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Robert J. Grey
Robert J. Grey

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News Release

Contact: Melody Mitchell, College of Law
(815) 753-9655

May 25, 2005

American Bar Association president to speak
at NIU College of Law commencement

DeKalb , IL – Northern Illinois University College of Law is proud to announce that Robert J. Grey, president of the American Bar Association (ABA), will serve as this year's commencement speaker. Commencement ceremonies will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2005, at 2 p.m. in the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb. This will be the College of Law 's 28 th annual commencement with 102 candidates for the JD degree.

As ABA President, Grey is devoting his term to creating better justice through better juries via the American Jury Initiative. Composed of the Commission on the American Jury and the American Jury Project, the Commission is dedicated to educating the public on and reinvigorating the nation's commitment to jury service.

In addition, Grey is working to review, unify and update ABA programs to increase diversity in the legal profession, to advance the ABA 's international rule of law efforts, and to safeguard the profession's independence. Also committed to diversity, the NIU College of Law is ranked #3 in the nation for diverse faculty by Princeton Law Review and ranked in the top 20% in the nation on diversity by U.S. News and World Reports.

Grey has long been active in the ABA . From 1998 until 2000, he served as chair of the policy-making House of Delegates, the association's second-highest office, and also as a member of the Board of Governors. Grey's service as House of Delegates chair made him the first person of color to serve in a top ABA office. Additionally, he is the second consecutive person of color to serve as president, the association's highest office.

Grey earned his J.D. from Washington and Lee University in Virginia in 1976, and his B.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1973.

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