NYCLA CLE: Affidavits in Lieu of Testimony on 9/20

For Immediate Release

CONTACT: Anita Aboulafia 212 267-6646 ext. 225 [email protected]

First-of-Its-Kind CLE Program on Using Affidavits in Lieu of Direct Testimony at Trial on September 20

August 23, 2011 – New York, NY – The New York State–Federal Judicial Council, the Second Circuit Judicial Council and the New York County Lawyers’ Association (NYCLA) are co-sponsoring a first-of-its-kind CLE program on the use of affidavits in lieu of direct testimony at (bench) trial. The program takes place on September 20 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Ceremonial Courtroom of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse at 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York, 9th Floor. Please note that due to the (very) large number of registrants to date, a live feed of the panel discussion will also be viewable in the jury assembly room on the ground floor at 500 Pearl St., and if necessary, also in Courtrooms 9A and 9B in the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse at 500 Pearl Street. CLE credit will be awarded for those who attend in any of these venues.

The program is free for attorneys who are admitted to practice in the State of New York; participants will receive two Professional Practice credits. Because space is limited, please register no later than September 8 (by 2:00 p.m.) on the Second Circuit Judicial Council’s website, http://ww2.ca2.uscourts.gov/cle/Login.aspx.

The practice of substituting affidavits for direct testimony at bench trials is becoming more widespread in courtrooms across the country. NYCLA recently recommended that this practice be implemented in New York’s intensely busy Family Court; it is already in place in the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court and it is prevalent in federal courts. Lawyers who attend this CLE event—the first ever to discuss the use of affidavits in lieu of direct testimony—will gain valuable insight into this practice from a distinguished group of judges and practitioners.

Professor Jane Spinak of Columbia Law School will moderate. Panelists include: the Honorable Richard M. Berman, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; the Honorable Laura E. Drager, New York State Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County; the Honorable Douglas E. Hoffman, New York State Family Court (Manhattan); Susan Bender, Esq., of Bender Rosenthal Isaacs & Richter LLP and past President of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York; and John J. Kerr, Esq., of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.

Light refreshments will be served at the event.

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Law Office in Woolworth Building with Fantastic Lower Manhattan/ East River View!

Law firm seeks a long term tenant. The office suite – in fact the entire 20th floor – were built out brand new by the landlord during this summer. Windowed office with separate, adjacent paralegal cubicle in a shared law firm suite on the 20th floor of the Woolworth Building. The office has ten foot high ceilings and two large windows facing east with spectacular views of the East River, City Hall, Manhattan Bridge and lower Manhattan. The paralegal station is furnished with professional L-shaped desk, chair and hutch/cabinetry.

The suite makes available:
· Reception Area
· Kitchenette
· Conference Room Use
· High-Speed Internet and VoIP Telephone
· New Copy Machine
· Security System

Asking: $2,500/month with first month’s rent and security due upon lease commencement.

Please send inquiries to:
Guerrero Yee LLP
Attn. Rio Guerrero
[email protected]
T (646)545-5000

From AABANY Immigration and Nationality Law Committee Co-Chair Rio Guerrero.

Support Goodwin Liu’s Nomination to CA Supreme Court

Support Goodwin Liu’s Nomination to CA Supreme Court

Minding Your P’s, Q’s, Lists, and Spaces

Two friends of the WEblog recently commented on typography in legal writing.

Susan Moon earlier this month was concerned by Oxford’s (potential) abandonment of the serial (a.k.a. Oxford) comma (which only referred to their PR department, and not their editorial staff). David Lat at Above the Law last week opened a can of worms with a poll about typing one space or two between sentences.

Partisans among all of the sides argue about the historical reasons, the practicalities, and just whether it “looks right” or not. For the record, I am pro-serial comma, as you can see from this post’s title. I am also in favor of one space between sentences.

From what I gather, my opinion about the serial comma is arguably “old-fashioned” (it is credited to Oxford, after all), and my single-space stance is “modern” (before laser printers, it was usual to use two spaces between sentences when using a typewriter; it was also usual to underline instead of using italics).

Obama Judicial Appointments Infographic

Obama Judicial Appointments Infographic