonstrating that the work of deans from rival institutions can parallel each other in their shared mission to shape the future of law.

The conference featured several programs at ASU Law, including the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals Oral Arguments, the Tribal Judges and Clerks meeting, the American Indian Law Center Judicial Clerkship Program. A highlight was the Leaving the Ladder Down panel, organized by the Arizona Women Lawyers Association and the National Conference of Women Bar Associations, where former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth V. McGregor, Judge Humetewa and attorney Lynda Shely shared their experiences, including the mentors who helped them succeed. McGregor spoke of how Sandra Day O’Connor mentored her throughout her career, noting that O’Connor “never once stopped helping people up the ladder.”

The trailblazing women on the panel emphasized the responsibility of being the first in their roles, with the message of making sure they’re not the last. This resonated with 3L JD student Brooke Norton who helped with the panel and attended several others. “This was unparalleled access to events featuring some of the brightest legal minds,” Norton said. The panels, programs and ABA Midyear Open House held at ASU Law also leveraged the opportunity for students to network with prominent lawyers and judges in their fields.

For some attendees, like Albuquerque Tribal Court Judge Roshanna Toya, it was their first time visiting ASU Law. Toya attended the Leaving the Ladder Down panel and expressed admiration for the inspiring women speakers. “It was awesome hearing from powerful women on the panel. These women are so inspiring to me and other attorneys,” she said.

The conference also held the conference’s open house, where ABA members and students had the chance to network and reflect on the discussions and events from the conference. ABA President William R. Bay expressed his gratitude to Dean Leeds for hosting part of the conference at the college. Both lawyers and professionals had the opportunity to tour the college and connect.

Overall, the ABA midyear conference was a valuable opportunity for legal professionals to share experiences, honor achievements and inspire the next generation of lawyers.

Written by Crystal Jimenez