Albany Law School Podcast

The DEI office is crucial to Albany Law School as we look to welcome and support students of all races, cultures, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. The work this team has done and continues to do is inspiring as we commit to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for our ever growing student population.

We welcome two members of The Albany Law School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team as we discuss DEI initiatives on campus like our 3rd annual Diversity Week! Assistant Director of Diversity and Inclusion Bria Barnes and the Coordinator of Student Programs, Owen Collier.

Instagram: albanylaw_dei

Email: bbarn@albanylaw.edu

On March 27, Albany Law School celebrated the 30th Anniversary of Kate Stoneman Day! This tradition celebrates women in the law in honor of the law school’s first female graduate, Kate Stoneman, Class of 1898. Albany Law School's prestigious Stoneman Awards are presented to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to seeking change and expanding opportunities for women within the legal profession. Albany Law School’s Kate Stoneman Honorary Committee is proud to honor Verna L. Williams the CEO of Equal Justice Works, with this year’s Miriam M. Netter '72 Kate Stoneman Award. Additionally, The Honorable Llinét Beltré Rosado ’97—NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, and advocate for women and girls to pursue legal careers as well as Prof. Laurie Shanks, emeriti professor at Albany Law School and luminary in the field of criminal defense. Prof. Laurie Shanks - 14:11 The Honorable Llinét Beltré Rosado ’97 - 32:17 Verna L. Williams the CEO of Equal Justice Works - 50:15

The Government Law Center at Albany Law School hosted the third and final program in the series, Transcending Gender, Sex, and the Law, on December 7, 2023. In this program, panelist discussed the future of legal rights and protections for transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex (TGNCI) people in New York State, including potential statutory reforms, regulatory reforms, and litigation that may impact rights and protections. Panelists also discussed lessons learned from other states and the role of New York State government and the broader legal community in upholding legal for TGNCI people.

Participants:

Prof. Ava Ayers (moderator) – Albany Law School

Allie Bohm – New York Civil Liberties Union

Shain Filcher – LGBT Bar Association of Greater NY

Faris Ilyas – The NEW Pride Agenda

Melissa Sklarz – Equality New York

Hon. Seth M. Marnin (closing remarks) – New York State Court of Claims

This series was presented with support from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Albany Law School.

Legal experts and government officials discussed the possibilities and challenges of implementing statewide sustainable development initiatives at the municipal level during the annual Edwin L. Crawford Program on Municipal Law at Albany Law School on Friday, November 17, 2023. The program, hosted by the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, examined how state initiatives impact local governments, the role of local governments in implementing them, existing sustainability initiatives in municipalities across the state, and the future of local action around sustainable development.

The program included a keynote address by Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Two panel discussions addressed the role of local government in building decarbonization and investing in renewable energy, respectively.

Panelists included:

• Elizabeth Bough Martin — Mayor of the Village of Chittenango, New York

• Susanne DesRoches — Vice President, Clean and Resilient Buildings, NYSERDA

• Malak Nassereddine — Senior Manager, New York Utility and Regulatory Policy, Building Decarbonization Coalition

• Niki Armacost — Mayor of the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, New York

• Anthony Fiore — Chief Program Officer, NYSERDA

• Madison Hertzog — New York City Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice

Panel moderators included:

• Prof. Keith Hirokawa — Distinguished Professor of Law, Albany Law School

• Javid Afzali ’12 — Partner, Harris Beach, PLLC

The Government Law Center at Albany Law School hosted the second of three programs in the series, Transcending Gender, Sex, and the Law, on November 9, 2023. In this program, panelists discussed some of the many challenges that transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex youth and families encounter in New York State, the myriad ways in which the legal community, advocacy groups, and state government have worked to address these challenges, and remaining needs of TGNCI youth and families. Topics discussed include health care decision making and informed consent for minors, access to education free from discrimination and harassment, name and gender-marker changes on identity documents, custody issues involving parents of transgender youth, and more.

Participants:

Bria Brown-King – interACT Advocates for Youth

Lisa Campo-Engelstein – Institute for Bioethics & Health Humanities, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Julius Faulkner – In Our Own Voices

Bobby Hodgson – New York Civil Liberties Union

Joe Williams ’15 – Copps DiPaola Silverman

Mary Ann Krisa, II, ’19 (moderator) – New York State Unified Court System, Appellate Division, Fourth Department

Jane M. Spinak, the Edward Ross Aranow Clinical Professor Emerita of Law at Columbia Law School delivered the 9th annual Katheryn D. Katz ’70 Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.

Professor Spinak is a renowned advocate for children’s welfare, family rights and juvenile justice. She presented the lecture titled The End of Family Court.

The Government Law Center at Albany Law School hosted the first of three programs in the series, Transcending Gender, Sex, and the Law, on October 26, 2023. In this program, panelists discussed some of the many challenges that transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex adults encounter in New York State, the myriad ways in which the legal community, advocacy groups, and state government have worked to address these challenges, and potential strategies for the future.

Participants:

Jillian T. Weiss, Esq. – Law Office of Jillian T. Weiss

Kym Dorsey – S.T.Y.L.E. (Self Turnaround Your Living Environment) and Gender Equality New York

Ezra Cukor – Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund

Charlie Arrowood – Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission of the New York Courts and Gender Equality New York

Dena DeFazio ’18 – Barclay Damon and New York State Bar Association, Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Chel Miller (moderator) – Government Law Center at Albany Law School

In honor of Domestic Violence Month, the Government Law Center and Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Albany Law School and community partners co-hosted “Cultural Responsiveness in Domestic Violence Services.” Panelists discussed the role of culture in violence prevention, how victims experience abuse in culturally specific ways, and strategies to practice cultural responsiveness and cultural humility in domestic violence services. Participants: Norina Melita, Esq., as emcee Prof. Jaya Connors, Director of the Field Placement Clinic at Albany Law School, former Director of the Family Violence Litigation Clinic Somaia Sharif Zada, Afghan attorney refugee, part of the Unified Court System’s Judges for Career Opportunities for Refugees (J-COR) program Demekia Santana, Advocate and Assistant Program Director, Catholic Charities of Fulton & Montgomery Counties, Montgomery County Domestic Violence & Crime Victim Services Anna Breitegger ’24, J.D. Candidate and Co-Chair of the Women’s Law Caucus at Albany Law School Hon. Lisa M. Fisher, Justice of the Appellate Division, Third Department, as moderator Elizabeth Cronin, Esq., Director of the NYS Office for Victim Services Lindsey Crusan-Muse, Director of St. Peter’s Crime Victim Services for St. Peter’s Health Partners Remla Parthasarathy, Managing Attorney for Crime Victims at Empire Justice Center and Project Leader for the Crime Victims Legal Network William Rivera, Crisis Intervention Director for Opportunities for Otsego, as moderator Keri Boedigheimer, Rensselaer County Domestic Violence Courts Resource Coordinator Hon. Esther M. Morgenstern, Justice of the Supreme Court, Kings County, National Mentor Court for IDV Hon. Brian D. Burns, Justice of the Supreme Court, Otsego County IDV Hon. Rebecca A. Slezak, Justice of the Supreme Court, Montgomery County IDV, as moderator Partners/Presented By: Montgomery County Bar Association Women’s Leadership Initiative at Albany Law School Women’s Law Caucus at Albany Law School Government Law Center at Albany Law School Third Judicial District Gender Fairness Committee Fourth Judicial District Gender Fairness Committee National Association of Women Judges, New York Chapter New York State Bar Association, Women in Law Section The Capital District Women’s Bar Association Capital District Black and Hispanic Bar Association Albany County Bar Association Adirondack Women’s Bar Association Schenectady County Bar Association Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York The Legal Project Vella Carbone & Vinson, LLP Copps DiPaola Silverman, PLLC

The Albany Law Review and Government Law Center at Albany Law School hosted a panel discussion exploring judicial selection methods for state high courts employed across the nation. Panelists discussed how judicial selection methods can affect judicial independence, accountability, diversity, and public confidence. Panelists also discussed issues that can arise during the selection process and potential solutions to address these issues. The panel took place via Zoom on October 10, 2023.

Participants:

Hon. Leslie E. Stein (ret.) ’81 (moderator) — Director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School and former Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals

John F. Kowal — Vice President of Program Initiatives at the Brennan Center for Justice

Prof. Chad Oldfather — Professor of Law at Marquette University Law School

Prof. Noah Rosenblum — Assistant Professor of Law at the New York University School of Law

David J. Sachar — Director of the Center for Judicial Ethics at the National Center for State Courts

Marie-Therese Witte ‘24 is leading the oldest student-led law review in the nation. As you might imagine, the Albany Law Review has quite an interesting history. When it began, it also served as a news source for campus happenings and updates. It was decades before the internet, after all.

Witte, a former Latin and Spanish teacher, is grateful to be part of the community as a non-traditional student and is taking advantage of many aspects of the student experience.

The Albany Law Review is a quarterly law review edited by students at Albany Law School. The Albany Law Review is one of three student-edited law journals published by the school.

Albany Law Review: https://www.albanylawreview.org/

Demystifying the Bluebook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46hLTq2jYLc

Albany Law School's 19th President and Dean, Cinnamon P. Carlarne, highlighted Reunion 2023 with her first State of the School address on Friday, September 29.

"Albany Law School is stronger than ever and poised to continue building on its existing strengths. I am proud and honored to get to be a part of this community," she said.

The speech focused on law school's achievements over the past 12 months including 52,000+ hours of pro bono work by students, the school's top national ranking in preparing Government leaders, record alumni giving and engagement, and the institution's first steps in adopting a new strategic plan.

Presented by the National Alumni Association, and celebrating alumni and friends for their dedication to Albany Law School.

The 2023 Honorees are:

Distinguished Alumni Award

Robert L. Capers ’96

Donald D. DeAngelis ’60 Excellence in Alumni Service Award

William W. Pulos ’80

Outstanding Young Alumni Award

Mara D. Afzali ’17

Humanitarian Achievement Award

Peter J. Glennon, Esq. ’04

Trustees’ Gold Medal

Prof. Patricia Reyhan

More here: https://www.albanylaw.edu/news/2023-grand-honors-recipients-announced

Max Sevor is not only leading SBA as its new Executive President, but he is engaged on Albany Law Review and in the GLC Fellows program! Meet him on this week’s podcast.

Albany Law School Student Bar Association: https://albanylawsba.org/

2023 Barrister's Ball: https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanylaw/albums/72177720307770256

Albany Law School Student Organizations: https://www.albanylaw.edu/student-experience-support/student-organizations

Class of 2023 Farewell Party: https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanylaw/albums/72177720308492594

Therapy Dogs at Albany Law: https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanylaw/albums/72177720307320426

Court of Appeals Visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanylaw/albums/72177720307654957

NYS Capitol Visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanylaw/albums/72177720303531847

Government Law Center Fellowship program: https://www.albanylaw.edu/government-law-center/government-law-center-fellowship-program

Improving Interbranch Communication Project: https://www.albanylaw.edu/government-law-center/improving-interbranch-communication-project

Albany Law Review: https://www.albanylawreview.org/

It is our honor to welcome The 19th President and Dean of Albany Law School - Cinnamon P. Carlarne - to this week’s podcast!

She talks about growing up in Texas, her passion for environmental law, and her daughter picking up field hockey.

More about Dean Carlarne: https://www.albanylaw.edu/faculty/faculty-directory/cinnamon-p-carlarne

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York (LASNNY) and the Government Law Center at Albany Law School hosted a CLE symposium in celebration of LASNNY’s 100-year anniversary. The symposium, Justice for All: Striving for a Fair and Equitable World, took place at Albany Law School on September 8–9, 2023.

CLE presenters:

Joanna Davis, LASNNY

Katherine Mastaitis, Donnellan Law Firm

Professor Michael Hutter, Albany Law School

Robert Romaker, LASNNY

Jonathan Feldman, Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York

Saima Akhtar, NCLEJ

Susan Antos, Empire Justice Center

Jessica Keenan, NY State Senate Majority Counsel’s Office

Steven Koch, NY State Senate Majority Counsel’s Office

Hon. Christina L. Ryba, NYS Supreme Court, Third Judicial District

Hon. Richard Rivera, Albany Co. Family Court

Hon. Gerald W. Connolly, Acting Justice, Albany Co. Supreme Court

Alison Coan, NYS Supreme Court, Third Judicial Dept. Attorney Grievance Committee

Noel Mendez, Esq., NYS Supreme Court, Third Judicial Dept. Attorney Grievance Committee

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York (LASNNY) and the Government Law Center at Albany Law School hosted a CLE symposium in celebration of LASNNY’s 100-year anniversary. The symposium, Justice for All: Striving for a Fair and Equitable World, took place at Albany Law School on September 8–9, 2023.

CLE presenters:

Joanna Davis, LASNNY

Katherine Mastaitis, Donnellan Law Firm

Professor Michael Hutter, Albany Law School

Robert Romaker, LASNNY

Jonathan Feldman, Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York

Saima Akhtar, NCLEJ

Susan Antos, Empire Justice Center

Jessica Keenan, NY State Senate Majority Counsel’s Office

Steven Koch, NY State Senate Majority Counsel’s Office

Hon. Christina L. Ryba, NYS Supreme Court, Third Judicial District

Hon. Richard Rivera, Albany Co. Family Court

Hon. Gerald W. Connolly, Acting Justice, Albany Co. Supreme Court

Alison Coan, NYS Supreme Court, Third Judicial Dept. Attorney Grievance Committee

Noel Mendez, Esq., NYS Supreme Court, Third Judicial Dept. Attorney Grievance Committee

Join our Career and Professional Development Center and a panel of experts virtually as they discuss the advantages of designing your own post-graduate fellowship. Our panel will talk about different fellowships and navigating the application process. This conversation will be led by Professor Lauren DesRosiers.

REPRESENTATIVES

• BESS CHIU, ESQ. - DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL AND CHIEF OF STAFF
• KELLY H. HENDRICKEN, ESQ. ’14 - MANAGING COUNSEL, STUDENT AFFAIRS
• MISHKA A. WOODLEY, ESQ. ’16 - ASSISTANT COUNSEL
• MARINA W. CHU, ESQ. ’19 - ASSISTANT COUNSEL

Join representatives from the The State University of New York Office of General Counsel to hear more about employment and career opportunities.

The Government Law Center at Albany Law School presented the fourth and final program of the 2023 Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series on May 23.

Panelists discussed the evolving practices and procedures in New York’s court system during COVID-19 and beyond. The discussion also described the findings and recommendations from a study conducted by the Pandemic Practices Working Group of the Commission to Reimagine New York's Courts.

Panelists

Jessica Cherry, Esq. ’12 – Deputy Counsel for the New York State Unified Court System, Office of Court Administration; Member of the Pandemic Practices Working Group and the Court Modernization Action Committee of the Commission to Reimagine New York's Courts

Hon. Craig J. Doran ’89 – New York State Supreme Court Justice, 7th Judicial District; Chair of the Pandemic Practices Working Group and the Court Modernization Action Committee of the Commission to Reimagine New York's Courts

Hon. Fern A. Fisher (ret.) – Call-In Center Attorney at Legal Hand, Special Assistant to the Dean of Social Justice Initiatives, and Visiting Professor at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University; Former New York State Supreme Court Justice, 1st Judicial District

Moderator

Hon. Leslie E. Stein (ret.) ’81 – Director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School

Sponsors

A contribution made in the memory of Sharon P. O'Connor, Esq. ’79

Greenberg Traurig

Photos, Program, Video: https://www.albanylaw.edu/commencement

Recorded May 19, 2023.

Roberta “Robbie” Kaplan successfully argued before the Supreme Court of the United States on behalf of LGBTQ rights activist Edith Windsor, in United States v. Windsor, a landmark decision that invalidated a section of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) requiring the federal government to recognize marriages of same-sex couples.

Kaplan went on to author Then Comes Marriage: United States v. Windsor and the Defeat of DOMA, chosen by the Los Angeles Times as one of the top 10 books of 2015.

Kaplan currently leads some of the country’s highest-profile commercial and public interest litigation, from suing the neo-Nazis behind the violence in Charlottesville to representing E. Jean Carroll, Mary Trump and investors in ACN in lawsuits against Donald Trump.

Kaplan left Big Law to found Kaplan Hecker & Fink in 2017 as a new kind of law firm blending a high-stakes commercial and white-collar practice with a fundamental commitment to public interest cases centered on values of

inclusion, equity and justice. The firm is majority women- and LGBTQ+-owned and more than 75 percent of its attorneys identify as women, people of color and/or LGBTQ+.

KHF takes on groundbreaking, precedent-setting cases that not only advance the public interest, but have a significant impact beyond the courtroom – especially for women and other marginalized groups. In pioneering this new kind of boutique law firm, Kaplan has redefined the traditional concept of “pro bono” by taking on important matters – both to the firm and the public – and ensuring they are at the core of the firm’s practice.

Kaplan has been widely recognized for her impact and leadership, including the New York State Bar Association’s Gold Medal Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Law Journal, which also named her Attorney of the Year in 2020. Kaplan was also named Litigator of the Year by The American Lawyer and Most Innovative Lawyer of the Year by The Financial Times.

In addition to an A.B. from Harvard College (magna cum laude) and a J.D. from Columbia Law School – where she teaches a seminar on advanced civil procedure – Kaplan holds honorary doctorates from Johns Hopkins University and the Jewish Theological Seminary, among others.

Recorded May 19, 2023.

Recorded May 10, 2023.

MODERATOR - Glenn Liebman -CEO, Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS)

PANELISTS

Ashley Dugger - Associate Dean and Director of HR Management and Organizational Psychology Programs, Western Governors University

Alexandra Howell - Partner, Potomac Law Group; Adjunct Professor, Albany Law School

Nearly one in five adults in the United States are living with a mental health disorder and more than 70% have experienced at least one symptom of stress, including feeling overwhelmed or anxious.

Mental health doesn’t just affect quality of life. The global economy loses around $1 trillion in productivity each year due to employee depression and anxiety. Poor mental health and stress can affect performance, engagement, and communication on the job.

Despite the statistics, some employers struggle to promote mental health and support recovery. HR professionals and business leaders can help close the gap. This conversation will offer strategies to increase understanding around mental health, reduce stigma, identify resources, and articulate clear policies regarding mental health in the workplace to improve employee overall wellbeing, performance and retention. The session will also include advice on navigating personal privacy and other legal risks that may come up.

PANELISTS WILL DISCUSS:

Why mental health matters to employers and employees

How to start building a workplace culture in which conversations about mental health are more commonplace and collaborative

Barriers to employee wellness and how to overcome them

Best practices and pitfalls to consider when creating organizational policies

The obligations — both legal and moral — that employers have to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with mental illness

The potential legal risks and issues associated with building an employee mental health program

Panelists will also provide key resources that HR pros can use to dive deeper into topics covered.

President and Dean Alicia Ouellette '94 reflects on this academic year and her tenure leading Albany Law School on the final podcast before summer break this week!

Justice Center Renamed to Honor Edward P. Swyer: https://www.albanylaw.edu/news/justice-center-renamed-honor-edward-p-swyer

Cinnamon Piñon Carlarne Named Next President and Dean of Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/news/cinnamon-pinon-carlarne-named-next-president-and-dean-albany-law-school

Albany Law School Establishes Bar Preparation Assistance Fund in honor of Eugene P. Devine, Class of 1940: https://www.albanylaw.edu/about/news/albany-law-school-establishes-bar-preparation-assistance-fund-honor-eugene-p-devine

$1 Million Gift to Support Firefighters, EMS, and Non-Traditional Albany Law Students: https://www.albanylaw.edu/about/news/1-million-gift-support-firefighters-ems-and-non-traditional-albany-law-students

Hear from New York State Department of Health representatives about:

• attorney hiring
• overview (and pointers) for filling out the Legal Specialties questionnaire
• the benefits of a career in public service including student loan forgiveness, state benefits, and a pension.

The Government Law Center at Albany Law School, New York University School of Law, and the New York Fair Trial/Free Press Conference convened the 2023 Fair Trial/Free Press Conference: Local Media, the Law, and Alleged Police Misconduct on April 24, 2023.

The conference combines a discussion of a hypothetical scenario with an overview of media law. A panel of judges, prosecutors, journalists, and attorneys discussed the legal, political, and ethical issues that arise in the fictional scenario after a reporter is arrested while covering a police-involved shooting.

Panelists:

Richard Chacón - Director of News Standards and Practices, NBC News

Hon. Jill Konviser - Acting Justice, New York County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, First Judicial District

Anne LaBarbera - Principal Attorney, Anne LaBarbera Professional Corporation

Darren LaVerne - Partner, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

Thomas Maier - Investigative Journalist, Newsday

Hon. Robert M. Mandelbaum – Acting Justice, New York County Supreme Court, First Judicial District

Hon. Shira A. Scheindlin (ret.) - Former Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and Of Counsel, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, LLP

Tanvi Valsangikar - Attorney specializing in First Amendment and media law and co-host, SLANDERTOWN

Steven Wu - Chief of the Appeals Division, Manhattan District Attorney's Office

Moderators:

Hon. Albert Rosenblatt (ret.) - Former Associate Judge, New York State Court of Appeals, and Counsel, McCabe & Mack LLP

Rex Smith – Former Editor, Albany Times Union

Claire Stratton ‘23 is nearing the end of her time here at Albany Law School but - as she might say - BOY HOWDY did she make the most of it!

The outgoing SBA President and Editor in Chief of the  Journal of Sci. & Tech. joins this week’s podcast!

Student Organizations at Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/student-organizations

2023 Barrister’s Ball: https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanylaw/albums/72177720307770256

Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology: https://www.albanylawscitech.org/

Student Bar Association at Albany Law School: https://albanylawsba.org/

Panelists discussed potential statutory reforms to strengthen civil rights protections for people with developmental disabilities.

Moderated by Jennifer J. Monthie ’03 - Disability Rights New York - the speakers included:

Rose Mary Bailly - Government Law Center, Albany Law School

Paul Kietzman ’72 - Barclay Damon LLP

Sheila E. Shea ’86 - Mental Hygiene Legal Service, Third Judicial Department

Robert N. Swidler - St. Peter’s Health Partners

From the Career and Professional Development Center (https://www.albanylaw.edu/about/career-and-professional-development-center)you read that right, hiring for Summer 2024 Associate positions starts soon.

This program will give you the opportunity to hear directly from firms from across New York State about their Summer Associate recruiting process. You will learn what you can do to prepare and the timing for applications.

The Albany Law School Student Bar Association held an information session on the character and fitness portion of bar admission with guest speaker Anthony Moore, Director of Attorney Admissions for the Third Department in April.

Moore went through the character and fitness procedure, what is required to be submitted, factors that are considered, and resources to help with the process.

Albany Law School and Albany Medical College students continue to discuss the ways sexual assault, domestic violence, and intimate partner violence affect individuals and their care.

During April's Sexual Violence Awareness Month, Danielle Salazar ’23 and Chloe Ross ‘23 who work in the Family Violence Litigation Clinic (FVLC) within the Justice Center here at Albany Law School worked with Isha Doshi and Drishti Patel from Albany Medical College to present, "Maternal Fetal Complications and IPV," on April 4.

The presentation is a follow up to last year's, "Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of the Physician," which was presented as part of the medical college's student-led Community Grand Rounds.

FVLC Director and Professor Hayat Bearat assisted the students with the presentation. The projects aim to fill the gaps in care for survivors of domestic violence starting by educating practitioners who assist them.

Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 33 presented its annual symposium on April 4, 2023 focusing on Reproductive Data Privacy Post-Dobbs.

More about the Journal: https://www.albanylawscitech.org/

The discussion was moderated by The Honorable Leslie E. Stein ’81 - Director of the Government Law Center, Albany Law School - and featured panelists:

• Tricia Asaro - Director, Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood and member of Greenberg Traurig’s Dobbs Client Task Force and Dobbs Pro Bono Committee
• Antony Haynes - Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives; Director of Cybersecurity and Privacy Law; Associate Professor of Law at Albany Law School
• Allie Bohm - Policy Counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)

New York State has itself in a bit of a predicament over its Chief Judge. Vincent M. Bonventre - Albany Law's Justice Robert H. Jackson Distinguished Professor of Law - is here to help us understand the latest.

​The Center for Judicial Process: http://www.judicialprocessblog.com/

Patricia Whelan '23: https://soundcloud.com/user-952955809-873766748/patricia-whelan-23-what-doesnt-she-do

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion welcomed Joshua Dodds to campus for an engaging keynote presentation followed by a Q&A session.

This event was the culmination of workshops and trainings across campus this year including one on microaggressions in November and faculty and staff workshops in January.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/student-experience-support/diversity-equity-and-inclusion

More about Josh Dodds: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-dodds-m-ed-70566951/

Join the Government Law Center and the Institute for Aging and Disability Law for the 2023 Disability Law Series: Civil Rights and Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.

The series consists of five 2-hour forums exploring critical issues related to the civil rights of people with developmental disabilities.

Panelists discussed the civil rights challenges of guardianship, as well as strategies to address such challenges and protect the civil rights of people with developmental disabilities.

Speakers included:

Rose Mary Bailly (Government Law Center, Albany Law School)

Julie Friedman (Mental Hygiene Legal Service, Third Judicial Department)

Lisa K. Friedman (Law Office of Lisa K. Friedman)

Kathryn E. Jerian ’07 (The Arc New York)

Christopher Lyons (AIM Services, Inc.)

The discussion was moderated by Lawrence R. Faulkner (The Arc Westchester)

This tradition celebrates women in the law in honor of the law school’s first female graduate, Kate Stoneman, Class of 1898. Albany Law School's prestigious Stoneman Awards are presented to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to seeking change and expanding opportunities for women within the legal profession.

MIRIAM M. NETTER '72 KATE STONEMAN KEYNOTER

The Honorable Teneka E. Frost ’02

Judge Frost served as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, co-chair of the Equal Justice in the Courts Initiative for the Fourth Judicial district, and as the Chief Administrative Law Judge and Director of the Office of Administrative Hearings at the NY Department of State. Last year, she was named to Albany Law School's National Alumni Association. In 2018, she was appointed as a city court judge by Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy.

In 2021, she began the United Against Crime Community Action Network (U-CAN), a program where first-time offenders 18-25 years old with no criminal record can learn from mentors and work on self-improvement in a year-long program. In 2005, she was selected for a post-graduate fellowship in government law and policy at Albany Law School’s Government Law Center, during which she served as an elected member of the Board of Education for the City School District of Albany.

THE HONORABLE PATRICIA D. MARKS ’74

Judge Marks was the first female full-time Assistant District Attorney in the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office in 1976 and became the first female County Judge elected in Monroe County in 1984. She served as a County Court Judge for 25 years and retired in 2011. Since her retirement, she has remained active in a number of areas throughout the law, including as Interim CEO/Executive Director of Veterans Outreach Center, a not-for-profit organization that provides advocacy, direct service, and community collaboration for veterans and their families; as a Hearing Officer with the NYS Local and Retirement System and the Title IX office at the University of Rochester. She also provides pro bono services to various family law clinics in Western New York.

Marks also presided over the Judicial Diversion Program and Veterans Court, which she created, and played a key role in establishing the Monroe County Mental Health Court. She is the author of 27 published legal decisions and several New York State Bar Journal articles.

Marks began her legal career as a legal assistant with the Monroe County Department of Social Services.

SECRETARY ALEJANDRA N. PAULINO ’02

Secretary Paulino is the first Latina to serve as the Secretary of the New York Senate and is an expert in New York State election law.

She was elected by members of the State Senate in 2019 and serves as chief administrative officer to the Senate and its 16 departments. She has increased access to resources and worked to improve working conditions at the New York State Senate. She has updated the Senate’s sexual harassment policies and has added cultural competency to the training for all Senate employees.

She has spent her career in several different government offices and adjacent groups, starting as a Senate fellow and has since served in the Majority Counsel’s Office as Crime, Crime Victims, and Correction Committee Counsel and Team Counsel for Public Protection. In 2019, she was the recipient of the Capital District Black and Hispanic Bar Association’s Trail Blazer Award.

The Government Law Center at Albany Law School preseted the second program of the 2023 Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series on March 22.

Panelists discussed state-level approaches to developing environmentally sustainable affordable housing. In particular, the panel will explore legal and policy incentives and regulations that impact the development of environmentally sustainable affordable housing. The discussion will describe existing projects and the potential for future projects.

Panelists

Rory M. Christian - Chair and CEO, New York State Public Service Commission

Board Member, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

Casius Pealer - Associate Dean and Director of Advancement, Director of Sustainable Real Estate Development, and Shane Professor of Practice, Tulane University School of Architecture

Amar Shah - Manager, Carbon-Free Buildings, Rocky Mountain Institute

Moderator

Cinnamon Piñon Carlarne - Robert J. Lynn Chair in Law, Associate Dean for Faculty and Intellectual Life, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

19th President and Dean of Albany Law School, effective July 1, 2023

Sponsors

In the memory of Sharon P. O'Connor, Esq. '79

Greenburg Traurig

CSEA

Tom Hemstock is just one of the hard-working librarians in the Shaffer Law Library here at Albany Law School.

Plus, he works the Online Graduate Programs too helping students with legal research.

Meet him on the podcast this week!

Library: https://www.albanylaw.edu/student-experience-support/schaffer-law-library

Online Graduate Programs: https://www.albanylaw.edu/graduate

The Government Law Center at Albany Law School hosted Consent of Adults  in Adoption and Marriage Decisions on March 9, 2023.  

Panelists discussed consent and civil rights of adults with  developmental disabilities in adoption and marriage decisions.  

Panelists: 

Natalie M. Chin (Disability and Aging Justice Clinic, City University of  New York) 

Sheila E. Shea ’86 (Mental Hygiene Legal Service, Third Judicial  Department)

 Edward Wilcenski ’95 (Wilcenski & Pleat, PLLC).   

The discussion was moderated by Simeon Goldman (Disability Rights New  York).  

The program was part of the 2023 Disability Law Series: Civil Rights and  Individuals with Developmental Disabilities. The program was  co-sponsored by the Institute for Aging and Disability Law and the  Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Albany Law School.

Cassie Carudo is nearing the end of her law school journey, and she took some time to reflect on it and share her insights about what being a law school student is all about on the podcast this week!

Albany Law School Student Ambassadors: https://www.albanylaw.edu/applications-admissions/student-ambassadors

Albany Law School Government Law Review: https://www.albanygovernmentlawreview.org/

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York and the Monroe County Bar Association hosted Embracing Equity in the Courtroom on March 10, 2023 at Albany Law School.

The event honored International Women’s Day and brought awareness to the role gender plays in the courtroom and celebrated trailblazing women on the bench.

Presenters:

Professor Melissa Breger (Albany Law)

Professor Gwen D’Arcangelis (Skidmore College)

Hon. Christine Clark (Appellate Division, Third Department)

Hon. Teneka Frost (Schenectady City Court)

Hon. Sherri Brooks-Morton (Albany County Family Court)

Hon. Christina Ryba (Supreme Court, Third Judicial District)

Hon. Grace Hanlon (Supreme Court, Eighth Judicial District)

Hon. Phyllis Frye (Houston Municipal Courts, TX)

Hon. Victoria Kolakowski (Alameda County Superior Court, CA)

Hon. Andi Mudryk (Alameda County Superior Court, CA)

The discussion was moderated by Norina Melita, Esq. (Montgomery County Supreme Court).

Meet another one of our students as 1L Colin Baker joins the podcast this week.

He shares his experiences and insights on his first year at Albany Law, courses, workload, professor relationships, and being a student ambassador.

Student Ambassadors at Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/applications-admissions/student-ambassadors

Moot Court at Albany Law: https://www.albanylaw.edu/programs-centers/anthony-v-cardona-70-moot-court-program

The Domenick L. Gabrielli National Family Law Competition was created to honor the late Associate Justice of the New York Court of Appeals. Albany Law School's Moot Court Board is especially indebted to Judge Gabrielli for his help in creating and promoting the Anthony V. Cardona '70 Moot Court Program. Schools from across the nation are invited to send participants. As the host of this event, Albany Law does not compete in this competition. The competition, which is an appellate advocacy competition, focuses on issues surrounding family law. Many volunteers are needed throughout the competition as judges and bailiffs. Volunteering for this competition is a great way to get involved and very much appreciated.

More about Moot Court at Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/programs-centers/anthony-v-cardona-70-moot-court-program

The Government Law Center at Albany Law School discusses critical issues related to filling the position of Lieutenant Governor when a vacancy occurs and other constitutional concerns about the relationship between the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

Panelists

David A. Paterson - Former Governor, State of New York

Hon. Helen E. Freedman (ret.) - Former Associate Justice, New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department

Patrick A. Woods ’12 - Deputy Director, Government Law Center at Albany Law School

Moderator: Bennett Liebman - Government Lawyer in Residence, Government Law Center at Albany Law School

Series Sponsors: Joan R. Weissman ’77 and Charles I. Weissman 

About the Warren M. Anderson Series: https://www.albanylaw.edu/government-law-center/warren-m-anderson-series