NBA President
James J. Carter

Dear Esteemed Members and Friends of the National Bar Association,

As we turn the page to a new chapter for our esteemed Association, it is with humility and a deep sense of purpose that I step into the role of President of the National Bar Association. As I look toward the year ahead leading this legendary organization, I am guided by a single conviction: this is a moment that demands more of us — and one we are ready to meet. The National Bar Association wears the crown as the Legal Conscience of America and, therefore, has a heightened responsibility to lead with courage. This is why I have chosen “Meeting the Moment: A Continuing Legacy of Social Engineering and Empowerment” as my presidential theme.

Ours is a profession built to shape society with intention, and this year we will use that power in service of our communities. I accept this solemn leadership responsibility with a clear understanding of what the National Bar Association has represented for generations of Black lawyers and for the communities we serve. Our next century requires unfettered resolve, discipline, and practical action. We will strengthen civic activism, defend access to the ballot, advance financial independence, and address the conditions that affect the health and safety of our communities.

This work belongs to more than our membership alone — to every attorney, law student, community organization, and citizen who cares about the future of our democracy. Your engagement is what will make this vision a reality. Together, we will meet this moment! Together, we will leave behind a National Bar Association that is stronger, more unified, and more impactful than we found it.
Thank you for the honor of allowing me to serve. I am eager to get to work alongside each of you.

James J. Carter
84th President
National Bar Association