Public Policy > Our Policy Positions

Our Policy Positions

Our Positions

  • Access to Justice

    Access to justice means ensuring adequate funding for both civil legal services for the poor and for the courts, so that those who need to turn to the justice system to protect their rights or resolve their disputes will find the sufficient staff and resources to assist them.

  • Criminal Justice

    The BBA believes that the primary concern of a criminal justice system should be promoting public safety and ensuring fair treatment for all citizens. In pursuit of this goal, the BBA has a long history of advocating for policies which are consistent, fiscally responsible and guarantee that the administration of justice in Massachusetts is impartial.

  • Civil Rights & Civil Liberties

    The Massachusetts Constitution — the nation's first and oldest — stands as a beacon for fair and equal treatment under the law for every citizen. It is fitting, then, that the BBA has a long record of voicing opposition to and mobilizing resources against threats to civil rights and civil liberties. Our work in this area spans affirmative action, the right to vote, and same-sex marriage. It also includes the right to privacy, freedom of speech, the balance between liberty and security.

  • Practice of Law

    The BBA inspires the vigorous pursuit of ideas, critical analysis and civic engagement in order to advance the practice of law as a business and a profession and has always worked to integrate opportunities for dynamic change and to exercise judgment and creativity in offering solutions for problems.

  • Children & Families

    The BBA is attentive to legislative matters regarding the care, protection, and support of children, as well as other family-related legal issues. Our vibrant Family Law Section frequently concerns itself with procedural and administrative matters relating to the Probate and Family Court and maintains a continuing dialogue with its judges.

News

BBA Urges Repeal of Mandatory Minimums for Non-Violent Drug Offenders

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

As the Massachusetts Senate prepares to debate an Act to Protect Public Safety, a proposal that deals with parole reform, habitual offenders, and sentencing, Boston Bar Association President Lisa C. Goodheart issued the following statement:

"We are disappointed that the draft bill, in its current form, is aimed at reducing rather than repealing mandatory sentences for non-violent drug offenders, and in this regard, we believe that it does not go far enough. 

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BBA Signs on to Amicus Brief Challenging DOMA

Committed to ensuring that the Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection effectively protect all people from invidious discrimination, whether on account of race, gender, national origin, religion, alienage, or sexual orientation, the Boston Bar Association has signed on to an amicus brief arguing that classifications based on sexual orientation must be subjected to heightened scrutiny.
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As a well-known innovator and opinion leader, the BBA is at the forefront of promoting justice and improving access to the legal system in Massachusetts. The Business Litigation Session of the Superior Court, the Uniform Probate Code, and our successful argument asserting the First Amendment rights of private parties, including bar associations, found in the R.E.B.A. v. N.R.E.I.S amicus brief are just three of the positive changes we have helped make a reality.