Nearly a century after it was first proposed by Alice Paul, and four decades after it was passed by Congress, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) has now met all of the requirements for an amendment in Article V of the Constitution. And efforts continue in both the courts and Congress to eliminate the ERA's time limit on ratification as a barrier to its effectiveness.

On March 18, the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter will host a virtual CLE program featuring on-the-ground activists and legal scholars including Linda Coberly—Winston & Strawn Chicago Managing Partner and Chair of the ERA Coalition's Legal Task Force—about the efforts to ratify the ERA in Illinois and other states, litigation concerning ratification, and the future of this important Amendment.

The Federal Bar Association will also present the Kathryn Smith Matkov Awards, given to attorneys or judges who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and accuracy in defining, illuminating, and informing the public on issues critical to American society, particularly relating to under-represented individuals such as children, the aged, the disabled, and minorities.

Register for this event here.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.