New York City Bar

Meticulous Nazi records of Jews killed in the death camps identify fewer than half of the Holocaust's victims. When, where and how were the other victims killed? Father Patrick Desbois, a French Roman Catholic priest, has sought and found the answer to this question. As a young priest, Father Desbois visited a town in Ukraine where his grandfather, a French Resistance fighter, had been incarcerated by the Nazis. By speaking with village elders, he learned of the process by which the town's Jews had been rounded up, executed and buried in mass graves. His research established that this process had been repeated thousands of times throughout Eastern Europe. Father Desbois discussed his research and the continued effort to uncover genocidal practices around the world, in this Public Affairs Luncheon on February 12, 2019. Speaker: Father Patrick Desbois has devoted his life to the study of the Holocaust and other genocides. He is a founder of Yahad – in Unum (“Together in One”), a global NGO dedicated to discove

On a daily basis, family and criminal courts depend on mandated domestic violence services for resolving cases of intimate partner violence. Thousands of defendants and respondents in our city are required to complete these services in order to have visits with their children or get back in their homes. Yet there is little evidence of the effectiveness of existing services and there continues to be a reliance on outdated services such as Batterers Accountability programs. New York City policymakers have been examining this issue and have developed a Blueprint for Abusive Partner Intervention. A report published in 2018, “Seeding Generations: New Strategies Towards Services for People who Abuse,” took a comprehensive look at this issue and the need for a new model of services. The report acknowledges that services to families also need to consider the trauma that those who harm have been through. This panel on January 17, 2019 served as an opportunity for policymakers to have a dialogue with family court and c

On December 6, 2018, Juan Williams, the political analyst for Fox News, bestselling author, and civil rights expert addressed the Trump administration’s sweeping rollback of the civil rights movement at the City Bar's Public Affairs Luncheon. Donald Trump’s campaign pitch to African Americans was: “What the hell do you have to lose?” According to Juan, the answer is: Quite a lot, as it turns out. He believes that the Trump administration’s policies and intentions pose a threat to civil rights without precedent in modern America. Based on his observations of the current state of politics and race relations with insights from the long, and sometimes forgotten, history of the civil rights movement, as Juan asserts in his new book, knowing our past is essential if we are to understand our present, and shape our future. Speaker: Juan Williams has covered and written about American politics for four decades. He is currently a columnist for The Hill, and was a longtime writer and correspondent for The Washington P

On December 3, 2018, experts discussed the legal issues relating to the First Amendment and freedom of speech. Topics included the scope and limits of First Amendment protection for certain types of speech, whether by news and media outlets, on school campuses, via social media, or as part of public protests. The program covered the current state of the law and recent developments. With an eye toward contributing to the public understanding of this complex area of law, it focused on the legal issues and on identifying and addressing the areas where legal line-drawing either is fairly easy or remains difficult and uncertain. Opening Remarks: Roger Juan Maldonado, President, New York City Bar Association Panel: Alex Abdo, Senior Staff Attorney, Knight First Amendment Institute Floyd Abrams, Senior Counsel, Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP Daniel J. Kornstein, Partner, Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady LLP Carmelyn P. Malalis, Chair & Commissioner, NYC Commission on Human Rights Nadine Strossen, John Marshall H

The presidential election first scheduled for 2016 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and then for 2017 never took place. The election is now scheduled to take place on December 23, 2018. The Prime Minister has said that President Kabila will not run again, and he will abide by the constitutional limits. The delayed elections spurred anti-Kabila marches and protests, led by laity of the Catholic Church and youth activists. The government has cracked down on this opposition, harassing, arbitrarily arresting, detaining, injuring, and killing protestors. Many still remain in detention despite increasing health problems. The panelists examined the way forward for the DRC and the role opposition leaders, youth activists, the Catholic Church, and duly-elected officials can play in strengthening civil society. Speakers: H.E. Ambassador François Nkuna Balumuene, The Democratic Republic of the Congo Ambassador to the United States--Invited Tatiana Carayannis, Director of the Social Science

Focused on New York City’s schools grades K-8, panelists on November 8, 2018 discussed the history of school segregation and integration efforts; diversity pilots and plans; school admission screens, G&T programs, and their potential for desegregation; accountability, legal constraints, and best practices. Whether you are an education advocate, parent, practitioner, public official, student, or concerned citizen, this exciting and thought-provoking conversation is packed with information you will want to know. Speakers: Matthew Gonzales, Director, School Diversity Project, New York Appleseed Richard D. Kahlenberg, Senior Fellow, The Century Foundation Brad Lander, Member, New York City Council Emmy Liss, Chief of Staff, Div. of Early Childhood Educ. & Student Enrollment, NYCDOE Dennis D. Parker, Director, Racial Justice Program, ACLU Moderator: Clara Hemphill, Founder and Editor, InsideSchools

Re-legalization of cannabis for general adult use in New York City has never been closer, but how ready is the most populous metropolitan area in the United States - and the country’s largest urban cannabis market for commercial manufacture, delivery, home cultivation and over-the-counter sale of cannabis? On November 1, 2018, the City Bar’s Drugs & the Law Committee held a panel discussion examining the legal and policy changes that will be necessary in order to make a safe and orderly transition from a criminal market to a viable regulated market. Speakers: Axel Bernabe, Assistant Counsel, Governor Cuomo for Health Steven Epstein, Founding Partner, Barket, Epstein, and Kearon LLP Jerome Levy, Partner, Duane Morris Joseph Levey, Founding Partner, Helbraun & Levey Donovan Richards, New York City Council Member Preston Niblack, New York City Deputy Comptroller for Budget Moderator: Kristin Jordan, Chair, Cannabis Practice Group, Newman Ferrara LLP

On October 22, 2018, the City Bar’s Labor & Employment Law Committee held a program on how the evolving treatment of marijuana under the law affects the workplace. Learn how legalization of medical and recreational marijuana affect rights and obligations under the ADA, FLMA, and more. Speakers: George Schwab, Kraus & Zuchlewski LLP Anne Dana, Seyfarth Shaw LLP Jay Jaffe, 1199 SEIU Moderator: Hanan Kolko, Meyer Suozzi English & Klein P.C. Sponsoring Committee: Labor & Employment Committee, Katherine Greenberg, Chair

In 1994, the UN Commission on Human Rights noted the increasing frequency of attacks on the independence of judges, lawyers, and court officials as well as the link which exists between the weakening of safeguards for these officials and human rights violations. In response, the Commission appointed a Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers to investigate and report on these attacks. The current Special Rapporteur, Professor Diego García-Sayán discussed his current role and work with attendees. This work includes his yearly report to the United Nations, examinations into judicial corruption, ideas on current international legal standards, efforts to update those standards so that they remain applicable in the face of new challenges to the legal and judicial professions, as well as both oversight and enforcement mechanisms. Panel: Diego Garcia-Sayan, UN Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges Lawyers William A. Wilson III, Chair of the Task Force on the Independence of Lawyers and Judg

Pet food is a multibillion-dollar industry and has a significant impact on our current food system. Many humans consider themselves to be “pet parents” or “pet guardians” instead of “pet owners” which may have contributed to the growth in this industry. This program reviewed federal, state and local authority to regulate pet food and the relevant statutes. The program also discussed what information is mandatory on pet food labels and whether this information is meaningful to consumers. The program also focused on recent marketing trends in the pet food industry, such as holistic, natural, and organic pet foods, and what these terms even mean in the pet food context. Recent pet food recalls, including the 2007 melamine scandal, and the impact of failures in pet food regulation on human health was also discussed. Panel: Ellen Fried, Adjunct Professor, NYU Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Mary Alestra, Assistant Attorney General, Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau, NYS Attorney General’s Office Mo

Jeh Johnson served as Secretary of Homeland Security from December 2013 to January 2017. Secretary Johnson was responsible for the federal government’s response to many of our nation’s most pressing issues, including immigration; cybersecurity; Russian interference in the election; counterterrorism; natural disasters; nuclear, chemical and biological threats; and the protection of critical infrastructure and the nation’s leadership. At the City Bar's Public Affairs Luncheon on October 9, 2018, Secretary Johnson reflected on his leadership experiences and shed light on the latest headlines.

On October 4, 2018, the New York City Bar Association presented Honorary Membership to Loretta Lynch, former U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Roger Juan Maldonado, the City Bar's President, gave welcome remarks and Hon. Kiyo A. Matsumoto, United States District Court Judge, Eastern District of New York, and Chair, Honors Committee, introduced Loretta Lynch and presented her with the award.

In New York City, there are hundreds of men and women on the sex offender registry who are subject to the Sexual Assault Reform Act (SARA) residency restriction, which prevents them from living within 1,000 feet of a school. This little-known restriction has created enormous constitutional problems. Because our densely-populated city contains virtually no residences that comply with this restriction, prisons are holding these people past the length of their prison sentences if there is no SARA-compliant housing available – a time period that usually extends longer than a year. This event on September 11, 2018 addressed the history and policy behind the residency restriction, the impact of SARA on people who have committed sex offenses, and the legal challenges being made on behalf of people affected by SARA. Panelists: Michael Burke, Hodges Walsh Messemer & Burke, LLP Bill Dobbs, Publisher, Dobbs Wire, newsletter about sex offense law and policy; Advisor, Sex Offense Litigation and Policy Resource Center at

On September 4, 2018, the New York City Bar Association and the New York Law Journal co-hosted an "Evening with the Candidates" Forum for the Democratic Attorney General Primary Candidates. The candidates covered a wide range of issues, from immigration and ICE in the courts, corruption, and consumer protection, to criminal justice reform, health care, and income inequality. From left: Roger Juan Maldonado (Moderator), President, New York City Bar Association; Candidates: Leecia Eve, Vice President, Government Affairs, Verizon; Letitia James, New York City Public Advocate; Sean Patrick Maloney, U.S. Representative for New York's 18th Congressional District; and Zephyr Teachout, Associate Professor of Law, Fordham University; Susan DeSantis (Moderator), Deputy Editor-in-Chief, New York Law Journal.

City Bar Senior Policy Counsel Maria Cilenti speaks with Jen Kim, Co-Director of the Immigrant Justice Project at the City Bar Justice Center, and Caitlin Miner-Le Grand, the City Bar Justice Center’s Fragomen Fellow about immigration and the border.

Part 3: Challenges and Strategies for Low-Wage and Immigrant Workers in Reporting Harassment - Where Criminal, Administrative, and Regulatory Remedies Intersect Sexual Harassment & the Law: A Call to Action for Lawyers in the Era of #MeToo Speakers: Danielle Alvarado, Daniela Contreras, Rebecca Nathanson, Hon. Laura Safer Espinoza, Marrisa Senteno, Cristina Velez Topics: Sexual harassment in agricultural work and how to prevent What does sexual harassment look like in domestic workplaces and what rights do domestic workers have that differ from workers in other settings? What is a U visa and how may someone who has been a victim of workplace sexual harassment be eligible? Explanation of anti-retaliation provisions under New York State wage and hour law, and NYDOL’s U visa certification policy. ------------------------------- This program provided a morning plenary addressing the changing legal landscape in the wake of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements and a luncheon discussion around sexual harassment wit

Part 2: Jurisdiction in Sexual Harassment- Where Criminal, Administrative, and Regulatory Remedies Intersect Sexual Harassment & the Law: A Call to Action for Lawyers in the Era of #MeToo Panel: Christin Damiano, A.D.A. Jennifer Gaffney, Hollis V. Pfitsch, Council Member Keith Powers, Electra Yourke Questions: How should a victim of sexual harassment choose where to report? When sexual harassment is severe, it may violate criminal law, such as sexual abuse, forcible touching, and unlawful surveillance. What constitutes a violation of the NYC Human Rights Law with regards to sexual harassment in the workplace. When and how can a victim of sexual harassment report to the EEOC, and what does that process look like? Explanation of recent legislation passed by NY City Council to expand statute of limitation and jurisdiction for sexual harassment complainants. ------------------------------- This program provided a morning plenary addressing the changing legal landscape in the wake of the #MeToo and Time’s Up mo

Part 1: Introduction And Morning Plenary Sexual Harassment & the Law: A Call to Action for Lawyers in the Era of #MeToo Introduction: Roger Juan Maldonado, President, New York City Bar Association Speakers: Commissioner Carmelyn Malalis, S. Jeanine Conley, Carrie Goldberg, Andrea Johnson, Cynthia Lowen, LaDonna Powell, Elizabeth Saylor ------------------------------- This program provided a morning plenary addressing the changing legal landscape in the wake of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements and a luncheon discussion around sexual harassment within the legal profession. In addition, break-out CLE sessions covered: An Overview of Employer Best Practices for Investigating, Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Challenges and Strategies for Low-Wage and Immigrant Workers in Reporting Harassment #MeTooAcademia: Special Considerations When Litigating Employment Discrimination Cases on Campus Jurisdiction in Sexual Harassment: Where Criminal, Administrative, and Regulatory Remedies Inte

This panel features a discussion of three developments in federal social welfare policy under the Trump administration: (1) work requirements imposed on SNAP recipients; (2) work requirements imposed on Medicaid recipients; and (3) anticipated regulatory changes to “public charge,” which would prevent non-citizens from obtaining Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status for using (or their U.S. Citizen dependents using) a broad range of government benefits and services, many of which function as work supports for low-wage workers, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and subsidized health insurance. The panel examines these reforms in the historical context of welfare reform, including its emphasis on work requirements and the exclusion of immigrants, look at the recent Executive Order and legislative proposals on work rules and discuss strategies for addressing the changes, including litigation. Speakers: Jamila Michener, Assistant Professor, Department of Government, Cornell University David A. Super, Profes

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein gives the keynote address at the New York City Bar Association’s 7th Annual White Collar Crime Institute on May 9, 2018.