Terrorism Protections, Urban Congestion Solutions and Other New York Issues Explored at ABA Annual Meeting

CHICAGO, Aug. 5, 2008—Efforts to protect New Yorkers from future terrorist attacks; solutions that address urban congestion, such as vision42; and local litigation-based approaches to end homelessness are among the key law programs of local interest at the 2008 American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Thursday through Tuesday, in New York City.

With more than 1,500 top quality legal programs and events, and presentations by the foremost law experts and speakers, including U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, the ABA Annual Meeting is the nation’s premier gathering of legal professionals.

The 555-member ABA House of Delegates will meet on Aug. 11 and 12 in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton New York to consider policy recommendations and vote on resolutions. During the meeting, Mukasey will address the assembly. Also, Patricia Wald, former U.S. and international war crimes judge, will receive the ABA Medal, the association’s highest honor.

Also during the meeting, the House will host a timely panel, “The Use of Subpoenas to Compel Reporters to Disclose Their Sources,” on Aug. 11 at 11 a.m.

Among events of local interest, the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession honors two New Yorkers with its annual Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Awards during a luncheon at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers on Sunday: Roberta Karmel, Brooklyn Law School professor and the first women appointed to the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Mary Jo White, partner at Debevoise and Plimpton LLP and the first woman U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Additionally, on Saturday more than 50 U.S. Park Police officers will have free wills drafted by volunteer lawyers from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Statue of Liberty, as part of the Wills for Heroes program. Created by a young lawyer who felt compelled to take action after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, this is the first time that Wills for Heroes will take place in New York City. Click here for more information.

Other programs of local interest include:

* “Protecting New York City: 2008” A panel will examine the legal, regulatory and policy issues associated with their efforts to provide protection to New Yorkers from future terrorist attacks.
Aug. 8, Sheraton New York, Conference Room E, Executive Conference Center.

* “Renewable Energy and Transportation: An Afternoon at the Intersection of Law, Finance, Politics and Public Necessity” This program will look at the delivery of goods and services in an era of shrinking government budgets and declining interest in more public debt. Part one will examine renewable energy and the interest of state and federal governments in pursuing energy projects, smoothing out energy prices and putting idle resources to work. Part two will look at light rail solutions to alleviate urban congestion, including vision42, New York’s proposed east-west system along 42nd Street.
Aug. 10, Waldorf=Astoria, Astor Salon, 3rd Floor.

* “Cutting Edge Litigation to Combat Homelessness and Poverty” Several novel litigation approaches to reducing poverty and homelessness will be highlighted in this program using cases brought in New York and across the country.  Panelists will discuss strategies for winning political and popular support in litigation against governmental defendants and the difficulties in enforcing the legal victories won by plaintiffs who are homeless.
Aug. 8, Le Parker Meridien, Tansa 1, 3rd Floor.

* “Workers’; Compensation in the Post 9/11 and Natural Disaster Era” An expert panel will discuss the realities in workers’ compensation in the age of terrorism and natural disaster. David Prezant, chief medical officer for the Fire Department of the City of New York will discuss pulmonary disorders and unusual diseases affecting workers involved in post-9/11 cleanup. Also, panelists share the effects 9/11 had on New York and national worker compensation costs.
Aug. 8, Hilton New York, Gibson Suite, 2nd Floor.

* “Concerns of Tribes in New York” This program will address tribal land claims and related jurisdictional issues in New York, issues involving cross border rights of tribes near or adjacent to the international boundary with Canada and public safety in Indian Country in New York.
Aug. 10, Hilton New York, Nassau Suite B, 2nd Floor.

Among other programs:

“Business Improvement Districts and Urban Revitalization”
Aug. 8, Sheraton New York, Conference Room H, Executive Conference Room.

“Murder at Madison Square Garden: The High-tech Trial of Millionaire Harry Thaw for Shooting Architect Sanford White—Retrying the Case Using Contemporary Science”
Aug. 8, Hilton New York, Sutton South, 2nd Floor.

“Individual Rights, Terrorism and the Rule of Law”
Aug. 8, Hilton New York, East Ballroom, 3rd Floor.

“Comparing the Proposed New York Rules of Professional Conduct to the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct—A Business Law Perspective”
Aug. 8, Grand Hyatt, Morosco, Conference Level.

“Claim Trends after the Subprime Meltdown”
Aug. 9, Hilton New York, Gibson Suite, 2nd Floor.

“The Bridge Fell in 13 Seconds: Liability and Insurance Issues Associated with Our Aging Infratructure and Government Responses”
Aug. 9, Hilton New York, Clinton Suite, 2nd Floor.

“The Immigration Crisis: The Courts and the Rule of Law”
Aug. 10, Hilton New York, Trianon Ballroom, 3rd Floor.

“Public Nuisance Litigation—the State’s New Regulator”
Aug. 10, Hilton New York, Clinton Suite, 2nd Floor.

“Banks in Crisis—Are the Government Safety Nets Working?”
Aug. 10, Grand Hyatt, Empire State Ballroom A, Ballroom Level.

During the Annual Meeting, a press room for working journalists will be set up at the Hilton New York and will be open for on-site media registration at 8 a.m. on Aug. 7.  Thereafter the press room will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will close one hour after the adjournment of the House of Delegates on Aug. 12.

With more than 413,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.