NYCLA Amicus Curiae

In our conversation with Robert Housman, former White House Assistant Director of Strategic Planning, National Office of Drug Control Policy under President Clinton (1997–2001), we take a look at the intersection of politics and legal ethics. The ethical obligations of lawyers often conflict with what is deemed appropriate for today's politicians. The integrity of the courts, the legal system, and ultimately our democracy depends on a profession that must adhere to ethical rules of conduct. We discuss the 2020 election secret strategy memo, the torture memos, and other actions that question the boundaries of ethical behavior by lawyers. Listen now for another great conversation you won't want to miss!

Robert Housman, Partner, Book Hill Partners; General Counsel, Xlear; Consultant 360 Law Group; 360 Business Law America

The New York Country Lawyers Association Amicus Curiae Podcast with Host Daniel K. Wiig sat down with guest Vinoo Varghese, Expert Legal Analyst, and New York City Criminal Defense Attorney. The aim of the show is to share a balanced legal analysis that is void of political influence and based on facts. Host Daniel K. Wiig and Vinoo unwind the outcomes of the latest cases against former President Trump and whether he is being treated fairly by the justice system. Can Trump get a fair trial in New York? Is justice being served?

Vinoo Varghese Bio New York City Criminal Defense Attorney

This episode was recorded prior to the United States Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision. The views expressed here are those of the guest and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of NYCLA, its affiliates, its officers, or its board.

As a part of NYCLA's celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month we are proud to present our latest episode of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast with host Daniel K. Wiig, our guest is Sandra Leung, Executive Vice President, General Counsel of Bristol Myers Squibb. Sandy Leung serves as legal advisor to the Board of Directors and company executives, and is responsible for shaping the company's legal strategy. Sandy is also responsible for Environment, Health & Safety & Sustainability, Corporate Security and Philanthropy at Bristol Myers Squibb. Sandra has climbed the corporate ranks to the c-suite of one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies and she is sharing her insights on the importance of diversity, integrity, collaboration, and intention. We know you will enjoy this very special episode of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast!

Host Daniel K. Wiig sits down with U.S. Magistrate Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Hon. Gary Stein to discuss his book: Justice for Sale: Graft, Greed, and a Crooked Federal Judge in 1930s Gotham, in the latest episode of the New York County Lawyers Association Amicus Curiae podcast. The integrity of the judiciary is among the strongest underpinnings of our Democratic society and the commitment of the judiciary to operate ethically, serves as the unspoken agreement which allows the public to believe in its ability to administer justice. Justice for Sale: Graft, Greed, and a Crooked Federal Judge in 1930s Gotham is an investigation into the life and service of Martin T. Manton, who was often referred to as the "10th most powerful judge in the United States," below only the nine Justices of the Supreme Court in 1927. Daniel and Hon. Stein discuss the motivations, the possible co-conspirators, the cast of characters who helped to advance the pay to play/justice for sale machine of jurist Manton in the early 20th century, and his ultimate downfall and conviction.

In this episode of NYCLA's Amicus Curiae podcast, host Daniel K. Wiig sits down with constitutional expert, legal commentator, and analyst Hon. Andrew P. Napolitano to talk about current legal issues faced by former president Trump including presidential immunity, the Constitution,14th Amendment, and the trials taking over the headlines. No question is off limits, this discussion ventures to take a candid and unflinching view of the United States Supreme Court and its recent decision in Donald Trump's 14th Amendment Case: Donald J. Trump v. Norma Anderson; the Election Interference Case; the Classified Documents Case, and more.

Judge Andrew P. Napolitano was a Senior Judicial Analyst at Fox News, a frequent commentator on MSNBC, Podcaster & host of Judging Freedom podcast, and a former Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, and is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Notre Dame Law School. He is the youngest life-tenured Superior Court judge in the history of the State of New Jersey. He sat on the bench from 1987 to 1995, when he presided over more than 150 jury trials and thousands of motions, sentencings, and hearings.

The conversation is candid and timely! Listen now!

In this episode of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast with Host Daniel K. Wiig, we take on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the emerging regulations aimed at keeping citizens safe. Our guest is attorney Jamie Hoxie Solano, a Partner with Ford O'Brien, LLP where she represents clients concerning allegations of cryptocurrency-related fraud schemes, securities violations, wire fraud, mail fraud, health care fraud, business email compromises, and computer intrusions, among other claims. Dan and Jamie discuss the key cases involving AI in the news, a new EU law regulating AI, generative AI, deep fake technology, spoofing, opportunities, and the dark side of artificial intelligence. We are entering an age where you can no longer believe what you see and hear due to AI technology. Artificial Intelligence is now an integral part of our everyday lives, and its impact is undeniable. Will our 3 branches of government be able to get ahead of a technology which is transforming the world exponentially? What can you do to protect yourself from organized bad actors aiming to commit crime aided by AI? We attempt to answer these questions and more in this timely episode. Listen now!

More About Jamie Hoxie Solano

We're celebrating Women's History Month by highlighting extraordinary women in the legal profession. The featured guest of this month's episode of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast with host Daniel K. Wiig is Hon. Dianne T. Renwick, Presiding Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department. She is a woman of firsts; Justice Renwick is the first woman of color to be Presiding Justice of the First Department since its creation in 1894. Justice Renwick continues to make history, she joined her associates on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, to hear oral arguments before the Appellate Division, First Department. This was the first-time oral arguments were heard by an all African-American bench in the New York Court's history.

Our conversation provides elucidation on the function of Justice Renwick's role as Presiding Justice, her efforts to ensure that she is no longer a first, civic education, and shifting perceptions about the role of women within the Courts. This is a very special episode and it should not be missed. Listen now.

More about Justice Dianne T. Renwick.

The views expressed here are those of the guest, and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of NYCLA, its affiliates, members, officers, or Board.

The New York County Lawyers Association Amicus Curiae Podcast is proud to present our latest episode with guest Secretary Jeh Charles Johnson during Black History Month. The Honorable Jeh Charles Johnson is the former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, serving in that post from 2013-2017. From 2009-2012, Secretary Johnson was General Counsel for the Department of Defense. A graduate of Columbia Law School, Secretary Johnson joined Paul, Weiss in 1984 and left in 1989 to serve as an AUSA in the Southern District of New York. He returned to Paul Weiss in 1992 and was elected the first African American Partner of the firm in 1994. In 1998, he left private practice again to serve as General Counsel for the Air Force, returning to Paul Weiss in 2001. Secretary Johnson rejoined Paul Weiss in 2017, after the conclusion of his service in the Obama Administration. He continues to serve the broader community through various other leadership posts such as the Council of Foreign Relations and a trustee of Columbia University. He is the recipient of 13 honorary degrees.

In this episode we are investigating the aftermath of the 2023 Supreme Court Ruling in STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC. v. PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE. Does this ruling effectively end affirmative action? Is there no longer a need to invest in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)? Can you have DEI without the consideration of race? These questions and more will be considered in this timely conversation with thought leader & legal powerhouse, Secretary Jeh Charles Johnson.

For more information on Secretary Jeh Charles Johnson click here.

To view the United States Supreme Court Syllabus for STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC. v. PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE case click here.

*The views expressed are those of the guest, and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of NYCLA, its affiliates, members, officers, or Board.

NYCLA is proud to kick off the first episode of the fourth season of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast with our esteemed guest Landis Best, Co-Chair of Cahill Gordon & Reindel's First Amendment & Media Litigation practice group. The topic for discussion is the formally known Missouri v. Biden case, now referred to as Murthy v. Missouri. The issue at hand: when do the acts of government officials who lobby social media companies to remove what it deems to be harmful misinformation cross into a violation of the 1st Amendment and free speech? Are these government actors coercing private companies and forcing them to silence voices counter to their own? In short form, did the government make the social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook an offer they couldn't refuse? Or is this a case of the government exercising its right to protect its citizens? Our host Dan Wiig sat down with Landis to discuss the Missouri v. Biden case, the implications of the 5th Circuit's ruling, the 1st Amendment, Section 230, The Twitter Files, and how the government's actions may or may not have been constitutional. The Supreme Court granted certiorari in Murthy v. Missouri in October 2023. The impact of the Court's ruling could ultimately define how the government may or may not interact with social media companies in the United States. This episode is informative, enlightening, and balanced - it should not be missed!

More About Our Guest

Landis Best is Co-Chair of Cahill Gordon & Reindel's First Amendment & Media Litigation practice group, and represents global corporations, multinational financial institutions, and leading media companies in litigation and appeals, as well as before government and regulatory bodies. Her clients have included ABC, CBS, HSBC, The New Yorker, The New York Times Company, & The Motion Picture Association of America. She has been named a top litigator by Chambers USA. A graduate of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Duke University School of Law, Landis clerked for the Hon. William H. Rehnquist, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Hon. N. Carlton Tilley, Jr., of the U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina.

The New York County Lawyers Association is proud to present our latest episode of the NYCLA Amicus Curiae Podcast with host Daniel K. Wiig. This important episode addresses the elephant in the room of the legal profession: Mental Health. In the latest episode, Daniel sits down with our guest Jason Ward, a Retired Lawyer, Founder of Ward Lawyers PC, Speaker, and Author who shares his journey from success to addiction, and finally recovery. Jason launched a website: Mentally Speaking, to grow awareness around mental health issues in the legal profession and to destigmatize those who are suffering, often in silence.

The culture of the legal profession is driven by instant accessibility, billable hours, and the expectation that members of the profession be essentially on call 24 hours/ 7 days/365 days a year. The most successful attorneys are rewarded accordingly. The drive to be successful under these expectations create the perfect mix for substance abuse and mental health issues. Jason shares his insights on the challenges he faced and how he ultimately found balance.

More Information about Jason Ward.

*The views expressed on the NYCLA Amicus Curiae podcast are those of the guest, and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of NYCLA, its affiliates, members, officers, or Board.