Board of Governors Resource Center

The Board of Governors is the governing body of the association. AAJ's bylaws establish the rules for the structure and number of Board of Governors and direct the board to meet at least four times per year (future meeting dates).  If you are unable to attend a meeting, you may designate a proxy (learn how).

Board members are entrusted with the careful and responsible management of AAJ.

• Chief among those duties is to help AAJ fulfill its mission.
• Membership on the Board is not to be considered a perfunctory or honorary position.
• Board members must be willing to contribute time, attention, effort, ideas, and energy to AAJ and its mission.
  
  
• View the complete AAJ Rule for Election, as amended February 13, 2024 (pdf).

Quick Links:

Submit Your Certificate of Compliance

Designate a Proxy - email AAJ General Counsel

Future Meeting Dates

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

As a board member, what are my responsibilities?

As a board member, how do I report my annual certificate of compliance?

Is there a conflict of interest policy?

What are the dates for future board meetings?

Who are the current board members?

I can't attend the next board meeting. How do I designate a proxy?

Where can I learn more about AAJ's committees?

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Board Responsibilities

Board Members must be willing to contribute time, attention, effort, ideas, energy, and presence and money to AAJ and its mission. Board members commit to:

• attend all meeting in person (or send a valid proxy if unable to attend);
• be members of their state TLA; and
• earn at least 12 points annually towards Board Member Obligations and Responsibility 

Board Member Obligations and Responsibility Criteria
The AAJ Board of Governors adopted a resolution enumerating board member responsibilities. Board obligations include both  (1)Membership and Participation and (2)Fundraising and Contribution duties. Both types of obligations are vital to the success of the organization.

At each annual convention, board members must submit a Certificate of Compliance to report on how they fulfilled their responsibilities in the previous year. Board members can submit a physical form onsite or complete the online form:

 

Compliance Committee
The Board established the formation of the Compliance Committee, which addresses the board requirements, recommends changes, and ensures board members fulfill their obligations. 

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Conflict of Interest

Board members owe a duty of care and loyalty to AAJ and must avoid conflicts of interest that may influence how decisions are made for AAJ. Conflicts of interest may arise when a board member has competing interests or loyalties. Board members must exercise the utmost good faith in all transactions touching upon their duties to AAJ. Honest and fair dealing is expected in all dealings with or on behalf of AAJ.

Each year, a disclosure form is distributed to board members. This disclosure form is a part of AAJ's formal audit that is performed annually and pursuant to disclosure requirements in AAJ’s IRS Form 990.

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AAJ Board of Governors Proxy Eligibility

In the event that a member of the Board of Governors is unable to attend a meeting, they may designate another member to act as proxy in the member’s absence (see AAJ Bylaws, Article V, Section 4). All proxies must be AAJ members in good standing (with the exception of the Executive Director of the State Affiliate).

Steps to Designate a Proxy:

1. The proxy must meet the criteria listed below and specific to the manner in which the governor serves on the Board.
2. The name of the member designated as proxy must be sent in writing (via email is preferred) to the General Counsel at anji.jesseramsing@justice.org before the start of the meeting. It is recommended that the member serving as proxy be copied on the email.
3. The member designated as proxy must sign in as the Board member at the board meeting. 

For jurisdictions whose governors are elected by State Affiliates and for Revitalization Governors:
The proxy may be either:

• the President of the State Affiliate
• the President-Elect of the State Affiliate
• a Past Governor of AAJ from the State Affiliate
• a Past President of the State Affiliate
• a State Delegate from the State Affiliate
• a Past Governor from the Women’s Caucus, Minority Caucus, or New Lawyers Division, or
• the Executive Director of the State Affiliate, notwithstanding that the Executive Director may not be a member in good standing of AAJ

For jurisdictions Without State Affiliates, including At-Large Governors and Emeritus Governors:
The proxy may be either from the Governor’s jurisdiction or a past Governor of the Women’s Caucus, Minority Caucus, or New Lawyers Division.

For Other Entities with Board of Governor representatives (e.g., SLC, Caucuses, NLD)
The proxy may be from the Governor’s entity.  Email AAJ General Counsel,

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AAJ Committees

Each spring, in preparation for their year as AAJ President, the AAJ President-Elect solicits volunteers for AAJ's committees. When members accept these volunteer roles, the incoming AAJ President appoints them to the committees and they will serve as active participants during the new AAJ President’s term. A full list of committees is here.

Several committees are elected by the Board of Governors during summer meeting in conjunction with AAJ’s Annual Convention  including: Budget, Executive, Compliance, and Organization Review Committee (ORC). The Board of Governors also approves nominations to the AAJ PAC Board of Trustees and Robert L. Habush Endowment Board.

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Future Board Meetings

Board of Governors can review the list of upcoming board meeting and convention dates below. While the Winter and Annual meeting dates are set several years in advance, the Fall and Spring board meetings may not be available until a few months before the meetings.

The date and location of the next board meeting date will also be posted on the top of this web page as soon as it is available.

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