Dear Colleagues & Friends:
Happy New Year! It’s finally 2021! Every January presents an opportunity for us to make new resolutions (hopefully) building off the prior year. The past year has been trying and has tested us in many ways, but the Southern District of New York Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, empowered by people like you, have been resilient in the face of 2020’s challenges.
Whether it was battling COVID-19, fighting racial and other social injustices, engaging in a contentious electoral process, working or going to school remotely, or helping our family and friends in need, in 2020 we each had a piece of the common struggle that asked us to step up in collective and individual ways. In the past year, we learned that we protect ourselves by protecting others; an act that, in and of itself, is a political undertaking defining who we are as Americans.
The SDNY Chapter is committed to continuing to assist and guide you through this moment. That is why, E Pluribus Unum – the original motto found on the United States seal – is the SDNY Chapter theme for this year. E Pluribus Unum is Latin for out of many, one. It is a statement of our American determination to be unified from our diverse background which fosters innovation and problem-solving by pushing everyone to look at things from different perspectives.
Our Chapter is a leader in many areas within the broader FBA community – in the diversity of our membership, in equitable opportunities for leadership roles, and in the inclusive nature of our programming. To that end, the SDNY Chapter is participating as a pilot program in the FBA’s Standing Committee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion to help the national organization develop a strategic plan creating a diverse and inclusive legal community. Later this month, we will launch a diversity, equity and inclusion survey to assess our membership profile, programming needs, and leadership prospects. Please be sure to complete the survey when it hits your email inbox.
From online CLE programs to social events, the SDNY Chapter offers attorneys unparalleled opportunity to interface with other members of the bar as well as members of the judiciary to promote its goal of strengthening the federal legal system. Other activities planned or in the works for the upcoming year include:
- Civil Rights Étouffée – On January 28 & 29, 2021 there will be two-days of CLE programming with virtual panels on timely topics such as Artificial Intelligence, LGBTQ Rights, Title IX, Environmental Justice and more.
- The Mother Court Newsletter – A re-branding of the SDNY Chapter newsletter featuring a tribute to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg from one of her former law clerks, tips on appellate practice, bankruptcy and more! Our first issue will be in February 2021.
- UN Consultative Status Designation – The Government Relations Committee of the FBA is establishing an International Courts Program to inform the FBA membership about the work of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and other international courts and tribunals. The first quarterly topical webinar program will address Jurisdictional Boundaries and Court Cases of the ICJ, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). The program is planned for February 22, 2021.
- A Celebration of Trailblazers in the EDNY & SDNY Courts – In March 2021, there will be a program focusing on the historic and trailblazing jurists from these two courts. This is a joint program with the FBA, Eastern District of New York Chapter.
- Presidential Rule of Law Award – The SDNY Chapter’s Committee for the Presidential Rule of Law Award is incredibly honored to announce Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor as the next recipient of this distinctive award. This honor has been bestowed upon past notables such as the late Hon. John R. Lewis and Bryan Stevenson. The date on which the award will be bestowed upon Justice Sotomayor is forthcoming.
- Clerking in the Federal Courts – A program for young attorneys on the benefits and challenges of clerking in the federal courts. This program is scheduled for September 2021.
As you can see, membership in the SDNY Chapter provides access to a wide variety of programs and opportunities. The cost of a yearly membership is approximately that of attending two CLE programs making the decision to join an easy and economical one.
In fact, if you rejoin or sign up for membership to our Chapter before January 20, 2021, you will be able to participate for free in the Civil Rights Étouffée (8 approved CLE credits in New York).
Please visit https://www.fedbar.org/membership/to learn about membership options. You can reach out to me (nm82@cornell.edu) or our Membership Chair, Samuel Blaustein (sblaustein@dunnignton.com) at any time with questions about our chapter or FBA in general.
We look forward to your participation and attendance at our programs and events in 2021.
Sincerely,
Nancy Morisseau, President