Prejudice Over Evidence As a law student passionate about advancing equity, the recent decisions in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina striking down affirmative action spark deep concern for the future of environmental advocacy and the broader legal field. Colleges have never shied away from using factors other than … Continued
This issue includes the essays that won the Professor William R. Ginsberg Memorial Essay Contest. The issue also includes a message from the section chair emphasizing the section’s mission to educate regarding environmental issues and to encourage engagement. The essay contest combines those two roles. It encourages law students to be involved, and the essays … Continued
Yvonne mentions in her chair’s message that she has chosen membership as her primary initiative during her term as EELS chair. She notes that EELS needs more government attorneys, more younger practitioners, and a more diverse membership. She describes an overarching goal of retaining and growing membership by delivering greater value. I hope the pages … Continued
I’d like to thank you all again for the privilege of leading our section this year. Hard to believe that three and a half years ago I was asked to join the section’s cabinet. I remember feeling honored and excited for the next four years. It had not been too long since the section added … Continued
I first met Walter Mugdan in 1978. I had just graduated from law school and was a junior associate at a (sadly now defunct) boutique environmental law firm then called Butzel & Kass (later known as Berle, Kass & Case). Walter was a junior lawyer for EPA, but already three years into what became a … Continued
On April 26, 2023, the Environmental and Energy Law Section of the New York State Bar Association held its Annual Legislative Forum. It was open to the public without charge and held virtually and in person, returning to the NYSBA headquarters for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. The successful event was well received … Continued
This edition of the Law Student Corner highlights students and their work at four law schools: NYU Law, Pace Haub Law, Albany Law School, and Cardozo School of Law. If you know any schools or students who would like to participate, please email [email protected]. Student Highlight Emma Dietz (3L, NYU) is a lifelong environmental activist … Continued
#52 Posted June 11, 2023 Facts on the Ground On June 7, the smoke from the wildfires in Eastern Canada rendered the air over New York City “hazardous” to breathe. It was the worst air quality in the world among major cities, worse than in Delhi, the infamous pollution capital where average life spans are … Continued
We are pleased in this issue to feature the first-place winners of the 2022 Professor William R. Ginsberg Memorial Essay Contest. In this 35th holding of the annual competition, two essays tied for first place. In addition to the first-place essays featured here, the committee awarded a second-place prize to MacKenzie Thurman (Columbia Law School, … Continued
This EPA Update covers U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) activities from approximately February 15, 2023 through July 1, 2023. The article doesn’t cover every single action taken by EPA during this time but attempts to summarize the highlights with a focus on EPA activities affecting New York. The EPA Update should be read cafeteria style: … Continued