WASHINGTON, July 26, 2017 — Sanctuary cities, sexual violence on college campuses and the 50th anniversary of Justice Thurgood Marshall’s appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court are chief among immigration and diversity issues that will be explored at the 2017 American Bar Association Annual Meeting Aug. 10-15 in New York.
August 04, 2017
Sanctuary cities, sexual violence on college campuses are immigration and diversity highlights at American Bar Association meeting Aug. 10-15 in New York
Another highlight will be the annual ABA Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Awards luncheon on Sunday, Aug. 13, at the New York Hilton Midtown. The award, established in 1991, honors outstanding women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence in their area of specialty and have actively paved the way to success for others.
In addition to the more than 1,000 events at this premier gathering of legal professionals, the ABA House of Delegates — the association’s policymaking body — will meet at 9 a.m. on Aug. 14-15 at the New York Hilton Midtown’s Grand Ballroom. For details on the proposals for debate and vote during the two-day session, click here.
Online registration is available for news reporters. ABA credential guidelines are here. Reporters interested in covering United Nations programming from the Annual Meeting’s “CLE in the City” series, must also register for U.N. media clearance.
Diversity and immigration programs include:
Friday, Aug. 11
“Disability & Due Process: Equal Access to the Judicial System” — Attorneys and judges with disabilities will be among panelists who will discuss barriers, such as lack of interpreters for the deaf and readers for the blind, to full and equal access to the justice system. Panelists will also discuss needed policy changes, as well as relevant case law and ongoing litigation.
9:45-10:45 a.m., Grand Hyatt New York, Ballroom Level, Empire State Ballroom V
“Sanctuary Cities – The New Federalism and Role of the State and Local Governments in Addressing Undocumented Immigrants” — Top lawyers aiding immigrants in the “sanctuary cities” of New York, San Francisco and Chicago will discuss the legal issues raised when local governments take action over what is generally considered to be a federal issue. Speakers will include Maribel Hernandez Rivera, Director of Legal Initiatives for the New York Mayor’s Office; and Thomas Homan, acting director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
10-11:30 a.m., New York Hilton Midtown, Concourse A
“A New Global Agenda for Women: Discussion of 21st Century Challenges to Women and Girls’ Empowerment” — A panel will discuss the United Nations’ goals of empowering women and girls worldwide, examining challenges to full participation in leadership roles, pay equity, peace processes, freedom from violence and freedom from violence in war zones.
10-11:30 a.m., Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, 1285 6th Ave.
“Strengthening Justice in Latin America to Maintain Security, Fight Crime and its Nexus to the U.S. Legal System” — A panel will focus on the top legal issues impacting the Latin American regions from Mexico to Central and South America, including access to justice, the lack of transparency and accountability within the administration of justice; human rights within the context of fighting corruption and organized crime; and collaboration on issues such as immigration.
10:30 a.m.-Noon, Sheraton New York Times Square, Lower Level, Chelsea
“Women as Change Agents in Criminal Justice: The Importance of Electing Women” — Ninety-five percent of elected prosecutors are white men, according to the Women’s Donor Network. But there is a groundswell of activity to change these statistics. Panelists, including Anne Swern, a candidate for Brooklyn district attorney, will address the importance of gender diversity in the justice system, how women can change the system and what steps can be done to encourage qualified women to run for office.
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Intercontinental The Barclay, Mezzanine Level, Grand Ballroom II
“Workplace Issues for Immigrants and Religious Minorities Under the Trump Administration” — In light of Trump administration policies targeting immigrants, including the travel ban from six Muslim-majority countries, the expansion of deportation efforts and the attacks on sanctuary cities, panelists will examine immigrants’ workplace rights and problems that the administration’s policies may cause for employers. In addition, the panel will discuss appropriate prophylactic measures to protect and enforce the rights of immigrant and religious minority employees.
11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., New York Hilton Midtown, 2nd Floor, Regent
“Prying Eyes: Think Confidential and Privileged Client Information Is Safe at the Border? Guess Again” — In 2015-16, U.S. border searches of electronic devices increased five-fold with no signs of slowing down. While the U.S. has special handling procedures for privileged legal information, many countries do not. A panel will help lawyers meet ethical obligations on information privacy at the border.
2-3:30 p.m., New York Hilton Midtown, 2nd Floor, Sutton Center
“Deportation, Due Process and the New Frontier of U.S. Immigration Policy” — A panel of New York-based legal experts will examine Trump administration immigration policies as well as recent round-up-and-deport efforts and threats to defund so-called sanctuary cities. How can these “reforms” be reconciled with time-honored, due process protections and the U.S. image as a beacon of hope for those persecuted abroad? Speaker include Bree Ann Bernwanger, Feewick Center for Social Justice, New York; Nisha Suresh Agarwal, New York Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs; Jojo Annobil, executive director, Immigrant Justice Corps, New York.; Muzaffar Chishti, director, Migration Policy Institute at New York University School of Law; and Edwina Richardson Mendelson, deputy chief administrative judge for Justice Initiatives, New York City courts.
2-3:30 p.m., New York Hilton Midtown, 2nd Floor, Beekman
“The Legacy and Promise of Justice Thurgood Marshall: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of His Historic Appointment to the Supreme Court” — Nearly 50 years after his appointment to the Supreme Court, panelists – including Pulitzer-Prize winning biographer Gilbert A. King – will highlight Thurgood Marshall’s legacy, sharing stories about his work before the Supreme Court, his challenging nomination process and his work on the high court. Joining King on the panel will be former law clerks to Justice Marshall, Georgetown University Law Center professors Susan Low Bloch and Sheryll Denise Cashin.
2-3:30 p.m., New York Hilton Midtown, 2nd Floor, Sutton North
Saturday, July 2
“ABA JusticeHack New York: Reimagining the Relationship between Law Enforcement and Communities of Color ‘’ — The hackathon will bring together multidisciplinary teams of community, legal, law enforcement, criminal justice and technology stakeholders in a collaborative environment to develop technology-based solutions to address tension points between law enforcement and communities of color.
8 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Fordham University School of Law, 2nd Floor, 150 West 62nd Street, Constantino Room
“Enhancing Justice and Reducing Implicit Bias in the Legal Profession: Strategies that Work” — Experts will share proven strategies to help lawyers and judges combat the implicit biases that cloud fair-minded decision making and can lead to injustice.
10-11:30 a.m., New York Hilton Midtown, 2nd Floor, Sutton Center
“Issues of Sexual Violence on College Campuses and Beyond: Balancing Privacy, Constitutional and Civil Rights” — Sexual violence on college campuses presents complex and often dueling administrative issues including those involving the First Amendment, civil rights, Title IX, and reputational risks. Legal experts struggle to determine policies for public and private colleges and universities to decrease the occurrence of campus sexual assaults, prevent their recurrence, and address their effects. Socioeconomic, cultural, and even geographic differences can play a role in our attitudes toward these issues and in identifying appropriate responses by the colleges and universities. Speakers include Tina Tchen, former executive director of the White House Council on Women and Girls, Washington, D.C.
2-3:30 p.m., New York Hilton Midtown, 2nd Floor, Sutton North
“Advancing Civil Rights and Social Justice in the New Supreme Court” — Commissioner Debo P. Adegbile of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission will be among panelists who will examine the likely impact of new Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. Using the cases that the high court will likely decide in the upcoming years, the panel will explore the question: How does Gorsuch’s judicial record portend for civil rights and social justice?
2-4 p.m., New York Hilton Midtown, 2nd Floor, Regent
Sunday, July 13
“Connecting the Dots: The Connection Between State Restrictions on Women’s Rights and Lack of Access to Programs Benefiting Low-Income Women and Children” — Panelists will discuss the movement to restrict reproductive rights and access to necessary services for women, and the dire consequences of stringent reproductive restrictions, especially in states that offer pregnant women few protections from discrimination. Speakers will include Nancy Northup, president and CEO, Center for Reproductive Rights, New York City; Joia Adele Crear-Perry, MD, founder and president of National Birth Equity Collaborative, New Orleans; Terri-Ann Thompson, Ibis Reproductive Health, Cambridge, Mass.; and Pamelya Herndon, Southwest Women’s Law Center, Albuquerque, N.M.
10:30 a.m.-Noon, New York Hilton, 2nd Floor, Regent
“Margaret Brent Awards Luncheon” — This awards luncheon recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of women lawyers. The award is named for Margaret Brent (1601-71), the first woman lawyer in America. This year’s honorees are Nancy Duff Campbell, co-president, National Women’s Law Center; Bernice Donald, circuit judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; Lynn Nakamoto, justice, Oregon Supreme Court; Lauren Stiller Rikleen, president, Rikleen Institute for Strategic Leadership; Nadine Strossen, John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law, New York Law School.
Noon-2 p.m., New York Hilton Midtown, 3rd Floor, Grand Ballroom
Reporters may pick up their press badges at the meeting registration area on the 2nd floor (Promenade foyer) of the New York Hilton Midtown. During the Annual Meeting, a press room for accredited journalists will be open on the 3rd floor (Americas Hall II), starting at 9 a.m. on Aug. 10. Thereafter the press room will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will close one hour after the House of Delegates adjourns on Aug. 15.
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