Judge Luttig and Jeh Johnson to Chair Bipartisan ABA Task Force for American Democracy

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From the mission statement (Task force members):

Clearly, our American democracy is not as strong as we once thought and there are those who seem determined to push it to the breaking point. The time for answers and action is now.

Lawyers have a special role to play in this critical endeavor for our country. Accordingly, newly elected ABA president Mary Smith has announced the creation of an ABA-sponsored Task Force for American Democracy, co-chaired by former Federal Judge J. Michael Luttig and former
Secretary of Homeland Secretary Jeh Charles Johnson, to study these issues and provide actionable recommendations for reform. The Task Force will be inclusive and transparent in its work, and will, on a nonpartisan basis, solicit the views of a wide array of state election officials, present and former elected officials, academics, think tanks, public interest and other
stakeholder organizations, and everyday voters.

The Task Force will consider and address the following:

  • education of our citizenry on the importance of an inclusive, strong, and enduring democracy;
  • ways to maximize voter confidence and participation in our democratic process;
  • ways to dis-incentivize irresponsible and extremist rhetoric and positions among elected officials and candidates for elective office;
  • ways to ensure the administration of elections remains nonpartisan;
  • ways for ensuring the integrity and the safety of state election officials and workers across the country;
  • ways in which the press and social media can and should contribute to the promotion and avoid denigration of our democracy;
  • the role cyberspace can play in either promoting or corrupting the American democratic process;
  • anti-democratic weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the existing manner in which candidates for federal office are elected in this country;
  • potential changes in federal, state, and local practices, laws, and constitutions to meet these ends.
  • The Task Force’s report and recommendations will be completed and delivered in writing to the ABA at its annual meeting in Chicago in August 2024.
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