Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today proclaimed June 20 Edie Windsor Day in New York State as a tribute to her legacy championing equality and justice for the LGBTQ community, and for being on the front lines of the fight for marriage equality. Today would have been Edie’s 89th birthday.
“Edie was an iconic New Yorker who shaped history and taught us that love always wins,” Governor Cuomo said. “Proclaiming her birthday as Edie Windsor Day is a fitting way to salute a true New York hero whose strength, perseverance, and conviction in the face of adversity continues to inspire all of us.”
The text of the proclamation is available here and below.
Proclamation
Whereas, all New Yorkers are proud to join in honoring the life and legacy of Edie Windsor, a pioneer and icon in the LGBTQ movement who inspired New Yorkers and people around the world through her courage, leadership, and tireless commitment to ensuring equality and justice; and
Whereas, throughout her extraordinary life, Edie broke down barriers – in her professional career working with early mainframe computers, having achieved the highest technical position of Senior Systems Programmer at IBM and, through her personal drive as a powerful and fearless voice for the LGBTQ community in New York and across the nation; and
Whereas, her landmark victory in United States v. Windsor marked a watershed in the movement to secure marriage rights for same-sex couples and paved the way for nationwide marriage equality; and
Whereas, Edie’s strength, perseverance, and conviction in the face of adversity has made her a hero to all New Yorkers and an invaluable inspiration to countless others in the fight for equality; and
Whereas, June 20, 2018 marks what would have been Edie’s 89th birthday, and all New Yorkers are proud to join in honoring and remembering Edie’s extraordinary life, her legacy of groundbreaking leadership, and her lasting contributions to equality everywhere;
Now, Therefore, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim June 20, 2018 as Edie Windsor Day in the Empire State in honor of her legacy of groundbreaking achievements and indelible contributions to our great state and nation.
Given under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany on this sixteenth day of June in the year two thousand eighteen.
Order Protects Immigrants in New York From Fear and Intimidation
Action Also Forbids Law Enforcement Officers from Inquiring About or Disclosing Immigration Status Unless Investigating Illegal Criminal Activity
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today issued Executive Order 170 that prohibits state agencies and officers from inquiring about or disclosing an individual’s immigration status unless required by law or necessary to determine eligibility for a benefit or service. Law enforcement officers will also be prohibited from inquiring about immigration status unless investigating illegal criminal activity. This prohibition against inquiring into status includes, but is not limited to, when an individual approaches a law enforcement officer seeking assistance, is the victim of a crime, or is witness to a crime.
“As Washington squabbles over rolling back sensible immigration policy, we are taking action to help protect all New Yorkers from unwarranted targeting by government,” Governor Cuomo said. “New York became the Empire State due to the contributions of immigrants from every corner of the globe and we will not let the politics of fear and intimidation divide us.”
The Executive Order builds on Governor Cuomo’s commitment to ensure full protections for all immigrants in New York. In March, Governor Cuomo launched the Liberty Defense Project, the nation’s first public-private immigrant legal defense initiative, to respond to the surge in demand for help that is overwhelming nonprofit organizations serving immigrants. The partnership is supported by more than $10 million in funding to offer legal assistance and representation to immigrants in New York, regardless of their status, through a statewide network of attorneys and advocacy organizations.
Protecting New York’s Immigrants
New York State has and continues to serve as a beacon for immigrants. For the past five years, New York State, through the Office for New Americans, has helped immigrants fully participate in New York State civic and economic life through a network of 27 community-based centers around the state that provide English classes, civic education, guidance on how to start / grow a business, and naturalization assistance. ONA also has a hotline, a toll-free, multi-lingual information center, as well as a dedicated website that guides New Americans to available resources. The hotline number is 800-566-7636 (operating 9AM-8PM (ET), Monday through Friday) and the website is www.newamericans.ny.gov.
Since taking office, the Governor has taken aggressive steps to provide assistance to immigrant communities. In 2011, he signed a wide-reaching Executive Order to ensure language access across state agencies, suspended the State’s participation in a federal program that required local law enforcement to help identify deportable individuals, signed legislation holding entities that defraud immigrants accountable, and established the Office for New Americans. He launched NaturalizeNY, the first public-private partnership of its kind to encourage and assist eligible immigrants in New York State with becoming U.S. citizens. As Attorney General, Governor Cuomo also worked to combat immigration fraud, having utilized general civil rights laws to successfully investigate and prosecute companies for defrauding immigrants. He also secured court judgments and settlements in excess of $23 million dollars on behalf of the state’s immigrant population.
The signed executive order can be viewed here, and its text is available below:
No. 170
E X E C U T I V E O R D E R
STATE POLICY CONCERNING IMMIGRANT ACCESS TO STATE SERVICES
WHEREAS, New York State will remain true to the ideals that founded this country, and will continue to welcome immigrants as a source of energy, and celebrate them as a source of revitalization for our State; and
WHEREAS, New York State’s residents make up one of the nation’s most diverse communities, as over 4.3 million immigrants reside within the State and over twenty percent of the State’s population is foreign-born; and
WHEREAS, immigrants residing in New York State are an essential part of the economic fabric of this State, as over 29% of all business owners in New York are foreign-born, such businesses generate millions of dollars in total net income, and the combined purchasing power of immigrant communities exceeds $165 billion dollars; and
WHEREAS, the reporting of unlawful activity by immigrant witnesses and victims is critical to strengthening ties between immigrants and law enforcement, reducing crime, and enhancing the State’s ability to protect the safety of all of its residents; and
WHEREAS, the New York State Constitution and the New York State Human Rights Law protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of national origin in the areas of education, benefits, employment, housing, and public accommodation, and the State is committed to enforcing those protections to the fullest extent of the law; and
WHEREAS, State government has a responsibility to ensure that services are provided equally, and consistent with civil rights laws, to all individuals eligible to receive them; and
WHEREAS, access to State services is critical to the vitality and well-being of immigrant communities and their continued integration into the State’s economic, civil, and cultural life; and
WHEREAS, providing State services to immigrant communities is necessary to meet the needs of the State’s diverse population, to maintain public confidence in State government and its agencies, and to comply with State and Federal civil rights laws; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of New York, do hereby order as follows:
A. Definitions
1. "State entity" shall mean (i) all agencies and departments over which the Governor has executive authority, and (ii) all public benefit corporations, public authorities, boards, and commissions, for which the Governor appoints the Chair, the Chief Executive, or the majority of Board members, except for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
2. "Alien" shall mean any person who is not a citizen or national of the United States.
3. "Illegal activity" shall mean any unlawful activity that constitutes a crime under state or federal law. However, an individual’s status as an undocumented alien does not constitute unlawful activity.
B. Agency and Authority Responsibilities Respecting the Privacy of Personal Information
1. No State officers or employees, other than law enforcement officers as provided in B.3 infra, shall inquire about an individual’s immigration status unless:
a. The status of such individual is necessary to determine his or her eligibility for a program, benefit, or the provision of a service; or
b. The State officer or employee is required by law to inquire about such individual’s status.
2. No State officers or employees, including law enforcement officers, shall disclose information to federal immigration authorities for the purpose of federal civil immigration enforcement, unless required by law. Notwithstanding such prohibition, this Order does not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any state employee from sending to, or receiving from, federal immigration authorities, information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual, as required by law.
3. No law enforcement officers shall inquire about an individual’s immigration status unless investigating such individual’s illegal activity, provided however that such inquiry is relevant to the illegal activity under investigation. Nothing in this section shall restrict law enforcement officers from seeking documents for the purpose of identification following arrest.
a. This prohibition against inquiring into status includes, but is not limited to, when an individual approaches a law enforcement officer seeking assistance, is the victim of a crime, or is witness to a crime.
b. Law enforcement officers may not use resources, equipment or personnel for the purpose of detecting and apprehending any individual suspected or wanted only for violating a civil immigration offense. Law enforcement officers have no authority to take any police action solely because the person is an undocumented alien. This includes identifying, questioning, detaining, or demanding to inspect federal immigration documents.
G I V E N under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this fifteenth day of September in the year two thousand seventeen.
In its latest article, the New York Law Journal has featured the newly elected Presidents of Affinity Bar Associations for 2017. Among them is Dwight Yoo, the current President of AABANY.
Here is a short excerpt on Dwight:
Dwight Yoo, 43, is a partner in the corporate finance and
financial institutions departments of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher
& Flom. He obtained his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law
School and began practicing in 2000.
His term began on April 1.
Yoo
said that the group’s theme this year is “take charge and lead change,”
and they plan to promote Asian American talent for executive level
positions and diversify the bench at the state and federal levels.
The
approximately 1,100-member group wants to help Asian Americans in need
develop a “strong and unified voice” and be able to speak up on issues
which matter to them. To that end, they will be launching a leadership
institute in the fall to train mid-level to senior Asian American
attorneys at law firms and help them gain the “knowledge and skills to
get promoted in their firms.”
Congratulations again to all newly elected Bar Presidents that are profiled!
The Appellate Division, First Department was honored as an institution by the New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) on December 13, 2016 at the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria. The First Department was recognized for its illustrious history and for its court work including the development of precedential legal principles for lower courts to follow, especially in the field of commercial litigation.
The gala was attended by over 100 judges and over 800 attorneys and guests.
Acting Presiding Justice Peter Tom accepted the award on behalf of the First Department. In his remarks, he observed:
In so many respects, we reflect this great city that is our home. We live amidst its blessings and
its problems, and above all, among its people. Our staff and our bench reflect the cultural
diversity of the City. In my earlier years on the First Department bench, I have been joined by
judges having the more traditional Irish, Italian and Jewish backgrounds – and Leo Milonas
proudly represented the Hellenic tradition – but increasingly, up to present, by judges and staff
who have African-American and Hispanic backgrounds and, as is obvious as I stand here now,
also Asians. I think that it is especially remarkable at this point in our city’s history that my
good friend Justice Randy Eng is the Presiding Justice of our sister-court in Brooklyn while I am
Acting Presiding Justice of the First Department. This is the first time in the history of New
York State that two Asians preside over two of the four judicial departments. After a century in
existence, this court is beginning to reflect the diverse population of the city.
AABANY congratulates the First Department on this honor from NYCLA and shares in Justice Tom’s observation that the court, after 100 years, is “beginning to reflect the diverse population of the city.” We hope that it continues to do so.
For the full text of Acting Presiding Justice Tom’s acceptance speech, follow the link in the title. To read more about the event in the New York Law Journal, click here (subscription required).
Photo of Justice Eng (l.) and Justice Tom (r.) at the NYCLA Annual Dinner courtesy of Justice Tom.
NAPABA is aware of a highly unusual development in the judicial selection process in the State of New York. It is our understanding that, for the first time in the state’s history, a local screening committee has declined to vote a sitting judge, Justice Doris Ling-Cohan, out of committee, thereby denying her the opportunity to seek re-election, with the effect of removing her from the bench. While we are also aware of press reports of potential changes in this development, to our knowledge, the decision of the screening panel has not been reversed, and Justice Ling-Cohan is not on the ballot for the November election. Justice Ling-Cohan is the first and only Asian Pacific American woman on the appellate courts of New York. This statistic is particularly striking, as Asian Pacific Americans make up 7.3 percent of the population of New York. We encourage our local affiliates, who are closest to the process and to the relevant players, to closely investigate and monitor the situation, and for the New York legal community to take every step necessary to ensure that judges are treated fairly and on the merits, and are given the opportunity to confront and respond to any expressed concerns or objections.
For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or [email protected].
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of approximately 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.
NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.
It’s not often your film gets handed an award by an Oscar winning actress, but that’s what happened last week to Tested. Geena Davis and the Bentonville Film Festival gave us their Highest Diversity Award.
Looking forward, we’re back in New York for a series of screenings this week:
Mon., May 23 La Guardia Community College 1:00pm, Room E-242, Queens, NY
Tues., May 24 Teach for America 6:30pm, 25 Broadway, 12th Fl, New York
Wed., May 25 SAYA @ NYU Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies at NYU 6:30pm, 255 Sullivan Street, New York
Thurs., May 26 Lincoln Center Film Society (SOLD OUT) 5:00pm
We’re planning our Fall Tour including stops in Virginia, Massachusetts, Oregon, Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, as well as Europe and Asia. Whether you’ve seen Tested, or hope we bring a screening to your city, consider a tax-deductible donation to our efforts!
In past elections, Asian Americans have faced a series of barriers in exercising their right to vote. When the news media reported on election results, Asian Americans were overlooked. In response, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund along with several partners will monitor the elections for bilingual ballots under the federal Voting Rights Act and to document instances of anti-Asian voter disenfranchisement.
We need your help. In the 2012 elections, 850 volunteers polled 9,096 Asian American voters in 14 states and Washington, DC. Volunteers work in 3-hour shifts. There will be a 90-minute training session for all volunteers. (Attorneys can receive 1.5 CLE credits including 0.5 ethics credit.) Sign up online here. Thank you!
For more information, contact: AALDEF Staff Attorney Jerry Vattamala or Voting Rights Organizer Judy Lei at 800-966-5946 or [email protected]
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AALDEF 2014 Poll Monitoring Trainings Lite Lunch/ Dinner will be provided. Advanced Registration required. Sign up here.
Tues., Oct. 14 – Boston 8:30 a.m. – Mintz Levin, 1 Financial Center, Boston, MA 02110 12 noon – Ropes & Gray, 800 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199 6 p.m. – Edwards Wildman, 111 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02199
Wed, Oct. 15 – New York City 12 noon – Shearman & Sterling, 599 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022
Thurs, Oct. 16 – New York City 12 noon – Weil Gotshal, 767 5th Ave, New York, NY 10153 6 p.m. – Wilson Elser, 150 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10017
Fri, Oct. 17 – Las Vegas 12:30 p.m. – Ballard Spahr, 100 North City Parkway, Suite 1750, Las Vegas, NV 89106 6 p.m. – Location TBD
Mon, Oct. 20- Washington DC 12 p.m. – Finnegan, I St NW # 700, Washington, DC 20005 6 p.m. – Crowell & Moring, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
Tues, Oct. 21 – Atlanta 12 noon – Ballard Spahr, 999 Peachtree Street, Suite 1000, Atlanta, GA 30309 6 p.m. – CPACS, 3510 Shallowford Rd NE, Chamblee, GA 30341
Wed, Oct. 22 – Houston 12 noon – Fullbright & Jaworski, 1301 McKinney St #5100, Houston, TX 77010 6 p.m. – OCA-Greater Houston, 9800 Town Park #142, Houston TX 77036
Thurs, Oct. 23- New Orleans 2 p.m. – Cotton, Schmidt & Abbot, 650 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130 6 p.m. – VAYLA, 13235 Chef Menteur Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70129
Thurs., Oct, 23 – Ann Arbor/Detroit 12 noon – Detroit, location TBD 6 p.m. – University of Michigan Law School, 625 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (tentative location)
Tues, Oct. 28 – Manhattan 12 noon – Baker Hostetler, 45 Rockefeller Plaza #10, New York, NY 10111 6 p.m. – Debevoise & Plimpton, 919 Third Ave, New York, NY 10022
Wed, Oct. 29 – Philadelphia 12 noon – Ballard Spahr, 1735 Market St #5100, Philadelphia, PA 19103 6 p.m. – BPSOS – South Philly, 600 Washington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147 (tentative location)
Wed, Oct. 29 – Brooklyn 12:45pm – Brooklyn Law School, 250 Joralemon St, Room 500, New York, NY 11201
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AALDEF 2014 Poll Monitoring Co-Sponsors List as of September 17, 2014.
NATIONAL CO-SPONSORS Alliance of South Asian American Labor APIAVote Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law National Asian Pacific American Bar Association National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development National Korean American Service & Education Consortium National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance North American South Asian Bar Association OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates South Asian Americans Leading Together
LOCAL CO-SPONSORS APIA Vote – Michigan Asian American Society of Central Virginia Boat People SOS Delaware Valley – PA Center for Pan Asian Community Services – GA Chhaya CDC – NY Chinese Community Federation of Atlanta – GA Chinese Progressive Association – MA Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia Hunter College/CUNY, Asian American Studies Program – NY Korean American Civic Empowerment of NY/NJ MinKwon Center for Community Action – NY OCA Georgia Chapter OCA Greater Houston Chapter OCA Las Vegas Chapter Princeton Asian American Students Association – NJ University of Maryland, College Park, Asian American Studies Program University of Massachusetts Boston, Asian American Studies Program Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans – LA
LEGAL CO-SPONSORS Asian American Bar Association of Houston Asian American Bar Association of New York Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts Asian American Legal Advocacy Center of Georgia Asian Bar Association of Las Vegas – NV Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Washington, DC Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania Asian Pacific American Lawyers Assoc. of New Jersey Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center – DC Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association Greater Boston Legal Services: Asian Outreach Unit – MA Korean Amer. Bar Assoc. of the Washington DC Area Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater NY Louisiana Asian Pacific American Bar Association Pace Law School, Public Interest Law Center – NY Suffolk U. Law School, Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service – MA and Asian Pacific American Law Student Association chapters across the country.
This program seeks to increase diversity in the legal profession in the Rochester area by attracting qualified second-year law students from historically under-represented groups, including racial and ethnic minorities or those who grew up in low income households, to work in a paid position with our organization. By providing a Rochester-based work experience to law students of diverse backgrounds, we believe we are moving toward the long-term goal of increasing diversity in the legal community.
Empire Justice Center strongly believes that a diverse work force results in better service to clients and a better work environment for attorneys and staff. We are committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting attorneys who contribute to the overall diversity of the legal community in Rochester.
The summer clerkship is expected to run for no longer than ten weeks in total and will include a $6,650 stipend.
Program Specifics (subject to change):
1. Application: Eligible second year law students are required to submit a formal application, current resume, law school transcripts, a personal statement and the designated writing sample on or before the submission deadline of Thursday October 30, 2014 to [email protected].
2. Interview: Based on the application materials submitted, qualified candidates will be invited to Rochester for an interview conducted by members of the Diversity Clerkship Hiring Committee and various staff attorneys of the organization, on Saturday November 22, 2014.
Students must secure their own transportation to Rochester for the interviews; however, students facing challenges traveling to Rochester should contact Rebecah Corcoran for potential assistance or to discuss alternatives.
3. Selection Process: After the interviews, the Diversity Clerkship Hiring Committee will rank students based on the following criteria (being an agent for social and economic change, commitment to and interest in legal services, writing skills and interview/interpersonal skills) and then will select the student who will be offered the Clerkship, along with alternates.
4. Offers: The selected student will be given three days to accept the initial offer. If the offer is declined, the position will be extended to an alternate until the position is filled.
