WHO WE ARE
Founded in 1958, ABOTA is a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges. ABOTA and its members are dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. ABOTA membership consists of more than 7,600 lawyers—equally balanced between plaintiff and defense—and judges spread among 96 chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
OUR MISSION
ABOTA is an invitation-only organization. Members must have at least five years of active experience as trial lawyers, have tried at least 10 civil jury trials to conclusion and possess additional litigation experience. Members must also exhibit the virtues of civility, integrity and professionalism by following our Code of Professionalism and Principles of Civility.
TRIAL BY JURY - YOUR PRECIOUS RIGHT
The general purposes of this Association shall be to foster improvement in the ethical and technical standards of practice in the field of advocacy to the end that individual litigants may receive more effective representation and the general public be benefited by more efficient administration of justice consistent with time-tested and traditional principles of litigation.
America's greatness lies in its people. And in its people lies the foundation of justice -- trial by jury. The Seventh Amendment is a precious right that is increasingly under attack by those who would eliminate justice by the people in favor of justice by the bureaucracy. In 2014, ABOTA founded Save Our Juries, a public education campaign aimed at informing and mobilizing citizens in the fight to save our disappearing Seventh Amendment right, which guarantees a jury trial for civil cases in federal courts. Visit saveourjuries.org or follow us on Twitter @SaveOurJuries.
JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE
ABOTA is committed to preserving the independence of the judiciary, recognizing that judicial impartiality and fairness protect against the whims and demands of the government and special interests.
To learn more about the importance of an independent judiciary, read our whitepaper Preserving a Fair, Impartial and Independent Judiciary.
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
The mission of ABOTA is also carried out through the activities of its local chapters: Educational programs, Juror education and recognition, Interaction with the judiciary through events honoring local, state and federal judges, Scholarships for local graduating law students and providing speakers at area schools