**ABA Convention Preview**

*  President Bill Clinton is expected to join the over 10,000 lawyers who
will be convening in Atlanta this month for the annual meeting of the
American Bar Association, which will take place from August 5-11.
President Clinton, a long-time friend of ABA President and Little Rock
resident Philip Anderson, is scheduled to speak Monday, August 9, at the
World Congress Center during the event's "opening ceremonies."  The
opening ceremonies were originally planned for August 7, but were rescheduled to
accommodate the President.  President Clinton is the first President to
address the organization since President Reagan did so in 1985.

*  Citing scheduling conflicts, Jane Fonda has backed out of her earlier
commitment to host the ABA's 42nd annual Gavel Awards, which recognize
members of the media for fostering an understanding of the law.  Touted by
the ABA for her "activism and advocacy on environmental issues, human rights,
and the empowerment of women and girls," Ms. Fonda came under attack from ABA
members who objected to her participation at the Association's Annual Meeting
because of her anti-Vietnam War activities, including a 1972 trip to North
Vietnam to protest U.S. bombing.

For example, Ronald Bliss, a Houston intellectual-property lawyer and former
Air Force pilot who was shot down over Vietnam and spent more than six years
as a POW before returning home in 1973, said, "Because of her activities in
Hanoi and North Vietnam and the aid and comfort that she gave to the enemy
while our boys were dying in the field, I didn't think she's the kind of
influence we would like to have addressing our bar association."  Charles
White, an Amarillo, Texas, lawyer and Vietnam veteran who organized a
write-in campaign to have Fonda disinvited adds, "For the ABA to pull that
off was the ultimate insult, it was the ultimate act of disrespect."  He also
said he didn't believe the explanation given by Fonda and the ABA for the
change in plans.  "It's always a scheduling conflict if veterans get
involved. That's a lie. The ABA was embarrassed, and I'm glad they resolved
it like they did."  CNN news anchor Judy Woodruff is scheduled to replace Ms.
Fonda.