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
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
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 state Assembly voted on June 7 to repeal Judiciary Law Section 470, which requires lawyers admitted to practice in New York – but residing in other states – to have a law office in the state. The state Senate has already approved the bill, which now goes to Gov. Kathy Hochul for her signature. … Continued
The New York State Bar Association honored former Kings County Supreme Court Justice Sarah “Sallie” Krauss and William “Bill” Keenan for their commitment to the association’s Lawyer Assistance Program, which supports lawyers and legal staff dealing with mental illness and substance use issues. “Justice Sarah Krauss and William Keenan both embody the principles of the … 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 approved by its Executive Committee. In the report, the Task Force on Mental Health and Trauma Informed Representation detailed the many ways that people in crisis … Continued
Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about Chief Judge Rowan Wilson’s selection of Joseph Zayas, associate justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, as chief administrative judge: “Judge Joseph Zayas’ appointment to be New York’s next chief administrative judge is historic. He is the first Latino judge … Continued
Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about changes to the bail reform law: “The New York State Bar Association in principle opposes rollbacks of the 2019 bail reform law, which was intended to improve fairness in the criminal justice system – particularly for low-level, nonviolent offenders. … Continued
From left to right: CUNY School of Law Professor Natalie Gomez-Velez, President Sherry Levin Wallach, Judge Betty E. Staton, Committee on Civil Rights co-chairs Hanna Madbak and Michael Diederich Betty E. Staton, a former Family Court judge and president of Brooklyn Legal Services, received the Haywood Burns Memorial Award. She has dedicated her life to … Continued
Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about the state Senate’s confirmation of Caitlin Halligan as associate judge of the state Court of Appeals: “Caitlin Halligan is a gifted attorney with a tremendous breadth and depth of high-level litigation experience. Her ability to analyze issues and come … Continued