Defending Justice: Mobilizing the Legal Profession to Stand Up for the Rule of Law
Monday, April 21, 2025 | 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Online Registration is now closed. Walk In Registrations will be accepted!
Format: In-Person 

Attendance is Free, But Registration is Required:

Capacity is limited, and spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Because this event is likely to be oversubscribed, we ask that registrants make every effort to attend.  If you are no longer able to join us, please call Customer Relations at 212-382-6663 to notify us as soon as possible so we can offer your spot to others.

Description:
Join us for an urgent and inspiring program as the New York City Bar Association hosts a series of panels focused on defending the independence of the judiciary and mobilizing the legal profession in support of the rule of law.

Program Schedule:

4:00 PM - 4:10 PM
Opening remarks from by Muhammad U. Faridi, President, New York City Bar Association.

4:10 PM - 5:00 PM
Safeguarding Judicial Independence: A Conversation with Former Judge Shira A. Scheindlin
Christopher Pioch, Chair of the City Bar’s Task Force on the Independence of Lawyers and Judges, and Matthew Diller, Professor of Law and Dean Emeritus, Fordham University School of Law discuss with Hon. Shira A. Scheindlin, Retired United States District Judge in the Southern District of New York about growing threats to judicial independence and the Bar’s role in protecting the judiciary from political interference.

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Moderated by Christopher Wilds, Co-Chair of the City Bar’s Council on the Profession, this panel brings together attorneys from Big Law and public interest organizations to explore how legal professionals can respond to democratic backsliding and threats to the legal system.  Panelists include Vincent Warren, Executive Director, Center for Constitutional Rights; Ilann M. Maazel, Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP; and Ben Berwick, Head of the Election Law & Litigation Team & Counsel, Protect Democracy. 

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Concurrent Workshops
These interactive sessions will offer practical strategies, share resources, and help build cross-sector networks to drive meaningful action.

• Private Law Firm: Lawyers Mobilizing for the Rule of Law - Workshop Leader, Sheila Tendy
• Public Interest Lawyers on Advocacy and Collaboration - Workshop Leader, Ben Berwick
• Law Students & Law School Professionals: Building a Culture of Legal Engagement - Workshop Leader, Mary Lu Bilek

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM 
Reception 
Close the evening with a reception where attendees can connect, reflect, and build community around this shared mission.

Sponsoring Committees:
Council on the Profession, Mary Lu Bilek and Christopher Wilds, Co-Chairs
Independence of Lawyers and Judges Task Force, Christopher Pioch, Chair