Category: News Releases

January 23, 2018 – New York Federal Judge Honored by State Bar Association for Enhancement of Diversity in the Profession

The Honorable Lisa Margaret Smith, United States magistrate judge for the Southern District of New York, is the 2018 recipient of the Kay Crawford Murray Award presented by the Committee on Women in the Law of the New York State Bar Association. “Judge Smith’s contributions as a jurist, coupled with her commitment to mentoring and … Continued

January 18, 2018: Mass Incarceration of People of Color, Cannabis Law, Impacts of New Federal Tax Law, Legal Issues Relating to Severe Storm Damage, Much More on State Bar’s Annual Meeting Agenda

The New York State Bar Association’s (NYSBA) 141st Annual Meeting in New York City January 22 through 26 will include programs on mass incarceration of people of color, cannabis law, professional and business development for women attorneys, the impact of electronic communications on attorney-client relationships, new federal tax law, effects of federal policy on public … Continued

January 2, 2018: New York State Bar Association Praises Appointment of Elizabeth Garry and Alan Scheinkman as Presiding Justices

New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) President Sharon Stern Gerstman today lauded the appointments of the Honorable Alan D. Scheinkman as presiding justice of the Appellate Division for the Second Judicial Department and the Honorable Elizabeth A. Garry as presiding justice for the Appellate Division for the Third Judicial Department. “Justices Garry and Scheinkman bring … Continued

December 5, 2017: New York State Bar Association Creates New Committees to Examine Cannabis and Transportation Law

To address two areas of the law that are continuously evolving, the New York State Bar Association has created new committees to study cannabis and transportation law. Believing there was a void for lawyers to share developments in cannabis law with their peers, the State Bar’s Executive Committee established a Committee on Cannabis Law. The … Continued

December 1, 2017: New York State Bar Association Urges Adequate Funding of Courts to Ensure Justice Throughout State

New York State Bar Association President Sharon Stern Gerstman today urged for the continuation of adequate funding of the state court system to ensure access to justice for all New Yorkers. “We continue to emphasize that the Judiciary is the co-equal third branch of government. While we do not expect that funding for the courts … Continued

November 9, 2017: State Bar Supports Two Groundbreaking Recommendations Regarding Online Forms, NY Trust Code

The New York State Bar Association has approved two groundbreaking reports with recommendations that, if adopted by the Legislature, “will help protect consumers who use online legal documents and will simplify, modernize and update New York’s trust law,” announced Association President Sharon Stern Gerstman of Buffalo (Magavern, Magavern and Grimm LLP). Regulation of online legal … Continued

November 7, 2017: State Bar Association Adopts Report On Gender Disparity In The Courtroom, Commemorates Women’s Suffrage Centennial

The New York State Bar Association’s House of Delegates has approved a report that determined women attorneys remain considerably underrepresented in courtrooms across the state as well as in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). The report entitled “If Not Now, When? Achieving Equality for Women Attorneys in the Courtroom and in ADR,” was compiled by the … Continued

November 3, 2017: New York State Bar Association Urges ‘Yes’ Vote on Constitutional Convention

The New York State Bar Association joins the entire nation and legal community in mourning the victims of the Las Vegas shooting. “We extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to everyone whose lives have been devastated by this despicable act of violence,” said State Bar President Sharon Stern Gerstman. “It is time to seriously consider … Continued

October 19, 2017: NYS Bar Responds to Proposed Judicial Case Completion Deadlines, Urges Statutory Right to Counsel for Immigrants

New York State Bar Association President Sharon Stern Gerstman today released the following statement in response to Trump Administration-proposed case completion deadlines and quotas on immigration judges. Gerstman also urged legislative reform and a statutory right to counsel for immigrants facing legal issues: “The New York State Bar Association has long supported judicial independence as … Continued