Task Force on the U.S. Territories

Mission Statement

The Task Force on the U.S. Territories shall evaluate and study judicial decisions and common law, including the Insular Cases, affecting the individual rights and liberties of the people of the U.S. Territories. The Task Force shall review the impact of these laws and policy on citizenship and racism in the United States, with a focus on the relationship of the territories and their people with the federal government. The Task Force will address the need for briefing advocacy and education around these issues, which includes a form of second-class citizenship for residents of the territories that limits political representation and results in unequal treatment. The Task Force will also focus on the limitations imposed on opportunities for legal education of the residents of the U.S. Territories.

On-Demand CLE Programs

An Argument Against Second Class Citizenship in the U.S. Territories: A Movement for Equality and Overturning the Insular Cases
https://nysba.org/products/diversity-symposium-awards/

America Has a Colonies Problem: Constitutional Rights and U.S. Territories (Free)
https://nysba.org/products/america-has-a-colonies-problem-constitutional-rights-and-u-s-territories/

2022 Constance Baker Motley Symposium – What do the Insular Cases, Voter Suppression Efforts and the Anti-CRT Movement Have in Common? (Free)
https://nysba.org/products/am2022-constance-baker-motley-symposium/

How You Can Lose Your Rights as an American Citizen
Part 1 – https://nysba.org/products/how-you-can-lose-your-rights-as-an-american-citizen-part-1/
Part 2 – https://nysba.org/products/how-you-can-lose-your-rights-as-an-american-citizen-part-2/
Part 3 – https://nysba.org/products/how-you-can-lose-your-rights-as-an-american-citizen-part-3/

Press Releases and Articles

“NYSBA Signs Memorandum of Understanding With Bar Association of Puerto Rico” November 10, 2022 – https://nysba.org/nysba-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-bar-association-of-puerto-rico/

“New York State Bar Association Calls for Equal Treatment for People Who Live in U.S. Territories” November 5, 2022 – https://nysba.org/new-york-state-bar-association-calls-for-equal-treatment-for-people-who-live-in-u-s-territories/

“U.S. Supreme Court Fails to Grant Certiorari in Fitisemanu v. United States” October 17, 2022 – https://nysba.org/u-s-supreme-court-fails-to-grant-certiorari-in-fitisemanu-v-united-states/

“New York State Bar Association Disappointed by Department of Justice’s Position on Equal Rights for Residents of the U.S. Territories” August 30, 2022 – https://nysba.org/new-york-state-bar-association-disappointed-by-department-of-justices-position-on-equal-rights-for-residents-of-u-s-territories/

“New York State Bar Association Urges Department of Justice to Support Equal Rights for Residents of U.S. Territories” August 24, 2022 – https://nysba.org/new-york-state-bar-association-urges-department-of-justice-to-support-equal-rights-for-residents-of-u-s-territories/

“American Bar Association Approves New York State Bar Association-Sponsored Resolutions on Guns, War Crimes, Legal Ethics and U.S. Territories” August 9, 2022— https://nysba.org/american-bar-association-approves-new-york-state-bar-association-sponsored-resolutions-on-guns-war-crimes-legal-ethics-and-u-s-territories/

“NYSBA Acts on Unjust Insular Cases Ahead of Possible Supreme Court Review” July 7, 2022 –
https://nysba.org/nysba-acts-on-unjust-insular-cases-ahead-of-possible-supreme-court-review/

“NYSBA Signs Agreement With Virgin Islands Bar Association Following International Conference in NYC” June 24, 2022 – https://nysba.org/international-conference-in-new-york-city-to-begin-today-nysba-to-sign-agreement-with-virgin-islands-bar-association-on-friday/

“NYSBA President Sherry Levin Wallach Outlines Goals in Miranda Warnings Podcast” June 1, 2022 — https://nysba.org/nysba-president-sherry-levin-wallach-outlines-goals-in-miranda-warnings-podcast/

“What U.S. v. Vaello-Madero and the Insular Cases Can Teach About Anti-CRT Campaigns” February 14, 2022 — https://nysba.org/what-u-s-v-vaello-madero-and-the-insular-cases-can-teach-about-anti-crt-campaigns/

“Puerto Rico’s ‘Insular Cases’” January 21, 2022 — https://nysba.org/why-ny-court-of-appeals-judge-jenny-rivera-has-a-keen-interest-in-the-outcome-of-one-of-puerto-ricos-insular-cases/