Albany Law School Podcast

APALSA president Isuri Poththewela and member Ambreen Aslam (rising 2L) join the Albany Law School podcast during Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month to discuss the importance of creating a welcoming and diverse campus environment while encouraging involvement with issues touching the legal profession, the law school, and the Asian and Pacific communities.

The Asian Pacific American Law Student’s Association is a student-run affinity group at Albany Law School that coordinates a range of activities, from academic, professional, and cultural events to school support.

Anthony Sokolowski '19 enrolled at Albany Law School as a father; balancing fatherhood and law school was anything but easy. Sokolowski is forever grateful that the Albany Law School community embraced him and his situation with open minds and arms. He credits much of his success as an attorney and a father to his time at Albany Law School and recounts one of the most memorable moments he has had with his son by his side.

The DEI office is crucial to Albany Law School as we look to welcome and support students of all races, cultures, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. The work this team has done and continues to do is inspiring as we commit to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for our ever growing student population.

We welcome two members of The Albany Law School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team as we discuss DEI initiatives on campus like our 3rd annual Diversity Week! Assistant Director of Diversity and Inclusion Bria Barnes and the Coordinator of Student Programs, Owen Collier.

Instagram: albanylaw_dei

Email: [email protected]

On March 27, Albany Law School celebrated the 30th Anniversary of Kate Stoneman Day! This tradition celebrates women in the law in honor of the law school’s first female graduate, Kate Stoneman, Class of 1898. Albany Law School's prestigious Stoneman Awards are presented to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to seeking change and expanding opportunities for women within the legal profession. Albany Law School’s Kate Stoneman Honorary Committee is proud to honor Verna L. Williams the CEO of Equal Justice Works, with this year’s Miriam M. Netter '72 Kate Stoneman Award. Additionally, The Honorable Llinét Beltré Rosado ’97—NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, and advocate for women and girls to pursue legal careers as well as Prof. Laurie Shanks, emeriti professor at Albany Law School and luminary in the field of criminal defense. Prof. Laurie Shanks - 14:11 The Honorable Llinét Beltré Rosado ’97 - 32:17 Verna L. Williams the CEO of Equal Justice Works - 50:15

The Government Law Center at Albany Law School hosted the third and final program in the series, Transcending Gender, Sex, and the Law, on December 7, 2023. In this program, panelist discussed the future of legal rights and protections for transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex (TGNCI) people in New York State, including potential statutory reforms, regulatory reforms, and litigation that may impact rights and protections. Panelists also discussed lessons learned from other states and the role of New York State government and the broader legal community in upholding legal for TGNCI people.

Participants:

Prof. Ava Ayers (moderator) – Albany Law School

Allie Bohm – New York Civil Liberties Union

Shain Filcher – LGBT Bar Association of Greater NY

Faris Ilyas – The NEW Pride Agenda

Melissa Sklarz – Equality New York

Hon. Seth M. Marnin (closing remarks) – New York State Court of Claims

This series was presented with support from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Albany Law School.

Legal experts and government officials discussed the possibilities and challenges of implementing statewide sustainable development initiatives at the municipal level during the annual Edwin L. Crawford Program on Municipal Law at Albany Law School on Friday, November 17, 2023. The program, hosted by the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, examined how state initiatives impact local governments, the role of local governments in implementing them, existing sustainability initiatives in municipalities across the state, and the future of local action around sustainable development.

The program included a keynote address by Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Two panel discussions addressed the role of local government in building decarbonization and investing in renewable energy, respectively.

Panelists included:

• Elizabeth Bough Martin — Mayor of the Village of Chittenango, New York

• Susanne DesRoches — Vice President, Clean and Resilient Buildings, NYSERDA

• Malak Nassereddine — Senior Manager, New York Utility and Regulatory Policy, Building Decarbonization Coalition

• Niki Armacost — Mayor of the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, New York

• Anthony Fiore — Chief Program Officer, NYSERDA

• Madison Hertzog — New York City Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice

Panel moderators included:

• Prof. Keith Hirokawa — Distinguished Professor of Law, Albany Law School

• Javid Afzali ’12 — Partner, Harris Beach, PLLC

The Government Law Center at Albany Law School hosted the second of three programs in the series, Transcending Gender, Sex, and the Law, on November 9, 2023. In this program, panelists discussed some of the many challenges that transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex youth and families encounter in New York State, the myriad ways in which the legal community, advocacy groups, and state government have worked to address these challenges, and remaining needs of TGNCI youth and families. Topics discussed include health care decision making and informed consent for minors, access to education free from discrimination and harassment, name and gender-marker changes on identity documents, custody issues involving parents of transgender youth, and more.

Participants:

Bria Brown-King – interACT Advocates for Youth

Lisa Campo-Engelstein – Institute for Bioethics & Health Humanities, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Julius Faulkner – In Our Own Voices

Bobby Hodgson – New York Civil Liberties Union

Joe Williams ’15 – Copps DiPaola Silverman

Mary Ann Krisa, II, ’19 (moderator) – New York State Unified Court System, Appellate Division, Fourth Department

Judges, journalists, attorneys, and law enforcement officials discussed the rights, responsibilities, and liability of the media, courts, and law enforcement in a fictional criminal trial during the Fair Trial/Free Press Conference: Gag Orders, Anonymous Juries, and the Media, on Friday, November 3, 2023, at Albany Law School.

The program explored the legal, political, and ethical issues that could arise in a hypothetical scenario in which a fictional gubernatorial candidate was indicted on federal financial fraud charges and a turbulent trial ensued. Panelists discussed the interplay of the Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial and First Amendment rights to attend and report on trials, including social media, gag orders, anonymous juries, police conduct, and protection of the press and its sources. The full scenario is here: https://www.albanylaw.edu/media/20391/download

Panelists included:
• Rosemary Armao — Investigative reporter, news editor, and Adjunct Professor at the SUNY University at Albany
• Martin Bell, Esq. — Partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Natalie Brocklebank, Esq. — Deputy Director of the New York State Defenders Association
• John M. Czajka, Esq. ’04 — Division Counsel for the New York State Police
• Hon. Mae D’Agostino — United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York
• Carla DiRienzo — New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Field Command Office
• John J. Flynn, Esq. — Erie County District Attorney and President of the District Attorneys' Association of the State of New York
• Prof. Roy Gutterman — Director of the Tully Center for Free Speech and Professor of Communications, Magazine, News, and Digital Journalism at the Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Mark Mahoney —Journalist and Editorial Page Editor at the Schenectady Gazette

The discussion was moderated by:
• Hon. Albert Rosenblatt – Retired Judge on the New York Court of Appeals
• Rex Smith – Former Editor of the Albany Times-Union

The program was presented by the Government Law Center at Albany Law School and the New York Fair Trial/Free Press Conference.

Jane M. Spinak, the Edward Ross Aranow Clinical Professor Emerita of Law at Columbia Law School delivered the 9th annual Katheryn D. Katz ’70 Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.

Professor Spinak is a renowned advocate for children’s welfare, family rights and juvenile justice. She presented the lecture titled The End of Family Court.

The Government Law Center at Albany Law School hosted the first of three programs in the series, Transcending Gender, Sex, and the Law, on October 26, 2023. In this program, panelists discussed some of the many challenges that transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex adults encounter in New York State, the myriad ways in which the legal community, advocacy groups, and state government have worked to address these challenges, and potential strategies for the future.

Participants:

Jillian T. Weiss, Esq. – Law Office of Jillian T. Weiss

Kym Dorsey – S.T.Y.L.E. (Self Turnaround Your Living Environment) and Gender Equality New York

Ezra Cukor – Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund

Charlie Arrowood – Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission of the New York Courts and Gender Equality New York

Dena DeFazio ’18 – Barclay Damon and New York State Bar Association, Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Chel Miller (moderator) – Government Law Center at Albany Law School