Former ABA president, ‘a towering determine within the authorized group,’ dies at 85
July 14, 2025, 10:34 am CDT
R. William (Invoice) Ide III
Atlanta lawyer R. William (Invoice) Ide III, who served as president of the American Bar Affiliation for the 1993 to 1994 time period, died on July 8 on the age of 85.
Ide “was a towering determine within the authorized group and a fierce advocate for civil rights, a good and simply authorized system, and the rule of legislation,” in accordance with an on-line obituary.
As ABA president, Ide centered on judicial independence and integrity, authorized entry, and authorized ethics reform, in accordance with an ABA press launch.
Ide additionally promoted different dispute decision, advocated for professional bono work and strengthened the ABA’s dedication to ethics in a means that promoted public service over monetary achieve, the press launch states. New mannequin ethics reforms below his management handled lawyer promoting and lawyer transparency. He additionally addressed racial and social bias within the justice system, “laying the groundwork for future ABA range initiatives,” the assertion says.
In addition to serving as ABA president, Ide was a member of the ABA Board of Governors and the ABA Home of Delegates. He was vice chair of the ABA Process Power for American Democracy and was chair of the ABA Rule of Legislation Initiative from 1997 to 2009.
Extra not too long ago, Ide served as vice chair of the ABA’s Process Power for American Democracy, which mobilized members to guard the fitting to vote forward of the 2024 presidential election.
“Invoice Ide was devoted to a good and simply authorized system,” ABA President William R. Bay mentioned within the press launch. “He was a passionate advocate for judicial independence and entry to justice for all. He had a love and respect for democracy and defended it each at residence and all over the world. We’ll miss him.”
Ide had “an unwavering love and dedication” to household and pals, the net obituary says. His “ABA pals are too quite a few to call, however the ‘Mafia’ and prolonged ABA circle turned a part of the Ide household; conferences doubled as household holidays and alternatives to spend time with ABA ‘aunts’ and ‘uncles.’ ”
In keeping with the net obituary, Ide’s great-great grandfather was a former legislation associate of Abraham Lincoln.
Ide had “a sluggish begin academically” earlier than legislation faculty, incomes the nickname “C Common Ide” from his mom, in accordance with the net obituary. He excelled after switching majors from engineering to historical past.
“Invoice’s grandmother believed that he additionally studied on the Sorbonne in Paris—as a result of she had paid his tuition. However in fact, he cashed out his faculty charges and purchased a Vespa to tour Europe” with a good friend, the obituary says.
A graduate of the College of Virginia Faculty of Legislation, Ide was a former legislation clerk for Decide Griffin Bell of the New Orleans-based fifth U.S. Circuit Court docket of Appeals.
Ide would later inform his grandchildren that witnessing an finish to desegregation was a formative expertise. He left his fifth Circuit place “with a transparent understanding of the legislation as a sacred instrument and protector of constitutional rights,” in accordance with his obituary.
Ide previously labored at King & Spalding, Kutak Rock, Lengthy Aldridge and a legislation agency he based, Huie, Brown & Ide. After main the ABA, he joined Monsanto as basic counsel.
Ide married Gayle Marie Oliver in 1967. That they had three youngsters: Logan, Jennifer and Lucie. After Gayle’s loss of life, Ide “was fortunate sufficient to discover a soulmate once more,” in Lucie Vance, the obituary states.
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