Vance imagines a bright ABA future at Nominating Committee candidates’ forum

August 03, 2026

Vance imagines a bright ABA future at Nominating Committee candidates' forum

The American Bar Association House of Delegates Nominating Committee held a candidates' forum Aug. 2 at its Annual Conference in Chicago for the position of president-elect for the 2027-28 term. Palmer Gene Vance II of Kentucky was the only candidate to announce interest.

Vance, a member in Stoll Keenon Ogden's Lexington office, has been with the firm since 1995. He is a member of the Business Litigation Practice Group, as well as the Tort, Trial and Insurance Services Practice Group and the Intellectual Property Practice Group. He served on the board of directors at Stoll Keenon Ogden from 2019 to 2025 and has also been a member of both the firm's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and Business Development Committee. He maintains an active trial and dispute resolution practice focusing on business and commercial litigation, products liability litigation, toxic tort litigation, copyright and intellectual property litigation, trucking and transportation litigation and insurance coverage litigation.

Vance served as chair of the ABA House of Delegates, the second ranking officer in the associaiton, from 2022-24. He has been a member of the House of Delegates since 2001 in a variety of capacities, including as the Kentucky State Delegate.

In his remarks, Vance noted a quote by Albert Einstein that imagination was more important than knowledge and then evoked Willy Wonka, asking the audience to join him in a "world of pure imagination." He envisioned an ABA where there is easy access, no barriers, cutting-edge information, AI systems and advocacy.

"Knowledge is important," Vance said. "We know who we are and where we stand. But we must apply imagination to build on our rock-solid foundation."

Vance, if elected, would preside over the ABA in 2028 during its 150th anniversary, and he promised a celebration looking at what the association did well in the past and preparing for the future, including a new structure and financial improvements.

Vance stressed that the ABA goal of serving its members is critical to success and promised to listen. "What I hear is more important than what I say," he said.

In his long service to the ABA, Vance served as chair of the House Committee on Rules and Calendar from 2010-12. He has chaired or co-chaired three ABA Presidential Appointments Committees. From 2012-15, he served as chair of the council of the ABA's charitable arm, the Fund for Justice and Education. He also is a member of the board of directors of ABA Retirement Funds. From 2012-23, he was a member of the board of directors of the American Bar Endowment, including as treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee. He previously served on the board of American Bar Foundation. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute and the American Counsel Association.

Vance chaired the ABA Section of Litigation in 2018-19. He served in the section's leadership since 2003, previously serving as the section's revenue officer, as a managing director of the section and co-chairing the section's 2009 Annual Meeting.

He was president of the Fayette County Bar Association in 2013-14 and has also held a number of positions with the Kentucky Bar Association, including as a member of the Board of Governors and as chair of its Young Lawyers Division.

Vance was bullish on the ABA's future. "I am fundamentally an optimist," he said. "And I am confident we will succeed." While he admitted there are currently challenges, Vance stressed the many opportunities the ABA has. "This is our time," he said.

A graduate of the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law, Vance serves on the board of trustees at Transylvania University, his alma mater. From 2009 to 2025, he served on the board of directors of Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, including more than 10 years as treasurer. In 2013, his community service was recognized with presentation of the Difference Makers Award from the ABA Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division.

Nominations for this position will be made by the Nominating Committee at the 2027 Midyear Meeting.