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600 BCE
The Laws of England
The first laws believed to be written down in England were those of the German invader of Kent, King Aethelbert. These Germans tribes had lived in parts of England since the Romans retreated. Warren Lehman, in a 1985 paper published in the Journal of Legal History wrote about it.
Site: http://www.duhaime.org -
The Salem Witch Trials
In 1692, in the town of Salem, Massachusetts, USA, a group of young women were charge with several other women of working on witchcraft or worship of the Devil. The claim turned into a judicial madness and over 300 people were charge with witchcraft, which led to 20 executed including a priest.
Site: http://www.duhaime.org -
The Constitution of the United States of America
The Constitution defined the institutions of government and the powers of each institution, carefully carving out the duties of the executive, legislative and judicial branches. It was also declared that it was most important then any other law, whether federal or state, and it would override any other inconsistent law. The American Constitution served as a representation for the constitutions of many nations upon gaining independence or becoming democracies.
Sites :http://www.duhaime.org -
ABA Helps Establish AALS, Law Schools Association
Through the efforts of section leaders of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, the ABA is instrumental in creating the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). The AALS is currently one of 28 allied organizations of the ABA—national organizations of the legal profession represented in the House of Delegates.
Site: https://www.americanbar.org -
ABA Restricts Membership To Caucasian Lawyers
The ABA initially rescinds the membership of William H. Lewis, the first colored assistant U.S. attorney general, who had been elected in August 1911. Leaders determine that they had acted “in ignorance of material facts” and that the settled practice of the Association has been to elect only Caucasian member.
Site: www.americanbar.org -
First ABA Medal
Harvard law professor Samuel Williston receives the first ABA Medal, the Association’s highest honor. An image of John Marshall is on the medal with a quote from John Adams: “To the end it may be a government of laws and not of men.”
Site: https://www.americanbar.org -
The Nuremberg War Crimes Trial
A special group of eight judges order in a German town to put on a trail for some Nazi officer. Who committed crimes against peace, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during World War II. These group of judges came from the USA, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union. Twenty-four Nazis were put on trail and twelve received death penalties (although one defendant, Hermann Göring, committed suicide hours before his execution).
Site: www.americanbar.org -
Charles Rhyne Envisions National Law Day
ABA President Charles Rhyne envisions a special day to mark American commitment to the rule of law. In 1958 President Eisenhower, at Rhyne's urging, declares the first national Law Day. Rhyne appears on the May 5, 1958 cover of Time magazine. U.S. presidents issue annual proclamations on may (1) and educations programs are conducted by bar attachment and others.
Site: www.americanbar.org -
Advancing Rule Of Law Around The World
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the ABA establishes the Central and East European Law enterprise (CEEL) to promote the rule of law in emerging democracies in that region. ABA rule of law programs overseas expanded to other regions of the world, which are organized under a newly formed Rule of Law Initiative (ROLI) in 2007. -
Move To Current Chicago HQ
In May the American Bar Association moves to its current headquarters office in downtown Chicago at 321 N. Clark Street. -
ABA Washington, DC Office Moves
On May 20, the ABA’s Washington, DC office moves to 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW. The first ABA office in the nation’s capital opens in 1940, with Gertrude Sinnott as secretary in charge, serving on the staff for 21 years.
Site: www.americanbar.org -
First African-American Woman ABA President
Paulette Brown of New Jersey becomes the first African-American woman to serve as president of the ABA. An by 2018 ABA membership passes 411,000 people.
Site: www.americanbar.org
