Practice Area: Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights

President of New York State Bar Association Calls Judge Rowan Wilson’s Historic Confirmation a Significant Milestone

Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about the state Senate’s confirmation of Judge Rowan D. Wilson as chief judge of the Court of Appeals and the State of New York: “The historic appointment and confirmation of Judge Rowan D. Wilson as New York’s first African-American chief … Continued

Vivian Wesson on AI, Facial Recognition and the Law

Technology can both help and hurt in the cause of justice. In a fascinating conversation, Vivian Wesson shares with host David Miranda how artificial intelligence and facial recognition are being used in both criminal and civil law. Wesson says the technology can unearth biases when it cannot distinguish between races of people and lead to … Continued

New York State Bar Association Welcomes Revisions to The Bar Application, Urges Further Action To Encourage Diversity In The Legal Profession

Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement today about the New York State courts’ decision to amend Question 26 of the Character and Fitness examination of the New York State bar application: “We appreciate New York State’s courts acknowledgement of the chilling effect the previous Question 26 … Continued

New York State Bar Association Is Studying the Impact of Facial Recognition Software on Individual Freedom

The New York State Bar Association is examining the legal and ethical implications and the impact on personal freedom of corporations employing facial recognition software to ban their adversaries – and every lawyer who works for a firm that represents them — from entering sports and entertainment venues. The association’s Executive Committee on Wednesday launched … Continued

Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Honors Three Outstanding Attorneys During Annual Meeting

The New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion honored three outstanding attorneys during the association’s Annual Meeting  in New York City. Retired federal Judge Randolph Treece and Ross Moskowitz, a partner at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, received the John E. Higgins Diversity Trailblazer Award and Ronelle Porter was named the … Continued

NYSBA Calls ERA a Crucial Amendment to the State Constitution

Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about the state Legislature’s passage of the ERA: “The New York State Bar Association commends the state Legislature for deciding today to put the ERA, a crucial amendment to the state Constitution, before voters. The Equal Rights Amendment extends protections … Continued

In Accepting Gold Medal, Civil Rights Attorney Sherrilyn Ifill Implores New York State Bar Association Lawyers To Protect the ‘Boundaries of the Rule of Law’

Civil rights attorney Sherrilyn Ifill told 300 people gathered to see her receive the Gold Medal, the New York State Bar Association’s highest honor, that “it is our job to protect the boundaries of the rule of law in this country. And because you, we, are the New York State Bar, we have outsized influence … Continued

NYSBA Adopts Report Making Recommendations To Bring About Change to Long-Standing Racial Inequities

The New York State Bar Association is urging the state to establish a commission to study the harm done by slavery and consider possible remedies. The House of Delegates approved this recommendations and 12 others at the association’s Annual Meeting in New York City. The recommendations were contained in a 105-page report written by the association’s … Continued