President's Report - June 22, 2009

May 7 - GSBA co-sponsored with ABWL an event at the National Bar Association's Healthcare Law Summit held on May 7 to 8, 2009 in Washington, DC. The Summit convened healthcare law professionals from the public and private sectors.

May 15 - GSBA participated in a press conference conducted by Governor Jon S. Corzine in Atlantic City announcing his nomination of Justice Barry Albin for reappointment as an Associate Justice to the Supreme Court. Representatives of the New Jersey State Bar Association as well as other specialty bars and all three New Jersey Law Schools were in attendance. Justice Albin along with former Chief Justices Deborah Poritz and James Zazzali and other dignitaries attended the press conference.

May 15 - GSBA participated in the World Against Violence Youth Conference held at NJIT as part of its Law Day programs. GSBA Member Ted Brown addressed a group of over 400 students speaking to them about the Law Day theme, "the Legacy of Abraham Lincoln," and encouraging them to consider careers in the legal profession and participate in the Essay Writing and Oral Advocacy Competition being held by GSBA on May 22, 2009 and May 30, 2009, respectively, in celebration of Law Day.

May 20 - GSBA co-sponsored with the Union County Bar Association and other specialty bars the 2009 Union County Law Day Program on May 20, 2009 at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. In the courtroom of the Honorable Karen M. Cassidy, A.J.S.C., GSBA presented awards to the winners of one of the Law Day competitions.

May 30 - GSBA hosted a Law Day program for middle school students at the Essex County Courts Building in Newark. The program consisted of a panel of five GSBA attorneys discussing the significance of Abraham Lincoln and his impact on the legal system. The panel members were Henry Felix, Assistant General Counsel for the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Honorable Paula Dow, Essex County Prosecutor; Keith Harvest, Chief Assistant Prosecutor, Essex County Prosecutor's Office; Theodore Brown, Director of Compliance, University of Medicine and Dentistry; Sharon McGahee, In-House Counsel for Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The program was moderated by GSBA President Greta Gooden Brown.

June 15 - By majority vote, GSBA Board of Directors adopted a Resolution supporting the independence of the judiciary and, in particular, the re-nomination of Supreme Court Associate Justice Barry T. Albin. Justice Albin's re-nomination ignited a political firestorm. Both prior to his ascension to the Supreme Court and during his seven year tenure on the Court, Justice Albin earned a reputation of being an advocate for the poor and defenseless. He served on the Supreme Court with distinction due to his intellectual capabilities, demeanor, work ethic, grasp of the law and clear writing style. By adopting the Resolution, GSBA joined the ranks of the New Jersey State Bar Association in calling for an evaluation of judicial candidates that is "studious, fair and nonpartisan, based solely on whether the judge or candidate has demonstrated the intellectual ability, integrity and judicial demeanor to serve in judicial office, without regard to philosophical differences and with due respect for judicial independence."

June 18 - In conjunction with the Hispanic Bar Association, the GSBA Executive Committee submitted a letter of support to the Senate Judiciary Committee supporting the confirmation of Camelia M. Valdes as the Passaic County Prosecutor. GSBA cited Valdes' prosecutorial experience as both a State and federal prosecutor as well as her community service along with a host of other qualifications in its letter of support.

June 22 - By majority vote, GSBA Board of Directors adopted a Resolution supporting Legal Services of New Jersey. Legal Services of New Jersey faces a financial challenge of historic proportions for Fiscal Year 2010, having lost more than half of its core funding due to a dramatic decline in its largest funding source, Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA). This funding shortfall coincides with increased demands for civil legal services from low income individuals who have become the victims of the recession. GSBA joined other bar associations and civic organizations by adopting a resolution endorsing Legal Services and contacting members of the State Legislature to support S-2881/A-3968 which imposes a temporary requirement on the County Treasurer to forward $300 from certain mortgage execution sales to provide additional funding for Legal Services of NJ.