The RNLA recently announced two initiatives to honor its Founding Chair Bob Horn: re-naming the Chairman's Award in his honor to the Robert J. Horn Chairman's Award and establishing the Bob Horn Fund for Law Students to encourage law student participation in the RNLA:
The Robert J. Horn Chairman’s Award is presented by the RNLA Chair annually at the National
Election Law Seminar and recognizes individuals for extraordinary dedication to the RNLA. It is given
to individuals whose contributions have significantly furthered the RNLA mission – advancing
professionalism, open, fair and honest elections, career opportunity, and Republican ideals – and
made a noteworthy and positive impact for the Republican Party and the United States of America. . . .
The Bob Horn Fund for Law Students was established through a generous donation from political.law,
a leading political law firm founded by longtime friend and Life Member of the RNLA, Dan Backer. It
will provide financial assistance to law students who wish to attend the RNLA’s annual National Policy
Conference and National Election Law Seminar and assist in the establishment of law student
chapters in key states throughout the country.
Bob Horn has had a long and distinguished legal career and service to the Republican Party, and his vision for an organization of Republican lawyers led to the establishment of the RNLA over 30 years ago. Current and former RNLA chairs praised him:
Current RNLA Chair John Ryder said of Mr. Horn: “RNLA wouldn’t exist without Bob Horn. He
provided the inspiration, guidance and leadership to get us started and keep us going. He is the very
model of a gentlemen and a lawyer.”
Immediate past RNLA Chair and first female RNLA Chair Kimberly Reed noted: “Bob Horn is to be
applauded for his vision in founding the RNLA, which now is a remarkable organization of 6,000
lawyers across the United States. As Ronald Reagan said: ‘The greatest leader is not necessarily the
one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.’
Because of Bob’s leadership, RNLA lawyers have come together as a force to advance
professionalism, open, fair, and honest elections, career opportunity, and Republican ideals.”
Past RNLA Chair Richard Wiley agreed: “Renaming the Chairman’s Award in Bob Horn’s name is
very appropriate. He really is the father of RNLA and has contributed so much of his time, energy and
considerable talents over many years to our Association. He very much deserves this honor.”
Thank you to Bob Horn for his many years of service to the Republican Party and this country and his leadership of the RNLA.
Today is International Women's Day, "a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women." Yet as we learn all too often, these neutral-sounding words really mean: a day to celebrate liberal women advancing progressive policy goals.
As 2016 RNLA National Policy Conference speaker, Network of enlightened Women President, and conservative female attorney Karin Agness Lips reminds us, Republican, conservative, and libertarian women are stereotyped, attacked, and not welcomed by modern feminists:
“If you would gather a group of leaders in the women’s empowerment movement, their definitions would vary dramatically,” Lips says. “The problem with modern-day feminism is that it lacks a universally agreed upon definition, and that it’s been co-opted by political liberals and progressives as a vehicle to pass their political agenda.”
Lips, who is also a senior fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum, believes in what she calls “opportunity feminism, which seeks to maximize women’s opportunities to build fulfilling and meaningful lives they want to build.” . . .
“Too often, in my experience, and for a lot of women on campus, once you speak out as a conservative, you turn in your ‘woman card‘ and you don’t count anymore,” Lips says. “[Liberals] attack conservative women, often with a vitriol expressed more for conservative women than men.” Indeed, there are those left-of-center talking heads who guard their political beliefs as viciously as some on the right.
Ms. Lips' "opportunity feminism" fits within the broader framework of conservative and libertarian values of greater individual freedom and less government regulation and is therefore better for women and everyone else as well:
She says this version of feminism prioritizes maximizing opportunities and choices for women, rather than seeing them as victims "that need every interaction regulated."
Opportunity feminism prioritizes equality of opportunity over equality of outcome, meaning that so long as women have the same opportunities as men in education, the workplace and politics, it doesn’t matter if they are represented in equal numbers.
"I'm hoping that that's going to be a way for conservative women to reclaim the feminist title," said Agness Lips. "The left claims they are the women's empowerment movement and they're not. And our policies are actually better for women."
In a world where law students disrupted Christina Hoff Sommers' Federalist Society speech at the Lewis and Clark Law School in the name of anti-fascism on Monday (the sheer ignorance of relatively recent history displayed by these supposedly educated law students--our future colleagues in the practice of law--is frightening), we are immensely grateful to have conservative and libertarian female attorneys who can provide a good example on International Women's Day. Women who can think independently, fight for good policies, and be strong leaders, supporting the rule of law, without attacking our country. RNLA women leaders like:
- Co-Chair Joanne Young
- Vice President for Communications Harmeet Kaur Dhillon
- Former Chair Kimberly Reed
- Vice President for Membership Audrey Perry Martin
- Vice President for Washington, D.C. Operations Claudia Hrvatin
- Board of Governors member Kathleen Jones Goldman
- Board of Governors member Heather Heidelbaugh
- Board of Governors member Anne Lewis
- Board of Governors member Beverly Weiss Manne
- Board of Governors member Nancy Taylor
- Arkansas Chapter Chair Bilenda Harris-Ritter
- Hawaii Chapter Chair Adrienne King
- Pennsylvania Southeastern Chapter Chair Linda Kerns
- Tennessee Chapter Chair Linda Knight
As Republican female attorneys are bombarded with messages about "equality" and progressive policy goals that women must embrace to be welcomed in the modern women's movement, remember that we conservative and libertarian women are not alone. We may not be as (obnoxiously) vocal as many highly educated liberal women, but we are capable, we are many, our ideas are better, and we are having an enormous impact on the policies and future of our country.
Next Wednesday evening at the City Club of Washington, DC, the RNLA will host a reception honoring Larry Levy, who was selected by the RNLA Board of Governors as the 2017 Republican Lawyer of the Year. RNLA's leadership praised Mr. Levy as very deserving of this honor:
RNLA President Elliot Berke praised the selection: “Larry is a true lawyer’s lawyer, and a
consummate professional. I had the honor of nominating him to the RNLA board many years ago,
and I couldn’t be happier to see him receive our Lawyer of the Year award. I thank him for all he’s
done for the cause and his friendship.”
RNLA Chair Kimberly Reed highlighted Mr. Levy's core strengths: “In the decade I have known and
worked with Larry Levy, I can attest to the values that Mayor Rudy Giuliani sees in him. Most
importantly, he is dedicated to the United States Constitution and rule of law. On a personal note,
Larry's steadfast dedication to the children who lost a parent or sibling on September 11th speaks
volumes about his character. On behalf of the RNLA Board of Governors, I thank Larry for his service
to RNLA and our mission.”
RNLA Co-Chair and former RNC General Counsel John Ryder added: “Larry has been a strong
leader for the integrity of the ballot, for RNLA and for the country. He is truly deserving of Republican
Lawyer of the Year.”
RNLA Executive Director Michael Thielen agreed: “Larry is one of the most influential lawyers I know;
his influence is very broad. His efforts, both personally and professionally, in the 2016 election were
essential to ensuring that it was an open, fair, and honest election that led to historic victories for
Republicans at every level of the ticket. Yet he is very humble and would not ‘toot his own horn.’
Working with Larry for years has been one of my great pleasures, and I can think of no lawyer more
deserving of being Republican Lawyer of the Year this year.”
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani will attend the reception, and several very special guests, whose names we are not able to release, have also confirmed. There is still time to purchase a ticket ahead of next Wednesday's celebration.
Earlier today, Judge Neil Gorsuch was sworn in and became Justice Gorsuch, taking Justice Scalia's seat on the Supreme Court. RNLA leaders expressed their congratulations to Justice Gorsuch:
RNLA Chair Kimberly Reed said:
“Judge Gorsuch has demonstrated his immense intellectual abilities, clear legal writing skills, and
fidelity to the Constitution throughout his ten-year career on the bench; and he will continue to serve
the American people and uphold the rule of law as a United States Supreme Court Justice. His
remarkable ability to build consensus with his colleagues in reaching decisions on difficult legal
questions will be an asset as the highest court grapples with challenging legal cases.”
RNLA Co-Chair John Ryder agreed: “Judge Gorsuch is a worthy successor to Justice Scalia. I am
delighted that President Trump has delivered on his promise to the American people to nominate
someone who fits the mold of Justice Scalia. I am equally pleased that the Senate saw fit to honor
the will of the people by confirming Judge Gorsuch.”
RNLA President Elliot Berke stated: “Throughout his long career, Judge Gorsuch has reached
decisions by taking the words of the Constitution, statutes, regulations, or precedents seriously and
then fairly applying the governing law to the facts of the case before him. This judicial method best
protects the rights of every American, and Justice Gorsuch will serve in the tradition of Justice Scalia,
protecting the rights of the people by deferring to the will of people expressed through their elected
representatives. America will be a better place because of his service on the Supreme Court.”
RNLA Executive Director Michael Thielen recognized the leadership of Senate Republicans
throughout the confirmation process: “Thanks to the leadership of Leader McConnell, Senator
Grassley, and the other Republican senators, the Democrats’ efforts to obstruct President Trump’s
well-qualified nominee, and use him as a foil to attack President Trump and undermine the results of
last November’s election, failed.”
RNLA would also like to thank all our members and leaders who worked tirelessly in support of Justice Gorsuch's confirmation to the Supreme Court.
After pausing today to celebrate the confirmation and swearing in ceremonies of Justice Gorsuch, The Rep Lawyer will be returning to its regular programming of mostly election-related content for the remainder of this week. In that spirit, check out our updated vote fraud news page here.
Today, the RNLA sent a letter urging the Senate to quickly confirm Sen. Sessions as the next Attorney General of the United States:
Senator Sessions has vast experience that has prepared him well to assume the
responsibilities of Attorney General. Senator Sessions proved his skills as a law
enforcement official in the Department of Justice as a U.S. Attorney and his skills
as an administrator as the Attorney General of Alabama. In the Senate, he
showed the breadth and depth of his knowledge of legal policy and consistently
demonstrated concern for solving the problems faced by U.S. citizens within the
limits of his power as a member of the federal government.
Throughout his long career, Senator Sessions has proven that he is committed to
the rule of law and protecting the rights of individual citizens, without regard to
race, gender, or economic status. He has sought to interpret the Constitution and
the law impartially. He has shown character to remain committed to his
principles even in the face of political criticism.
The RNLA is the home of Republican lawyers in the Republican Party. In 2010,
we presented Senator Sessions our highest award, the Edwin Meese III Award, in
recognition of his efforts to uphold the rule of law. We are steadfast in our belief
that Senator Sessions will make an exemplary Attorney General.
Thank you for your careful consideration of Senator Sessions, his experience, and
his excellent qualifications to be the 84th Attorney General of the United States.
We encourage the Judiciary Committee, and the whole Senate, to promptly
confirm Senator Sessions as Attorney General.
Washington, DC — Today, the Republican National Committee (RNC) announced that Ronna Romney McDaniel will be the next Deputy Chair of the RNC, in line for the position of Chairwoman when current RNC Chairman Reince Priebus becomes President Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff next month. While the Republican National Lawyers Association is fully separate from the RNC, we congratulate our fellow Republican organization on an excellent selection for its next leader and congratulate Ronna Romney McDaniel.
RNLA Chair Kimberly Reed said: "As the first female Chair of the Republican National Lawyers Association, I congratulate Ronna Romney McDaniel on being named Deputy Chair of the RNC. She ably led the Michigan Republican Party in a pivotal year that turned the key swing state of Michigan from blue to red for the first time in a presidential election since 1988. We look forward to her bringing that talent to the RNC to make a difference for our nation at the start of the Trump."
The RNC Chair is the national leader of the Republican Party, tasked with bringing the disparate coalitions that compose the Party together to advance Republican policy goals and elect Republican candidates. Ms. Romney McDaniel, Michigan native and niece of 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, has served as Michigan’s representative to the RNC and as Chair of the Michigan Republican Party. She worked tirelessly on behalf of Republican candidates in Michigan this election cycle, bringing together different coalitions within the Party in Michigan.
RNLA’s Michigan Chapter Chair Jason Hanselman stated: "Congratulations to Ronna Romney McDaniel. Ronna is an excellent choice after leading the effort to win Michigan for Donald Trump, the first Republican Presidential candidate to win Michigan in 28 years—something many people said was impossible. Ronna's vision, leadership, and fundraising acumen allowed the Michigan Republican Party to achieve historic victories this year. And winning the election once was not enough for Ronna. She also worked tirelessly to defeat Jill Stein's wasteful recount effort—recruiting and organizing volunteers while overseeing the litigation that ultimately ceased the recount in Michigan. I wish Ronna the best in this new endeavor and am confident that she will bring to the RNC the same level of excellence she brought to the Michigan Republican Party."
"The person who leads the RNC has a tremendous impact on the Republican Party and the entire country. Ronna Romney McDaniel is an excellent choice to succeed Reince Priebus," said Elliot Berke, President of RNLA.
RNLA is the national organization of Republican attorneys. The mission of RNLA is to advance professionalism; open, fair and honest elections; career opportunity; and Republican ideals. For more information, please visit http://www.rnla.org.
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The RNLA is pleased to announce that four new members of its Board of Governors were elected at its recent annual board meeting:
RNLA Chair Kimberly Reed stated: “The
RNLA is honored for these distinguished attorneys to join its Board of Governors. They bring a
wealth of expertise and experience that will be invaluable to the Board." . . .
RNLA President Elliot Berke said: “I am pleased that these four accomplished lawyers have agreed to help lead the RNLA in 2017 as it seeks to advance Republican ideals during the Trump Administration."
These attorneys join the incumbent members of the Board of Governors, which include incoming White House Counsel Don McGahn, RNC General Counsel John Ryder, and many other distinguished lawyers.
Harmeet Kaur Dhillon is the founder of the Dhillon Law Group Inc. and is a nationally recognized trial lawyer, trusted boardroom advisor, and
passionate advocate for her clients.
John R. Hammond III is co-chair of Ice Miller's Public Affairs
Group and a veteran of Indiana state government, where he has helped shape a wide
variety of public policy.
Matthew Morgan is a partner in the Indianapolis office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP where is he a
member of the firm’s Government Services and Finance Department.
Stefan Passantino is a partner of Dentons, where he is a member of the Public Policy and
Regulation practice and heads the firm's Political Law practice.
For more information on the new and incumbent board members, please read today's press release.
The RNLA is pleased to announce its new officers, elected at its annual Board of Governors meeting earlier this week:
Elliot Berke was elected the new President. Mr. Berke serves as Managing Partner of Berke Farah
LLP and previously was a partner and practice group co-chair at McGuireWoods LLP. He has been
named by Chambers USA as a "Nationwide Best Lawyer" and by Washingtonian as one of
"Washington's Best Lawyers."
Outgoing RNLA President Larry Levy said: “I am pleased to turn over the office of President to Elliot,
a very capable leader, an excellent lawyer, and a good friend. He will ably manage and grow the
RNLA during this critical first year of President-elect Trump’s administration.”
Kimberly Reed was elected the first female Chair of the RNLA. Ms. Reed serves as President of the
International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation. Recognized as one of the 100 Women
Leaders in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), she also is on the Boards of the
Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, American Swiss Foundation, and National
Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research.
RNLA Executive Director Michael Thielen said: “I have worked with Kimberly when she was a senior
official in the U.S. Treasury Department, counsel to the U.S. Congress, and at RNLA. Her leadership
skills and passion for the RNLA, the rule of law, and the advancement of women in the Republican
Party will be a tremendous asset to the RNLA.”
Other new and incumbent officers are:
Manuel Iglesias, First Vice President
Larry Levy, Vice Chair
David Bowsher, Vice President for Programming
Brent A. Bramnick, Vice President for Membership
Marc Ellinger, Vice President for Finance
Ronald Hicks, Vice President for Communications
Eric Lycan, Vice President for Judicial Affairs
Stefan Passantino, Vice President for DC Operations
David Warrington, Vice President for Election Education
Chris Marston, Secretary
Roger Barth, Treasurer
Politico Influence highlighted the election of Kimberly Reed as first female Chair and Elliot Berke as President in today's edition.
The RNLA released a statement today strongly supporting the selection of Sen. Jeff Sessions as President-elect Trump's nominee for Attorney General:
The Attorney General serves as the chief law enforcement official for the federal government, leads
the Department of Justice, and represents the United States in important legal matters. It is vital that
the Attorney General be both a talented administrator and an excellent lawyer with immense respect
for the rule of law.
Senator Sessions is uniquely qualified to serve as Attorney General. He has served as a U.S.
Attorney, as Attorney General of Alabama, and as longtime Senator from Alabama. As Attorney
General, Sen. Sessions will re-introduce commitment to the rule of law and equal application of the
law to the Department of Justice, which has become highly politicized over the past eight years. His
experience in the Senate and in state government gives him a deep understanding of federalism and
the separation of powers.
"Senator Jeff Sessions is a committed conservative, skilled lawyer, and proven leader who will be an
outstanding Attorney General of the United States. To underscore President-elect Trump's
comments, Senator Sessions has a 'world-class legal mind.' He upholds the Constitution and will
faithfully and fairly enforce our laws and ensure a fair and even-handed administration of justice," said
Kimberly Reed, Co-Chair of RNLA.
We applaud President-elect Trump for his excellent selection and look forward to the Department of Justice being led by Attorney General Sessions.
