Dear Members,

As courts and the legal profession respond to the unprecedented challenges presented by the Coronavirus, it’s imperative our members have real time access to the latest information. To meet this need, we are collecting in one place, important notices and announcements from state and federal courts, the governor’s office, legislative officials, and public health authorities.

Our coronavirus webpage is a comprehensive virtual information center, featuring all the latest articles, memos, links and directives. We will alert you to the latest developments on social media and in our eblasts to make sure you don’t miss any updates. In addition, we are planning a series of topical and informative webinars over the next several days.

In collaboration with the Office of Court Administration, we are updating and reissuing a comprehensive book on the state’s public health laws, entitled: “New York State Public Health Legal Manual: A Guide for Judges, Attorneys and Public Health Professionals.” The book examines the law governing the containment of communicable diseases – including pandemics like the one we now face.

In order to educate the public about these critical issues, State Bar leaders are serving as expert resources for media outlets, including online, radio, print and TV. Our goal is to keep our members, the legal community and the general public as well informed as we can. Only when we are armed with accurate and timely information can we make smart decisions that will best prepare us to represent our clients, serve our communities and do the public good.

We appreciate your support as we strive to be your indispensable resource in this crisis.