2022 Resolutions, Amendments, and Elections

The following summaries are NOT meant to replace reading the proposals in full. Rather, they are meant to give voters an easier way to determine which Amendments and Resolutions they’d like to investigate further, since we understand there are a lot of proposals this year. Please read specific Amendments and Resolutions in full before voting on them.

Challenging Empire: National Lawyers Guild Resolution in Support of Anti-Colonialism, Anti-Racism, and Indigenous Sovereignty

This Resolution proposes that NLG formally states its solidarity with Indigenous peoples globally and its opposition to U.S. empire. The Resolution goes on to propose long- and short-term goals for aligning the NLG with anti-colonial struggle, including establishing a working group for anti-colonial political education, repairing our relationships with Indigenous movement partners, and others. 

NLG Resolution Calling for a Reinvigorated Solidarity Campaign with the Cuban People

This Resolution proposes that NLG support Cuban humanitarian and solidarity initiatives, in light of the ongoing and escalated anti-Cuban policies made by the United States government in recent years. The Resolution urges NLG to demand an end to the sanctions against Cuba, suspension of the Helms-Burton Act, and a restoration of the right to travel to Cuba.

Resolution on Corporate Constitutional Rights

This Resolution proposes that the NLG endorse and educate people about the We the People Amendment, a current piece of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation aims to abolish corporate constitutional rights (also called corporate personhood).

Resolution to decharter Delaware-New Jersey NLG Chapter:

This Resolution would revoke the Delaware-New Jersey NLG Chapter Charter. The NEC (NLG’s national board) recommends revoking the Charter.

Voting YES would decharter the Delaware-New Jersey Chapter, and chapter members would become members-at-large (NLG members without a chapter affiliation). Voting NO would allow the Delaware-New Jersey Chapter to keep its charter.

This Resolution has two pro statements: one from the National Executive Committee (NEC), and one from Jonathan Wallace, Counsel for NLG.

Resolution to include Buffalo in the Northeast Region:

This Resolution would include the Buffalo, New York NLG Chapter in the Northeast Region with the rest of the NLG’s New York State chapters. Historically, the Buffalo NLG Chapter has been assigned to the Mid-East Region with Ohio, Michigan, and Pittsburgh.

Voting YES would add Buffalo to the Northeast Region. Voting NO would keep Buffalo in the Mid-East Region.

Amendment to Change the Definition of Legal Worker

This Amendment would update the definition of “legal worker” in the NLG Constitution. Currently, the Constitution says a legal worker is somebody working, who has worked, or who is training to work at an office or collective that provides legal services. The proposed change would add “for pay or as a volunteer,” to include potential members who may do unpaid legal work.

This Amendment has six (6) pro statements, from: Cascadia NLG Chapter, Detroit & Michigan NLG, Rochester NLG Chapter, Kris Hermes, Mass Defense Committee (National), and Peter Blaiklock.

This Amendment has four (4) con statements, from: Bruce Bentley, Erica Johnson, Heidi Boghosian, and New York City NLG + New York City Mass Defense Committee.

Amendment to Change Bylaws Section 1.6 and 1.7 – Progressive Dues Schedules:

This Amendment would add a clause allowing for a fee waiver for members who cannot afford to pay annual dues. The National Office currently allows fee waivers when members request them, but it is not written in the NLG Bylaws.

Amendment to Change Constitution Article 5.11 – Travel Expenses:

If passed, this Amendment would add the Student National Vice President and Legal Worker Vice President to the list of elected NLG board members who can get reimbursed for travel expenses to and from in-person NLG meetings. Currently, the NLG Constitution lists all elected representatives except for these two positions. In practice, all board members have been reimbursed for NLG-related travel expenses.

Amendment to Change Constitution Article 2.2(c) – At-Large Membership:

If passed, this Amendment would edit the NLG Constitution to accurately reflect that the National Office approves or denies requests from individual members who want to join as members-at-large (this usually occurs when a new member is located in a geographic area without a Chapter). Currently, the NLG Constitution assigns that responsibility to the NEC (NLG’s national board), but this administrative task is done by the National Office in practice. 

Amendment to Change Constitution Article 3.1(c) – Geographic Chapters:

If passed, this Amendment would give the National Office the responsibility of defining Chapter geographic areas, in consultation with the relevant members and Chapter(s). Currently, the NLG Constitution assigns this responsibility to the NEC (NLG’s national board); in practice, this is a task that the National Office has been primarily navigating for over a decade.

Amendment to Change Constitution Article 3.4 – Denial of Chapter Application:

This Amendment would reflect that the National Office is the entity that works with Chapters to make sure no two Chapters areas overlap. Currently, the NLG Constitution assigns this responsibility to the NEC (NLG’s national board); in practice, this is a task that the National Office has been primarily navigating for over a decade.

Amendment to Change Bylaws Section 1.7 – Dues Schedules:

This Amendment would update the NLG Bylaws to allow the National Office to determine the membership fees for at-large members. Currently, the NLG Bylaws assign that responsibility to the NEC (NLG’s national board). In practice, the National Office has been setting these rates for over a decade.

Amendment to Change Bylaws Section 15 – Convention Evaluation and Survey:

This Amendment would have the convention evaluation be sent out by the National Office, not the NEC (NLG’s national board). The NLG Bylaws currently assign this responsibility to the NEC, but in practice, the National Office has sent out the survey and reported back to the NEC.

Amendments to Update Constitution Article 5 – Ombudsperson:

These Amendments remove the “Ombudsperson” role from the list of NEC (NLG national board) positions. This is meant to allow the NEC to hire an Ombudsperson, instead of having that role as a volunteer board member.

Amendment to Article 5.2 (a) removes “Ombudsperson” from the list of elected NEC officers.

Amendment to Article 5.1 removes “Ombudsperson” from the list of all NEC officers.

Amendments to Update Constitution Article 7 – Referenda:

This Amendment removes sections of the NLG Constitution that describe “referenda,” or a vote that includes all members. These sections were originally written when the NLG Convention used to use a delegate system. The NLG no longer uses a delegate system, and instead, all members are eligible to vote on Amendments, Resolutions, and officer positions. This section is therefore no longer relevant.

Voting YES on this Amendment would remove the references to referenda.

Amendment to Change Bylaws Section 8.12 – Vote Timing:

This Amendment will give the National Office five (5) days from receipt to notify members of the final versions of all proposed Amendments and Resolutions. It will achieve this by asking the Resolutions Committee to finalize the text five days earlier, so membership will not experience any delay.

Currently, the Constitution requires the National Office to post all final versions, and format and send an email to all members, on the same day that they receive the final version. This is usually logistically impossible.

Amendment to Change Bylaws Section 8.3 – Sending Proposed Resolutions and Amendments:

This Amendment will give the National Office ten (10) days after the governance plenary to send the voting form to members. Currently, the NLG Bylaws state that the National Office must send this link “immediately after” the governance plenary.

Amendments to Constitution Article 3.2 – Regions:

This Amendment would resolve a discrepancy between the Constitution and Bylaws. The Bylaws allow the NEC (NLG’s national board) to decide the boundaries of a Region, while the Constitution says an all-member vote at the annual Convention decides, delaying decisions up to a year. This amendment would change the Constitution to allow the NEC to decide the boundaries of a Region.

Amendments to Bylaws Section 2 – Dissolution of Chapters:

This Amendment would revise the NLG Bylaws to allow the NEC (NLG’s national board) to dissolve a Chapter by a vote of two-thirds majority, in cases where the three-fourths of the Chapter membership petitions to be dissolved, or if the NEC determines the Chapter is unable to function due to having too few members. Currently, the Bylaws require this process to be decided by an all-member vote at the annual Convention, which can delay decisions for up to 12 months.

Amendments to Constitution Article 8 – Conflict and Discipline:

These five (5) Amendments all revise Article 8 of the NLG Constitution to allow the NEC (NLG’s national board) to decide Chapter and member discipline issues. Currently, the Constitution requires that these decisions be made by an all-member vote at the annual Convention, which can delay decisions for up to 12 months.

Amendment to Article 8.1 gives the NEC authority to censure a Chapter by a vote of two-thirds majority.

Amendment to Article 8.2 gives the NEC authority to revoke a Chapter Charter by a vote of two-thirds majority.

Amendment to Article 8.3 requires the NEC to issue charges in writing and give the Chapter an opportunity to be heard before voting on censure or revocation.

Amendment to Article 8.4 states that local Chapter decisions about discipline may be appealed to the NEC.

Amendment to Article 8.5 allows the NEC to vote on censure, suspension, or expulsion of at-large members, who do not have a local Chapter to do this.

This group of Amendments has two pro statements: one from the National Executive Committee (NEC), and one from Jonathan Wallace, Counsel for NLG.