Contact: Samuel B. Casey, CEO, 703-642-1070 ext. 3200, 703-624-4092 cell; James A Davids, Chairman of the Board, 757-226-4783; both with Christian Legal Society; Samuel E. Erricson, CEO, Advocates International, 703-582-2390

WASHINGTON, June 16 /Christian Newswire/ --The Board of Directors of the Christian Legal Society, announced today that it has accepted the resignation of its Executive Director and CEO Samuel B. Casey effective October 15, 2008. Mr. Casey, who for 14 years has served as CLS' CEO, will on January 1, 2009 join Advocates International (AI) in a senior staff position. CLS and AI share related visions and on October 6-12 in Washington, DC will jointly sponsor the largest ever global convocation of Christian legal professionals under the theme "Redeeming the Law." Mr. Casey, who has also served for eight years as Vice-Chairman of AI's Board, in his new position will assist AI's Founder and President Samuel Ericsson to spread AI's vision of being a "worldwide fellowship of advocates bearing witness of Jesus Christ through the legal profession."

"CLS' work of defending religious freedom and the sanctity of life, providing legal assistance to the poor, and equipping Christian lawyers and law students to integrate their faith and their legal vocation has flourished during Sam Casey's 14 years of able service," said Law Professor James Davids, CLS's President and Chairman of the Board. "We are grateful for Sam's many years of inspiring service and look forward to working with him as he continues to serve within our movement at Advocates International."

Professor Lynn Buzzard, chair of AI's Board of Directors, said: "We are pleased Sam will be joining our team at Advocates International as we continue to serve national law fellowships like CLS, enlarge our global and regional advocacy activities, and expand the leadership of our organization through our Global Council that now links Christian lawyers, law students, jurists and law professors in about 150 nations."
 

The CLS Board has formed a search committee to select a new CEO with the help of a national search firm. The committee chair, CLS President-Elect Craig Shultz of Wichita, Kansas reports, "We are pleased by the number of able candidates already brought to our attention and look forward to God's leading as we work diligently through the process of finding the person best qualified to lead CLS's ministries in the years to come."

The Christian Legal Society, founded in 1961, is the largest professional membership association of Christian attorneys, judges, law professors, law students, and paralegals, as well as supportive laypeople throughout the United States, dedicated to inspiring, encouraging and equipping lawyers and law students, both individually and in community, to proclaim, love and serve Jesus Christ through the he study and practice of law, the provision of legal assistance to the poor and needy, and the defense of religious freedom and the sanctity of human life.