As COVID closed down the country, we received notice that the practice of law was, with some exceptions, not essential. We were told our practices were being shut down. I recall one attorney who told me how he had to hide in his office with the blinds drawn so not to be in violation of … Continued
Jeh Johnson, the former secretary of homeland security, will receive the New York State Bar Association’s Gold Medal Award, its highest honor, at the association’s Presidential Gala Jan. 18 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. “Jeh has been a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Richard Lewis, president of the … Continued
In March 2023, bank regulators closed Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and appointed the FDIC as liquidator. Signature Bank in particular provided banking services to many New York law firms and, therefore, held many attorney trust or escrow accounts. While most bank and credit union deposits benefit from federal insurance issued by the Federal … Continued
The report of the association’s Task Force on Advancing Diversity recommends colleges and graduate schools that want to achieve diversity should eliminate the preferential treatment in admissions given to athletes, the children of alumni and the family of donors. The report also recommends moving away from standardized tests and grade point averages and focusing … Continued
New York State Bar Association President Richard Lewis issued the following statement about Dennis W.H. Kwok: Recently, the Hong Kong government issued an arrest warrant and a bounty of HK$1,000,000 (about US$127,500) for Dennis W.H. Kwok, a Hong Kong barrister, accusing him of committing an offense under Hong Kong’s draconian National Security Law for “collusion … Continued
In late September, after months of negotiation between state governors and President Joe Biden, the United States will grant temporary deportation relief and access to work permits to Venezuelan migrants already in the country. Nearly half a million migrants who arrived here before July 31 will be eligible for temporary protected status for 18 months. … Continued
Kapil Longani is senior vice chancellor for legal affairs and general counsel for the State University of New York, which is comprised of 64 campuses across New York State. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association Task Force on Advancing Diversity. Longani recently published an essay on the decision by his … Continued
In 2015, 19-year-old Alecia Faith Pennington gained viral internet fame as “The Girl Who Doesn’t Exist.”[1] Alecia was home-birthed and raised in Texas. Her parents never secured her a birth certificate or Social Security number, never enrolled her in school and never took her to a hospital.[2] Without these vital records, Alecia could not get … Continued
Co-Chairs Brad Karp, Jeh Johnson and Loretta Lynch with President Richard Lewis and members of the Task Force on Advancing Diversity. Photo credit: David Handschuh/OCA In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, colleges and graduate schools that want to achieve diversity should eliminate the preferential treatment in admissions given to … Continued
A dozen representatives of civil legal service organizations, family court, and advocacy groups testified before a panel at the Court of Appeals in Albany led by Chief Judge Rowan Wilson. Panelists included Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas, Presiding Justice Gerald Whalen (Fourth Department), Presiding Justice Hector LaSalle (Second Department), Presiding Justice Dianne Renwick (First Department) … Continued