ALAMEDA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTACTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Shannon Goecke, (510) 302-2215
May 28, 2009 Ann Wassam, (510) 302-2208
ACBA to Skip State Bar Annual Meeting in San Diego--
ACBA President Responds to Members’ Concerns Regarding Hot-Button Manchester Hyatt Issue
OAKLAND, CA, May 28, 2009–The Alameda County Bar Association Board of Directors passed a resolution
in September 2008 publicly opposing Proposition 8, and joined with other bar associations in an amicus
brief in Strauss v. Horton after Prop 8 passed in November.
In an email message to ACBA members sent today, ACBA President Charles N. Bendes reiterated the
ACBA’s position on Prop 8: “This is an issue that has ramifications far beyond the question of same sex
marriage. Important and fundamental rights of a vulnerable minority that had been guaranteed under our
constitution have been taken away by a vote of the majority,” he stated. “We are a bar association that
includes in its mission statement a commitment to civil rights and the fair and equitable administration of
justice. This is not an issue on which we can be silent.”
Mr. Bendes also responded to members’ concerns regarding the State Bar of California Annual Meeting to
be held at San Diego’s Manchester Hyatt, the owner of which made substantial contributions to the “Yes on
8” campaign. Mr. Bendes acknowledged that the State Bar’s contract with the Manchester Hyatt was
signed well before Proposition 8 qualified for the ballot, and the location cannot contractually be changed.
Additionally, as a mandatory bar association, the State Bar is prohibited from taking a political position.
“We recognize that there are different points of view on this issue among our membership and on the
Board, including the view that we should take no position,” stated Mr. Bendes. “We respect those points of
view. However, in this instance, failing to take a position would in fact be a position. We believe that for
the ACBA to attend the annual meeting at the Manchester Hyatt would convey the message that we are not
deeply concerned with the civil rights issues created by Proposition 8.”
While the ACBA cannot dictate to any member, including members of the Board of Directors, what they can
or cannot do in his or her individual capacity, the ACBA made the decision that no one will be attending the
State Bar Annual Meeting on behalf of or as a representative of the ACBA. The ACBA does plan to send a
delegation to participate in the Conference of Delegates of California Bar Associations, which is no longer
part of the State Bar and his moved its 2009 activities from the Manchester Hyatt.
The Alameda County Bar Association (ACBA) was established in 1877 and has a membership of 2,100
attorneys, judges, law students, and other legal professionals. The ACBA administers numerous programs
and activities to benefit attorneys and the community. More information about the ACBA is available at
www.acbanet.org.