Miranda Warnings

The roundtable looks at Governor Hochul's nomination of Judge Rowan Wilson as chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals and the State of New York. Guest Liz Benjamin and Vin Bonventre join host David Miranda looking at the political and legal issues with his nomination. 
  

Technology can both help and hurt in the cause of justice. In a fascinating conversation, Vivian Wesson shares how artificial intelligence and facial recognition are being used in both criminal and civil law.   

Past presidents David Miranda and Hank Greenberg discuss a pivotal time in history for America, the world and the New York State Bar Association. Shortly after its founding, the association was at the forefront of international politics leading an effort to establish a world court where nations could arbitrate differences to prevent war.  

David Miranda, Albany law professor Vin Bonventre and political strategist Liz Benjamin discuss Governor Hochul's nomination of Hector LaSalle for Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and the State of New York. 

We have an election 2022 wrap up on this episode of Miranda Warnings Roundtable. Despite a closer than usual race for New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and the democrats swept statewide offices in November. On the federal level, the predicted red wave never happened.

Democrats may actually gain a seat in the U.S. Senate and end up with a close minority in the House of Representatives.

This may be the best midterm for the democrats with a democrat in the White House. Since John Kennedy, the democrats were aided by a the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs.

It could have been even better for the democrats in Congress or it not, for the New York Court of Appeals Decision in Harkenrider rejecting the Legislature's redistricting proposal and influencing the four New York House seats that flipped Republican.

Join host David Miranda and guest Liz Benjamin and Vin Bonventre for a lively discussion. 

On this episode of Miranda Warnings, host David Miranda and guest Albany Law Professor Vin Bonventre look at the great dissenting opinions of the last 40 years in New York State's highest court.

The 30 minute podcast covers issue that still resonate today like the freedom to marry, patients rights and a suspect's rights during police interrogation.  Bonventre says a dissenting opinion has a greater impact since the judge is making a public statement in opposition to the majority opinion of the court.

"They are extremely revealing. Now. Why? Because the dissenter is announcing to the public. 'My colleagues are wrong  I've lost! I'm expending judicial capital. I probably hurting feelings Right? I'm the loser in this case. But I'm hoping that the public, the legislature, maybe the court in the future will correct what my colleagues have done today.'"

Listen to the lively discussion her and check out the full article "The Great Dissents" at nysba.org.

From affirmative action to voting rights and the regulation of the pork industry, the roundtable panel takes on all the issues before the U.S. Supreme Court this term. Check out the lively discussion right here. 

The Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation trial did more than fill the gossip columns in the tabloids. The case demonstrated the expanded use and power of social media often by third parties not involved in the actual case. The latest episode of "Miranda Warnings", host David Miranda breaks down the trial and the effects that social media use had in the case and in the court of public opinion.

Joining him in the discussion is Scott Malouf, a social media attorney in the Rochester area, who focuses on all things social media for lawyers and business clients. Debra Hamilton, from Westchester County, specializes in mediation involving clients and their pets. The two recently co-authored an article in the New York State Bar Journal on the case.  

The Depp v Heard case was unique in that it was not only involving two celebrities, but televised in real time from a Virginia courtroom. Both guests say the coverage started small and as it grew, took on a life of its own.

"Small influencers were watching the case starting to comment on it and getting a lot more traction which means more ad revenue," said Malouf. "Some of influencers said they supported Johnny because that content did better. It had nothing to do with who was winning and I think for litigants and organizations that’s a really tough and scary prospect."

Debra Hamilton says attorneys have a tough job balancing what is right for their clients and trying to prevent an outside party from affecting the case. "We are in the business of helping our clients solve issues however if they get involved in social media and third parties get involved in carrying their water so to speak in social media it can really escalate."