AALS 2024 Conference in Washington, D.C.

  • by Kevin R. Johnson

This Wednesday marked the start of the Association of American Law Schools 2024 conference. This year's theme is “Defending Democracy” and several King Hall faculty are participating.

The excitement began right away with Professor Donna Shestowsky, who received two AALS awards this year. She received the AALS Scholar Award from the Litigation Section and the AALS Section of the Year Award for the Section on Alternative Dispute Resolution, where she serves as the chair of the executive committee.

Two people posing for a photo. A woman is holding an award.
Professor Donna Shestowsky with the Scholar Award.
A woman receiving an award at the podium.
Professor Donna Shestowsky accepted the AALS Section of the Year award from AALS President Mark Alexander and Kerry Abrams, Dean of Duke Law.

On Thursday I had an opportunity to see Professor Nila Bala participate in the Criminal Law Section Panel, “Unraveling the Threads of Failure: The Anatomy of Unsuccessful Criminal Law Reforms.” She presented her paper on children's DNA, forthcoming in the Michigan Law Review. This was her first AALS annual meeting and first AALS panel.

A woman standing at the podium and speaking to an audience.
Professor Nila Bala speaking at the podium.

Later that day former UC Davis School of Law Professor Angela Onwuachi-Willig received the Michael A. Olivas Award for Outstanding Leadership in Diversity and Mentoring in the Legal Academy. She spoke highly of her colleagues at UC Davis School of Law. I was honored to have worked with her. Watching her receive the award was special. Last year, the AALS honored me with the Michael A. Olivas Award.

A woman receiving an award at the podium.

Former UC Davis Law Professor Angela Onwuachi-Willig, now the Dean of Boston University School of Law, receiving the Michael A. Olivas Award.

Three individuals dressed professionally and posing for a photo.

From left to right, Rose Cuison-​​​​​​Villazor, former UC Davis Law Professor and current Professor of Law and Chancellor's Social Justice Scholar at Rutgers Law School, and Angela Onwuachi-Willig, former UC Davis Law Professor and now Dean of Boston University School of Law.

Later, I heard great insights from an Immigration Law panel titled, "Immigrants Defending Democracy and Resisting Dictatorship."

A group of individuals sitting at a table.
Immigration Law panel.

I ended the eventful day with a wonderful dinner with Indiana University Maurer School of Law Dean Christiana Ochoa and Professor Jayanth Krishnan.

On Friday, I saw Professor Stacy-Ann Elvy present in the Commercial and Consumer Law Section panel.

A panel of law experts presenting findings at a conference.
Commercial and Consumer Law Section panel.

The conference was such a success! 

A Christmas tree decorated with lights.
The wharf along the Potomac was in the holiday spirit!