Richard Lewis, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s appointment of Justice Dianne Renwick as presiding justice of the Appellate Division, First Department: “Justice Dianne Renwick has done an exceptional job of leading the Appellate Division for the First Department of New York State Supreme Court … Continued
The New York State Bar Association’s Membership Committee, chaired by Clotelle Drakeford of the Legal Aid Society of Westchester County and Michelle Wildgrube, a partner at Cioffi Slezak Wildgrube, proposed a subscription plan for association membership at the House of Delegates’ summer meeting June 10th. The House of Delegates enthusiastically approved the concept of the … Continued
The New York State Bar Association is launching a new task force that will examine the impact of homelessness and explore ways that governments can intervene so that fewer people will be living on the streets. More than 74,000 New Yorkers are homeless, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. “Homelessness is a crisis, … Continued
The legal system has never been quick to embrace change. Whether it is electronic research, electronic filing, video depositions or artificial intelligence, most of the legal system will be dragged into the future kicking, screaming and holding on to whatever antiquated methods it can sink its claws into. This is, of course, true not just … Continued
When I was asked to write an essay for this special Juneteenth issue I was honored and immediately thought how very fortunate I am to have found a career that has brought me professional fulfillment. New York Upbringing I was raised by a strong hard working single mother in Bedford Stuyvesant and East New York. Mom … Continued
From assigned counsel rates, to the repeal of Judiciary law 470, and Clean Slate, the Miranda Warnings Roundtable dissects the wins and losses of the session which just wrapped up this week. Listen to the podcast with David Miranda, Liz Benjamin and Vin Bonventre here or watch the video on You Tube.
Brad Karp and Jeh Johnson In anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court on affirmative action, the New York State Bar Association is launching a task force to recommend how colleges and businesses can maintain diversity. If the U.S. Supreme Court rules that decades of race-conscious policies violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of … Continued
After Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization made abortion unavailable in many states, an increasing number of patients have turned to the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol for medication abortions. But mifepristone is facing a challenge to its long-standing Food and Drug Administration approval. At a virtual webinar sponsored by the Women in Law Section, panelists … Continued
The legal system needs to move away from its role as the primary treatment for people with mental illness, the New York State Bar Association recommends in a report. In the report, the Task Force on Mental Health and Trauma Informed Representation detailed the many ways that people in crisis end up entangled in the … Continued
The New York State Bar Association is recommending that the state’s town and village courts be consolidated into district courts and that non-lawyers no longer be allowed to serve as judges. “It is necessary for our legal system to be constantly re-evaluated,” said Richard Lewis, president of the New York State Bar Association. “We need … Continued