The New York State Bar Association is recommending that the state’s town and village courts be consolidated into district courts and that non-lawyers no longer be allowed to serve as judges. “It is necessary for our legal system to be constantly re-evaluated,” said Richard Lewis, president of the New York State Bar Association. “We need … Continued
Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about Chief Judge Rowan Wilson’s selection of Joseph Zayas, associate justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, as chief administrative judge: “Judge Joseph Zayas’ appointment to be New York’s next chief administrative judge is historic. He is the first Latino judge … Continued
Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about the state Senate’s confirmation of Caitlin Halligan as associate judge of the state Court of Appeals: “Caitlin Halligan is a gifted attorney with a tremendous breadth and depth of high-level litigation experience. Her ability to analyze issues and come … Continued
A committee of legal experts has been given the responsibility of implementing recommendations that will improve the administration of justice in New York State’s courts in the wake of the pandemic, Acting Chief Judge Anthony Cannataro and Acting Chief Administrative Judge Tamiko Amaker announced today. Leaders from the courts, the bar, and the community have … Continued
Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about the separation of powers: “The New York State Bar Association is a staunch advocate for access to justice for all, adherence to the rule of law, and fairness of process. We also recognize that none of these worthy goals … Continued
Members of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee to Review Judicial Nominations are prepared to begin interviewing the nominees for chief judge that the Commission on Judicial Nomination submitted to Gov. Kathy Hochul today. The committee will schedule interviews of each candidate and give ratings of “well qualified, qualified, or not qualified.” President Sherry … Continued
The president of the New York State Bar Association has appointed a special committee to examine the selection of judges for the Court of Appeals. “The independence of the judiciary is crucial to the administration of justice,” said Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association. “The chief judge runs one of … Continued
The American Bar Association adopted a new policy spearheaded by the New York State Bar Association on the use of gender inclusive language in all court matters across the country. The resolution passed by a wide margin at the ABA meeting today in New Orleans. The policy, called a bench card, provides information and guidance … Continued
Implicit Bias. It’s an issue we discuss often, but what does it mean in the context of choosing a jury? The Criminal Justice Section held a panel during Annual Meeting to discuss how implicit bias should be handled during voir dire. With recent changes to jury instructions including a mandatory video presented to prospective jurors, … Continued
The New York State Bar Association Executive Committee today approved the appointment of a Special Committee on the Selection of Judges for the Court of Appeals in response to concerns raised in recent weeks over the appointment of a chief judge. The committee will examine the selection process, including its history, and make recommendations to … Continued