NYSBA President-Elect T. Andrew Brown says changing laws is not enough to eradicate centuries-long racial injustice in America, instead we need to change the way people think. “Elimination of bias and inequities really starts when people are young,” said Brown, who thinks black history should be taught in schools. “You have to teach racial tolerance … Continued

Good evening Members, The New York State Unified Court System announced that by tomorrow all courts outside New York City will be in phase three of a return to in-person operations. Yesterday, all courts in New York City began phase two. Courts in the Third Judicial District (Capital District area) and Ninth Judicial District (White … Continued

Good evening Members, Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks has issued a memorandum establishing procedures for addressing residential and commercial foreclosure proceedings. Marks said the procedures, which went into effect today, were “in light of continuing restrictions on the filing and prosecution of foreclosure matters in New York State arising during the course of the … Continued

Good evening Members, In her weekly briefing, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said that New York City will enter the second phase of reopening in their courthouses on Wednesday, June 24. She said that while there will be a measured increase in courthouse activity and staffing under phase two, the vast majority of non-essential matters will … Continued

Good evening Members, Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks issued a memorandum today establishing procedures for addressing residential and commercial eviction proceedings. Marks said the measures are a result of concerns “about the adverse public health consequences that may arise from a sudden high-volume influx of eviction matters, often involving unrepresented tenants (and unrepresented landlords … Continued

Good evening Members, The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance program portal to all eligible applicants experiencing economic impacts due to the coronavirus pandemic. The SBA previously shut down the portal in mid-April after funding was exhausted from the CARES Act. EIDL assistance can be … Continued

In the aftermath of the tragic murder of George Floyd while in the custody of the Minneapolis police, NYSBA’s Women in Law Section held a timely panel discussion on systemic racism and police reform. The distinguished panelists agreed that recent and ongoing criminal justice reforms are necessary but that the momentum must continue beyond legislative … Continued

Good evening Members, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks announced today that by tomorrow courts in every judicial district outside New York City will have begun phase two of a gradual return to in-person operations. Today, courts in the Third Judicial District encompassing Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schoharie, Sullivan and … Continued

The New York State Unified Court System on Tuesday announced an independent review of its policies and practices that address issues of racial bias. Chief Judge Janet DiFiore cited the tragic death of George Floyd as the impetus for this evaluation, and she named Jeh Johnson, currently a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & … Continued

Good afternoon Members, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has extended for another 30 days his executive order that temporarily tolls all statutes of limitations during the coronavirus public health crisis. The latest order extends through July 6. Cuomo’s order tolls “any specific time limit for the commencement, filing, or service of any legal action, notice, motion, or other … Continued