Trial Magazine

Taking on the responsibility of serving as AAJ’s next president is an honor that I am extremely thankful for. And being only the second minority or Black president—following Past President Richard D. Hailey—is the highlight of my career.

It would be an understatement to say that I never thought I would be a trial lawyer, not to mention lead a prominent national organization. I grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago with my mother, a registered nurse; my father, a meat market manager; and my sister. I am the first lawyer in my family. I initially learned about the law through admiring Blair Underwood’s character in the popular 1980s show “L.A. Law” and my mother constantly telling me that I argued with my sister like I was a lawyer. These seemingly benign experiences took deep root in my consciousness—so much so that I never seriously considered any other occupation, despite the lack of family pedigree.

For 20 years, I have been a member of the law firm Beasley Allen. I recall one of my first assignments vividly. I attended a public hearing to voice my support of politicians who opposed new efforts to include binding arbitration clauses in nursing home admission agreements. This helped me understand early on that when wrongdoers can limit their accountability, justice for victims is much harder to obtain.

When I joined my firm, I was encouraged to participate in trial lawyers’ organizations, which is when I first became a member of AAJ. It was reassuring to see how AAJ vigorously opposed the same concerns that I was introduced to through my firm. AAJ’s continued dedication to protect our clients’ rights has been a key reason why I’ve remained a loyal member.

We all have eagerly anticipated the light at the end of the tunnel after a lengthy period of devastating human loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued abuse of power against people of color. During this time, AAJ had excellent leadership from Immediate Past President Tobi Millrood, CEO Linda Lipsen, and AAJ staff-colleagues to successfully navigate these tumultuous waters. On AAJ’s 75th anniversary, we are finally coming out of the tunnel and back into the light. So what will the new day look like?

AAJ certainly will continue to face attacks on civil justice. Opponents of the constitutional right to trial by jury are again turning to oppressive voter suppression tactics to regain power. Now, more than ever, our members must support AAJ PAC, which in turn supports allied organizations fighting against Jim Crow laws proposed in over 40 states nationwide. Support of AAJ PAC will also provide much needed resources for pro-civil-justice candidates in the 2022 election. With slim margins in the House and Senate, it is critical to support these candidates as early as possible.

We also must strengthen our membership—the lifeblood of this organization. Helping to create and maintain the Leadership Academy remains one of my proudest accomplishments because it has been instrumental in developing diverse current and future AAJ leaders. I’m excited to continue AAJ’s diversity and inclusion efforts through the AAJ Member Pledge to Act. You’ll hear more from me on this initiative—the pledge encourages members to expand AAJ’s diversity goals to their own law firms by considering minority lawyers in their recruitment, retention, and promotion efforts.

I am also very optimistic about opportunities to balance the federal courts and AAJ’s role in that effort—to increase the professional diversity of federal judicial nominations and also include lawyers who have experience representing everyday Americans. Fair and impartial courts are absolutely essential to civil justice and that includes establishing a judiciary that looks more like our country and acts more in the interests of Americans.

Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do to make AAJ’s 75th year a memorable and successful journey back into the light!

Navan Ward Jr. is a principal at Beasley Allen Crow Methvin Portis & Miles in Atlanta and can be reached at navan.ward@justice.org.