For Immediate Release

	March 3, 2004 NBA PRESIDENT CLYDE BAILEY ADDRESSES THE LOUISIANA JUDICIAL COUNCIL National Bar Association President Clyde Bailey was the keynote speaker for the NBA Louisiana Judicial Council during its 6th Annual Conference on February 28, 2004 at the Isle of Capri Hotel, Shreveport, La. The Honorable Judge Curtis Calloway, outgoing president of the Judicial Council, introduced President Bailey as one who supports the concerns of the judiciary. Addressing the Conference Theme Great Challenges for a Great Judiciary, President Bailey reminded the delegates that his Presidential Goal Three 'to increase the representation of African Americans in the judiciary' is motivated by the historic dearth of voices in the judiciary for the black community. By instituting our judiciary initiative, Bailey declared, we can anticipate a new perspective from our judiciary, one that will enrich judicial decision making by including a variety of voices and perspectives in the deliberative process. President Bailey also highlighted other NBA initiatives on the judiciary to ensure a Great Judiciary including: Congressional Black Caucus/NBA Judiciary Task Force, a vehicle to recommend its own "short list" of judicial candidates to the Administration; Advocacy in Action Initiative, a quick response media/letter campaign on judicial nominees; and Empowerment through Law and Justice Task Force, a broad-based collaborative initiative that rallies resources around urgent matters affecting the black community. The National Bar Association, founded in 1925, is the nation's oldest and largest association of attorneys of color, representing a professional network of over 20,000 lawyers, judges, educators and law students. President Bailey's speech to the Louisiana Judicial Council is available, click here. CONTACT: Megan Alexa Carpenter @ 202-842-3900 Email: mcarpenter@nationalbar.org