Vested Interest - November 1998 Issue

The President’s Thoughts

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the members who gave generously of their time and financial support for the victim-oriented and consumer-oriented candidates in the recent election. This year we made a strong effort to expand the number of members who participated in the election process. For too long the heavy burden of support had been on too few. Part of the strength of our Association lies in expanding the number of members supporting the election and legislative process. Responses to my requests for support were for the most part very positive. Very few refused to give support.

Our first priority was to maintain the Illinois House of Representatives. While we lost the Gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races, Speaker Michael Madigan was able to hold onto a majority in the House and expand the Democratic numbers from 60-58 to 62-56. We can be confident that for at least two years, the type of extreme, anti-victim legislation adopted years ago, will not pass the General Assembly.

There are also encouraging signs on the national scene. I just returned from a meeting of the ATLA Council of State Presidents in South Carolina. It is interesting to see the similarity of battles being waged in our sister states. They all look to the Illinois experience and the Best decision. Recently tort reform legislation was challenged before the Ohio Supreme Court. The logical, well-written Best decision was cited and added substantial credibility to that constitutional challenge and others throughout the country.

There is a positive emerging attitude:

ATTORNEYS ARE ONCE AGAIN BEGINNING TO TAKE PRIDE IN BEING TRIAL LAWYERS.

Mark Mandell, President of ATLA, tells the story of attorneys on airplanes reading Trial Magazine, but hiding the cover so they wouldn't be recognized as trial lawyers. That is changing. ATLA is very active in improving the image of trial lawyers. States, including Illinois, have begun programs with a theme of "Keeping Our Families Safe". Our Bike Helmet Safety Awareness Campaign is part of that program.

The recent elections also saw candidates embracing the mantle of the "trial lawyer" with pride, rather than shying away from it. Former presidents of state trial lawyer associations were elected to the U.S. Senate and House. Three candidates running as trial lawyers were elected or re-elected to the U.S. Senate, six to the House and five to Governors' mansions. Johnnie Edwards, former President of the North Carolina Trial Lawyer's Association, won a campaign for U.S. Senate, where his work as a trial lawyer was a principal issue.

How quickly the political landscape has changed. Not long ago we had a President, whose future in the job was uncertain. We had one of his chief opponents Speaker Gingrich, predicting a possible twenty-five seat increase for Republicans. The election brought us no increase by Republicans, but rather an increase of five Democrats, and a resignation of Newt Gingrich as Speaker and as a member of the House. Thoughts of a veto-proof Senate also evaporated, with the numbers remaining 55 Republicans and 45 Democrats.

On another encouraging note, the ATLA Board of Managers had a meeting in Washington, D.C., just before the election, when an unscheduled guest arrived. President Clinton greeted all the members and gave a short talk wherein he affirmed, "trial lawyers have a friend in the White House".

I again want to thank all the members who made financial contributions, who personally attended the many receptions for House and Senate candidates, and who participated in the Friends and Family Program.

As an expression of our gratitude, we are hosting a reception for all ITLA members after the Board of Managers meeting on December 7 at the Chicago Athletic Association.

Martin J. Healy, Jr.
President Illinois Trial Lawyers Association