The American Bar Association's midyear meeting will take place next month at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Chicago. Originally scheduled for New Orleans, the event had to be moved after the destruction by Hurricane Katrina.

A timely program, “Post-Katrina Catas-trophe: Ecosystem, Structural, Environmental and Insurance Law Challenges,” will be conducted at 10:45 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10 in Columbus Hall H on the Gold Level of the hotel's East Tower.

“The Perfect Storm,” a panel on Katrina issues such as confusion over the government's legal authority to act, will begin at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, in Grand Ballroom A on the Gold Level of the East Tower.

The 550-member ABA House of Dele-gates will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, in the Grand Ballroom on the Gold Level of the East Tower. Programs of interest include the following.

“Constitutional Principles and Legal Strategies in the Creation-Evolution De-bates,” at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, in Grand Suite 3 on the Gold Level of the East Tower.

“Deference: Seventh Circuit Judges Talk About Reviewing Agency Determinations of Law, Fact and Discretion,” at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, in Columbus Hall H on the Gold Level of the East Tower. Panelists are Judges Richard Cudahy, Frank Easterbrook and Diane P. Wood, and attorney Barry Sullivan.

Spirit of Excellence Awards luncheon at 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, in Grand Ballroom A-B-C-D North on the Gold Level of the East Tower.

“Lawyers as Civil Leaders: Answering the Call to Service,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, in Grand Ballroom F on the Gold Level of the East Tower. Speakers are Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Theodore C. Sorensen, former special counsel to President Kennedy.