Good evening Members, Sad news for the legal community as Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Johnny Lee Baynes has died from complications of coronavirus, according to the state court system. Baynes, 64, passed away March 26 from pneumonia due to the coronavirus. “He was a long-standing, well-liked judge then justice,” Lucian Chalfen, spokesman for the Office … Continued

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Johnny Lee Baynes has died from complications of coronavirus, according to the state court system. Baynes, 64, passed away March 26 from pneumonia due to the coronavirus. “He was a long-standing, well-liked judge then justice,” Lucian Chalfen, spokesman for the Office of Court Administration, said in a statement. “He will be … Continued

A significant number of law students will spend the rest of the spring 2020 semester attending online classes from home, rather than in-person classes on campus, and participating in virtual study groups rather than face-to-face study sessions. While most of these students are likely comfortable with technology, they may not be familiar with the internet … Continued

Just one day after the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Task Force on the New York Bar Examination recommended that the postponed July bar exam be rescheduled for a date close to Labor Day, the Court of Appeals met and decided it agreed. In an announcement late Tuesday, the Court of Appeals said it … Continued

The New York State Court of Appeals decided today to seek to have the bar examination administered in early September shortly before or after Labor Day. This action comes one day after the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Task Force on the New York Bar Examination recommended that the postponed July bar exam be … Continued

Good evening Members, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore says the New York State Court System has been planning and implementing a statewide virtual court operation for essential and emergency cases and expects all of New York City’s courts to do so by the end of this week. By the end of next week, she expects all … Continued

Law firms are cutting jobs. Solo practitioners are struggling to keep afloat. The July bar exam has been postponed. And attorneys are figuring out how to work remotely, as New Yorkers and other Americans are told to stay home. This is the new reality as New York’s legal profession faces the coronavirus public health emergency, … Continued

On March 29, 2020, Governor Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.13 invoking new powers from a law passed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic to temporarily suspend or modify laws necessary to assist or aid in coping with a declared State disaster emergency. On March 3, 2020, the Governor signed into law legislation that expanded his … Continued

With news coming late last week that the New York Court of Appeals had canceled the July bar exam, NYSBA’s Task Force on the New York Bar Examination is recommending that it be rescheduled for a date as soon as possible around Labor Day – prior to the Jewish holidays at the end of September. … Continued

New York State Bar Association’s Attorney Well-Being Committee and Lawyer Assistance Program have launched a new program for attorneys who are struggling emotionally during these anxiety-inducing times. Lawyer to Lawyer Well-being Roundtable discussions are open to law students, attorneys, and judges across the state and take place every Thursday at 4 pm EST via Zoom … Continued