Over the course of writing this article, I had the honor of participating in a Sankofa ceremony commemorating a Black man who was lynched in the Adirondacks in 1932. His name is lost to history.[1] Rooted in cultural traditions from the Akan people of Ghana, Sankofa ceremonies emphasize the importance of reconnecting with the past … Continued
Kathy Suchocki, who has been key to the New York State Bar Association’s success for more than 20 years, has been appointed as the association’s new executive director, a post she has held on an interim basis since the end of 2025. She takes over for Pamela McDevitt who led the association for nine years … Continued
Good morning: We continue to celebrate our 150th anniversary and especially the recent gains in membership. Due to the hard work of so many people, we are reaping the benefits of the new membership model, realizing historic growth within our sections and a surge in overall membership. Membership in each section has grown by at … Continued
In my day-to-day work I meet a lot of attorneys who know they need to plan for their eventual retirement but just don’t have the time or resources to explore their options. Many come from backgrounds at larger firms with 401(k) plans and assume that because they now practice alone, they don’t have access to … Continued
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has dramatically increased arrests and deportations. The New York State Bar Association urges passage of legislation that will ensure that immigrants have lawyers to represent them in detention proceedings. On Saturday, the New York State Bar Association’s governing body, the House of Delegates, adopted a report from its Committee on Immigration … Continued
In honor of our 150th anniversary, we asked longtime, involved members for their recollections of the New York State Bar Association. Anthony Enea, past chair of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section, remembered the successful fight against a law that criminalized advising clients on transfers of assets to qualify for Medicaid, otherwise known as … Continued
Seth Rosner, chair of the Trial Lawyers Section, believes that the more involved you are with the New York State Bar Association the more valuable your membership becomes. “I didn’t realize how significant being an active member in the bar association could be until I got involved,” Rosner said. “We all have competing interests for … Continued
On Jan. 7, we marked 10 years since the passing of Judith S. Kaye, the first woman to serve on the New York Court of Appeals and to this day its longest-serving chief judge. During her lifetime, Judge Kaye was recognized and lauded for her brilliant legal mind and innovative executive skills and in death … Continued
On July 4, 2025, Congress enacted the Omnibus Budget and Balanced Budget Act – referred to colloquially as H.R. 1 – a comprehensive federal law that reshapes the financing and administration of Medicaid, state-directed payments, immigrant eligibility for public programs and the Affordable Care Act Marketplace.[1] The law marks the most significant restructuring of federal … Continued
In honor of our 150th anniversary, we asked longtime, involved members for their recollections of the New York State Bar Association. Oliver Young helps develop the case that is presented to the 4,000 high school students who participate in the New York State Bar Association’s Mock Trial Competition each year. One of his fondest memories … Continued