Presidential Connections

On Wednesday, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., New York State Bar Association President Michael E. Getnick is convening a special plenary Presidential Summit. The program is complimentary with your general registration.

Click here to view the program brochure

The two-part summit will consist of the following topics:

The Social Media Explosion: Privacy, Legal Process and Other Concerns

Lawyers, politicians, celebrities, and other individuals now use online forums to narrate their activities and invite the public to observe and comment. Court-watchers, jurors, jurists, lobbyists, legislators and the general public now give - and get - an insider's view into legal and personal matters previously shrouded in mystery. This panel will explore how new social media practices affect legal practice, participatory democracy, and the expectations of privacy of both lawyers and their clients. The panel will discuss the legal risks that attend social media activities, and the “best practices” that are evolving for lawyers to manage such risks.

Panelists include Steven C. Bennett of Jones Day; Lisa E. Davis of Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, PC; Mary Joyce, the New Media Operations Manager for President Obama’s campaign and co-founder of DigiActive.org; and Chris Kelly, Chief Privacy Officer of Facebook. Lesley Friedman Rosenthal, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc., will moderate the program.

Wrongful Convictions: Protecting the Innocent, Preserving our Justice System

A fundamental principle of our criminal justice system is to defend the innocent, but the alarming number of wrongful convictions in recent years suggests that this principle may be eroding. The fair administration of justice requires that we address the reasons for wrongful convictions and create a comprehensive plan to prevent future miscarriages of justice. An expert panel of defense attorneys, prosecutors and innocence advocates will discuss how to do this -- including potential legislative remedies -- and will outline best practices for dealing with these critical issues.

Panelists include the Hon. Phylis S. Bamberger, retired New York Supreme Court judge; Zachary W. Carter of Dorsey & Whitney; Immediate Past President Bernice K. Leber of Arent Fox LLP; Alan Newton, exoneree and advocate; Barry Scheck of The Innocence Project; and Cy Vance, the newly elected Manhattan District Attorney. Vincent E. Doyle, III, Connors & Vilardo, LLP, will moderate the program.

All NYSBA members also are invited to attend the President’s Reception immediately following the Presidential Summit from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. hosted by President Michael E. Getnick. Join us for this complimentary reception!