Race, Religion, and the Law: The Role of Attorneys in Combating Hate Crimes

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Date
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 

Time
8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. 

Location
New York Law School
Events Center, Second Floor
185 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013

CLE
1.5 credits in Professional Practice (NY transitional and nontransitional) and 1.5 credits in Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias (NY nontransitional)

Cost
Free of Charge

New York City is currently witnessing a sharp increase in hate crimes against racial and religious minorities, including Asian Americans, African Americans, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, and others. Along with government agencies and community organizations, attorneys are working to combat this troubling trend. This continuing legal education program will help attorneys understand the social and political forces that have led to the recent rise in hate crimes, as well as a range of legal, advocacy, and policy initiatives to combat hate crimes, including approaches drawing on restorative justice principles. Whether you work in criminal justice, victims’ services, civil rights advocacy, public interest law, or other legal practice areas, this program will help you take a stronger stand against hate.

Speakers will include legal scholars, attorneys, civic officials, advocates, and community leaders. Panel discussions will explore both governmental and community-based responses to hate crimes. The program will feature a keynote address by Judge Gary S. Katzmann, in memory of his brother Hon. Robert A. Katzmann, former chief judge of the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, who passed away on June 9, 2021.

Learning Goals:
1.  Explore the social and political forces that have led to the rise in hate crimes against racial and religious minorities, including disinformation, political polarization, and the normalization of bigotry in public discourse.
2.  Highlight best practices drawn from both government- and community-led initiatives combating hate crimes, including restorative justice approaches.
3.  Provide practical resources for attorneys working with both victims and perpetrators of hate crimes, including models for collaboration with key government agencies, advocacy groups, and community leaders.

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Program and Speakers

8:00 a.m.–8:30 a.m.
CHECK-IN AND LIGHT BREAKFAST

8:30 a.m.–8:45 a.m.
WELCOME REMARKS
Anthony W. Crowell, Dean and President, New York Law School
Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer, Executive Director, Interfaith Center of New York

8:45 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS IN HONOR OF THE HONORABLE ROBERT A. KATZMANN, FORMER CHIEF JUDGE, UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
Hon. Gary S. Katzmann, Judge, United States Court of International Trade; Formerly Associate Justice, Massachusetts Appeals Court, and Federal Prosecutor

9:30 a.m.–10:45 a.m.
PANEL 1:  GOVERNMENTAL RESPONSES TO HATE CRIMES
Jeannine Bell, Richard S. Melvin Professor of Law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, and author of Policing Hatred: Law Enforcement, Civil Rights, and Hate Crime
Jonah Boyarin, Liaison to Jewish Communities and Associate Human Rights Specialist, NYC Commission on Human Rights
Hassan Naveed, Deputy Executive Director, NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes
Hannah Yu, Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office

10:45 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
COFFEE BREAK

11:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
PANEL 2:  COMMUNITY-BASED RESPONSES TO HATE CRIMES
Avlana Eisenberg, Gary & Sallyn Pajcic Professor of Law at the Florida State University College of Law, and author of scholarly and popular works on hate crime law enforcement
Leo Ferguson, Director of Strategic Projects, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice
Ahmed Mohamed, Legal Director, New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
Jo-Ann Yoo, Executive Director, Asian American Federation

12:15 p.m.–12:30 p.m.
CLOSING REFLECTIONS
Anthony W. Crowell, Dean and President, New York Law School
Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer, Executive Director, Interfaith Center of New York