Articles Posted in Legal News and Views

These News Briefs and Decision Summaries are from  the  the New Jersey State Bar Association. They are an exclusive benefit of the Association in partnership with the New Jersey Law Journal. A subscription may be necessary to access the full text of some of the items listed

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After Costco Digs in Its Heels on DEI, What Could Go Wrong?

A message from William R. Bay, President of the American Bar Association, February 10, 2025:

It has been three weeks since Inauguration Day. Most Americans recognize that newly elected leaders bring change. That is expected. But most Americans also expect that changes will take place in accordance with the rule of law and in an orderly manner that respects the lives of affected individuals and the work they have been asked to perform.Instead, we see wide-scale affronts to the rule of law itself, such as attacks on constitutionally protected birthright citizenship, the dismantling of USAID and the attempts to criminalize those who support lawful programs to eliminate bias and enhance diversity.

We have seen attempts at wholesale dismantling of departments and entities created by Congress without seeking the required congressional approval to change the law. There are efforts to dismiss employees with little regard for the law and protections they merit, and social media announcements that disparage and appear to be motivated by a desire to inflame without any stated factual basis. This is chaotic. It may appeal to a few. But it is wrong. And most Americans recognize it is wrong. It is also contrary to the rule of law.The American Bar Association supports the rule of law. That means holding governments, including our own, accountable under law. We stand for a legal process that is orderly and fair. We have consistently urged the administrations of both parties to adhere to the rule of law. We stand in that familiar place again today. And we do not stand alone. Our courts stand for the rule of law as well.Just last week, in rejecting citizenship challenges, the U.S. District Judge John Coughenour said that the rule of law is, according to this administration, something to navigate around or simply ignore. “Nevertheless,” he said, “in this courtroom and under my watch, the rule of law is a bright beacon which I intend to follow.” He is correct. The rule of law is a bright beacon for our country.In the last 21 days, more than a dozen lawsuits have been filed alleging that the administration’s actions violate the rule of law and are contrary to the Constitution or laws of the United States. The list grows longer every day.

An event hosted by the American Bar Association Science and Technology Law Section.

” Hosted by the ABA Science & Technology Law Section (SciTech), the Privacy and Emerging Technology National Institute combines Privacy with the Section’s Spring Meeting (PRISM). And like a prism, this enlightening conference provides you with opportunities to see and understand privacy and emerging technology legal issues in a different and transformative way. Network with top attorneys, policymakers, and industry experts. Earn 10 CLE credits, including 1 hour of ethics.”

March 20, 2025 – March 21, 2025.

From the ABA Cybercrime Committee of the Criminal Justice Convention

“Please see attached abstract and registration information for a webinar our committee is putting on with the Cybercrime Committee of the Criminal Justice Section on the newly adopted UN Cybercrime Convention: Overview & Impact.  I hope you will be able to attend.  Please feel free to share the abstract with others or post it online!”

WEBINAR:

From a Legaltech News posting by Benjamin Joyner , January 27, 2025.

“LexisNexis {has] announced the general availability of Protégé, a personalized artificial intelligence assistant for legal work. The release follows last August’s announcement of Protégé’s commercial preview, which allowed several dozen customers to beta test the product.”

“The new tool is now integrated into Lexis’ larger generative AI platform, Lexis+ AI, which includes a variety of other features such as a citation tool, and is expected to be rolled out across other Lexis products shortly. The initial launch of Protégé came shortly after Lexis’ purchase of Belgian contract drafting startup Henchman, which was announced last June and finalized the following month. The use of the startup’s document management system integrations enabled enhanced personalization by grounding output in the previous work product of the individual user and the firm.”

 

These News Briefs and Decision Summaries are from  the  the New Jersey State Bar Association. They are an exclusive benefit of the Association in partnership with the New Jersey Law Journal. A subscription may be necessary to access the full text of some of the items listed

NEWS BRIEFS:

Gibbons Reps Asylum Seekers in $6M Suit Over 2018 ‘Inhumane’ Immigration Policy

These News Briefs and Decision Summaries are from  the  the New Jersey State Bar Association. They are an exclusive benefit of the Association in partnership with the New Jersey Law Journal. A subscription may be necessary to access the full text of some of the items listed:

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On November 18, 2022, the Attorney General appointed Special Counsel Jack Smith to investigate potential violations of law related to efforts to interfere with the lawful transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election and the certification of the Electoral College vote on January 6, 2021. This investigation culminated on August 1, 2023, with a federal grand jury indictment in the District of Columbia charging former President Donald J. Trump with four felony offenses stemming from alleged attempts to use fraud and deceit to overturn the election results.

Following a Supreme Court decision affirming immunity for certain alleged official misconduct, a superseding indictment addressed Mr. Trump’s non-immunized actions. However, upon Mr. Trump’s reelection to the presidency, the Department of Justice moved to dismiss the case on November 25, 2024, adhering to its longstanding position that a sitting President cannot face federal indictment or prosecution.

This volume of the report submitted by Jack Smith on January 7, 2025, prior to his resignation on January 10, details the Special Counsel’s investigation into the “Election Case,” offering transparency on prosecutorial decisions under DOJ regulations (28 C.F.R. § 600.8(c)). It provides a comprehensive account through five sections:

These News Briefs and Decision Summaries are from  the  the New Jersey State Bar Association. They are an exclusive benefit of the Association in partnership with the New Jersey Law Journal. A subscription may be necessary to access the full text of some of the items listed:

NEWS BRIEFS:

NJ Firm Narrowly Avoids Case Dismissal Over Lengthy Complaint Filed in Fed Court

These News Briefs and Decision Summaries are from  the  the New Jersey State Bar Association. They are an exclusive benefit of the Association in partnership with the New Jersey Law Journal. A subscription may be necessary to access the full text of some of the items listed:

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Tensions Run High at Final Hearing Before Manhattan Congestion Pricing Takes Effect

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