WHEREAS the National Bar Association (NBA) is in its 75th year and has been organized to develop and strengthen the professional competence of its membership; and

WHEREAS in year 2000 the National Bar Association represents the interests of more than 21,000 African-American attorneys, judges, and law students;

WHEREAS the NBA is committed to Houstonian jurisprudence, social change through application of laws governing equal rights, due process, and other legal principles;

WHEREAS the NBA is committed to serving as a legal voice of the African–American community on issues related to the administration of justice;

WHEREAS the NBA is vested with the legacy and responsibility to ensure the admission of African-American students into law schools and their successful matriculation;

WHEREAS the economic and social condition of African-Americans in the United States mandate a more pragmatic role for African-American legal organizations and attorneys;

BE IT RESOLVED as follows, this 10th day of August, 2000:

1. That the NBA Board of Directors be directed to develop and implement the Empowerment Through Law and Justice Agenda ("ETLJA") and to appoint an organizing and planning committee;
2. That ETLJA Planning Committee shall consist of not more than nineteen (19) persons, and present a written plan of action to the NBA Board of Directors by not later than ninety (90) days from the date that said resolution is approved;
3. That the ETLJA shall be collaborative and work in conjunction with other national organizations, including the NAACP, Black Law Students Association, National Conference of Black Lawyers, National Urban League, National Conference of Black Mayors, Howard University School of Law, North Carolina Central School of Law, Southern School of Law, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, and other organizations, through creation of a separate and distinct organization;
4. That the ETLJA shall be organized in major cities, countries, and metropolitan and rural areas as deemed appropriate, but that its national office and operations shall be located in the District of Columbia and that its other centers of operation shall be located in Durham, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Houston, Texas; New York, New York; Oakland, California; Detroit, Michigan; and Denver, Colorado; and
5. That the ETLJA shall implement the following programs:
   1. National Judicial Accountability Center. The Center would monitor critical state and federal judicial nominations, appointments and elections and important cases.
   2. National Revolving Litigation Loan Fund. This Fund, distinct from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund, would raise not less than $1,000,000 to assist in the financing of civil rights cases litigated by African-Americans lawyers. It would provide limited financial support of up to $25,000 per case involving police brutality, commercial and employment discrimination in areas of race, sex, and national origin, consumer racism and other forms of discrimination. The litigating attorney would have to agree to repay the fund with interest upon an award, settlement, or judgment.

      This Fund would also provide research and pleading support to NBA members based upon a fee arrangement.

   3. National Educational Endowment. This program will raise not less than $25,000,000 over a ten-year period in order to offer scholarships and other financial assistance to deserving students who demonstrate principles of Houstonian jurisprudence.
   4. National Mentorship Program. To match African-American attorneys with African-American law students and to similarly match African-American law students with college students aspiring to become lawyers.