New York City Bar Association Podcasts -NYC Bar

The program provides an overview of what is sometimes an intimidating process, breaks it down to basics, and provides attendees with an understanding of what is necessary to run for office in New York City. The panel covers topics ranging from evaluating for which offices you are qualified to run, the mechanics of petitioning, the administrative process of filing and defending your petitions at the Board of Elections, and an overview of why and how petitions wind up the subject of court battles. There is also information on a candidate's responsibility to comply with Campaign Finance law, and a review of best practices for setting yourself up for a successful experience with those filings.

Speakers:Martin E. Connor,  Private election law practitioner, 30 years in the NYS Senate, former NYS Senate Minority Leader, Chair of City Bar Election Law CommitteeSarah K. Steiner, Private election law practitioner, Former Chair of City Bar Election Law CommitteeDouglas A. Kellner, Co-Chair, New York State Board of ElectionsRaphael Savino, Deputy General Counsel, Board of Elections in the City of New York

Sponsoring Association Committee: Election Law Committee, Martin E. Connor, Chair

Ambassador Dani Dayan discusses the state of affairs in the Middle East and offers a review of Israel’s diplomatic, humanitarian and economic relationships in the international arena. Additionally, Ambassador Dayan addresses the subject of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and offers his observations on the issue. 

Ambassador Dayan represents the State of Israel to communities throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Delaware.  Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he is the first Hispanic Consul General of Israel in New York.

The Public Affairs Luncheon Series features speakers who address matters of public interest. The luncheons provide a forum to enable members of the City Bar to network, socialize and discuss matters of interest. The luncheons are open to the public.

Speaker:Ambassador Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel in New York

Sponsoring Association Committee: Senior Lawyers Committee, Barry Bloom, Chair

Adam Skaggs, the Chief Counsel of Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, speaks with Ira Feinberg, a member of the City Bar’s Executive Committee and Association Secretary, about the legal issues involved in gun control.

This discussion is intended to move beyond the often misleading political and Second Amendment rhetoric surrounding gun rights to a discussion about Second Amendment law – what the Constitution and the courts actually say about these issues – and the prospects for the policy proposals getting so much attention these days.

The dairy industry has made recent legal efforts to stop companies from using the terms “milk” and “cheese” for plant-based foods like soymilk and nut cheeses. The industry claims these product names mislead consumers and cash in on the reputation of animal-derived foods. Plant-based food producers disagree and have called for regulations that expressly let them use these terms for their products. Attorneys representing dairy farmers and plant-based food organizations discuss the issue at this program.Speakers:Nigel A. Barrella, Law Office of Nigel A. BarrellaLorraine Lewandrowski, Lawyer and Dairy FarmerLori Barrett-Peterson, Chair, NYC Bar Animal Law Committee

Moderator:Bari Wolf, Vernon & Ginsburg LLP

Sponsoring Association Committee: Animal Law Committee, Lori Barrett-Peterson, Chair

Related Resource:If you are interested in this program, you may also be interested in this City Bar resource: Letter to FDA in Support of Citizen Petition filed by the Good Food Institute

Hear the First Lady of New York City discuss ThriveNYC, a program intended to eliminate the stigma of mental health issues and provide New Yorkers with the tools to respond to these challenges. 

Speaker:Chirlane McCray, First Lady of New York City

Sponsoring Association Committee: New York City Affairs Committee, Jerry Goldfeder, Chair

Co-Sponsoring Association Committees:Bioethical Issues Committee, Mary Beth Morrissey, ChairDisability Law Committee, John Egan, ChairHealth Law Committee, Kathleen Burke, ChairLawyer Assistance Program Committee, Hon. Linda Poust Lopez, ChairMental Health Law Committee, Naomi Weinstein, ChairMindfulness & Well-Being in Law Committee, Cecilia Loving, Robert Chender and Bjorn Sorenson, Co-Chairs

This event addresses the global crackdown on civil society space and the resulting challenges in protecting fundamental rights and freedoms. While threats are global, documented in over 100 countries, this event will focus on those experienced specifically in India, Russia/Eastern Europe and the United States. The worldwide trend, which extends beyond authoritarian regimes to democracies in many regions, includes new laws restricting or prohibiting protest and other forms of political activism; direct targeting of activists, journalists, and human rights defenders; and regulatory and funding obstacles aimed at non-profit organizations. Discussion will address restrictions on the freedoms of assembly and expression in the United States in the context of a worldwide pattern of shrinking space for civic engagement and dissent. The speakers will also share resistance strategies activists and human rights defenders are using to counter this crackdown.

Speakers:Sukti Dhital, Deputy Director, Robert L. Bernstein Institute for Human RightsMelissa Hooper, Director, Human Rights and Civil Society, Human Rights FirstBaher Azmy, Legal Director, Center for Constitutional Rights

Moderator:Judge Sidney H. Stein, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Sponsoring Association Committee: International Human Rights Committee, Anil Kalhan, Chair

Co-Sponsoring Association Committees:Asian Affairs Committee, Angus Ni, ChairCouncil on International Affairs, Martin Flaherty, ChairEuropean Affairs Committee, Victor Muskin, ChairTask Force on Independence of Lawyers & Judges, William August Wilson III, ChairTask Force on National Security & the Rule of Law, Mark Shulman, ChairUnited Nations Committee, Michael Cooper, Chair

In many of the world’s most destabilized areas, the grand theft of pillage is a regular and frightening occurrence.  Poaching of ivory and theft of minerals to fund armed groups and the destruction of religious sites and cultural heritage have been well documented. This program discusses the many pillage crimes currently being committed and the restrictions on such pillage in domestic and international law, including the Rome Statute and U. S. Dodd Frank Act.

Speakers:   Carly Oboth, Policy Advisor, Global WitnessHolly Dranginis, Senior Legal Analyst at The SentryJimmiel Mandima, Program Officer, African Wildlife FoundationKaren Mosoti, Head of the Liaison Office, International Criminal Court to the United Nations

Moderator:  Elizabeth Barad, International Law and Gender Consultant, former co-chair of the NYC Bar's African Affairs committee.

Sponsoring Association Committee: African Affairs Committee, Victoria Safran and Melanie Claussen, Co-Chairs

Co-sponsoring Association Committees:United Nations Committee, Michael Cooper, ChairCouncil on International Affairs, Martin Flaherty, ChairInternational Human Rights Committee, Anil Kalhan, ChairCyrus Vance Center for International Justice

Related Resources:If you are interested in this program, you may also be interested in this City Bar resource: “Conflict Minerals” Disclosures at Risk Under Financial CHOICE Act

Some states and municipalities, including New York State, are considering laws that would ban the practice of onychectomy, the surgical declawing of cats. At this program, advocates in favor of and advocates opposed to the New York bill will discuss its potential impact on animals and veterinarians in New York.

Speakers:Benjamin L. Hart, Animal Behaviorist and Distinguished Professor Emeritus, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, DavisDr. Jenny Conrad, Founder and Director, The Paw Project Dr. Eileen Jefferson, New York State Representative, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, Director of New York State Legislative Affairs, The Paw Project, Owner/Founder, Ethical Veterinary 

Moderator:  Jane Hoffman, Member, Animal Law Committee

Sponsoring Association Committee:Animal Law Committee, Lori Barrett-Peterson, Chair

After 9/11, Congress passed the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (“AUMF”), which gave the President the authority “to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons. . . .”  In 2002, a separate AUMF was passed authorizing the Iraq War. Since then, no additional AUMFs have been authorized, but the Global War on Terrorism has been waged in nations, and against groups, that appear to be outside the scope of either AUMF. Multiple members of Congress have called for new legislation that will more accurately define the proper scope and authority of the President to wage war against international terrorist organizations. This event discusses the legal scope of existing AUMFs, and explore the policy decisions underlying whether (and how) to augment or replace the existing AUMFs.

Speakers:William S. Castle, Acting General Counsel, Department of Defense (appointed August 2017)Bruce Ackerman, Counsel in Smith v Trump (suit by military officer challenging the Commander-in-Chief's power to fight ISIS using the current AUMFs; recently argued before the D.C. Circuit)John B. Bellinger III, Former Senior Counsel to President George W. Bush and Legal Advisor to the National Security Council during 9/11

Moderator:Karen Greenberg, Director, Center on National Security, Fordham University School of Law

Sponsoring Association Committee:Military Affairs & Justice Committee, Erik L. Wilson, Chair

Co-Sponsoring Association Committees:Council on International Affairs, Martin S. Flaherty, ChairTask Force on National Security & the Rule of Law, Mark R. Shulman, Chair

Related ResourcesIf you are interested in this program, you may also be interested in these City Bar resources:

Letter to President Trump regarding Presidential Authority to Initiate War Against North Korea

Recommendations to the Trump Administration Regarding National Security Policies

Letter Regarding Lack of Clarity in U.S. Policies on Critical Counter-Terrorism and Use of Force Issues

President Trump's Guantanamo: Views from the Legal Front (podcast)

Have you ever encountered difficulty managing your mortgage payments, and wondered how you can alleviate some of that financial burden? In this podcast, Scott Kohanowski, Director of the Foreclosure Prevention Project at the City Bar Justice Center, will guide you through filling out a budget form that can help you identify ways to cut back on housing and other expenses, making your monthly payments less burdensome. Whether it helps you realize that you are eligible for a property tax credit, identify an unnecessary monthly expense such as a car or cable, or find out that you are overpaying for homeowner’s insurance, this budget form and accompanying audio guide is a great resource for all NYC homeowners.

Disclaimer: Please note, the information provided in this podcast is for general informational purposes only. It should not be considered legal, accounting, financial, or investment advice. You should consult with an appropriate professional to determine what may be best for your individual needs.

Music Credits: Soixante by Obsibilo Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Source: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Obsibilo/Movie_On_The_Moon/subnet014_Obsibilo-03-Soixante-8