Previous Events & CLE Programs
July 16, 2008
Training
The Rights and Procedures Reflecting the Potential and Presumed Competence of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Sponsors
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
Massachusetts Advocates for Children
Please join Julia Landau, Senior Program Director at Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC), and director of MAC’s Autism Special Education Legal Support Center, for this informative update. The training will emphasize specific legal requirements highlighting changes to state and federal law, which ensure that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder receive education services to meet their unique needs and allow them to reach their potential. It will address current trends, legal standards, some discussion on court cases, evaluation rights and procedures, and special education service options for children with ASD.
Following the program, there will be a brief Steering Committee Meeting with an End of Year Celebration. It was a great year, and there is much to celebrate! Drinks and desserts will be served.
June 25, 2008
Section Meeting
Defending Death Row Inmates and Adjudicated Criminals: Representation Day by Day
Sponsors
Criminal Law Section
New Lawyers Section
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
Come hear four associates discuss their varied and interesting work in representing death row inmates and other adjudicated criminals. The panelists will discuss how they got involved with their representation, and what types of work they have done on the cases.
Panelist:
Alison Douglass
Goodwin Procter LLP
Matthew C. Moschella
Sherin and Lodgen LLP
Bryan Conley
WilmerHale LLP
Laurie Carafone
Dwyer & Collora, LLP
Moderator:
Randall Ravitz
Office of Massachusetts Attorney General
June 9, 2008
Section Meeting
The Presidential Power (Counter) Revolution
Please join Charlie Savage, Pulitzer-Prize-winning [former] Boston Globe Washington reporter, currently with the New York Times, to hear his take on the presidential power revolution. There will be time for questions after the presentation.
June 5, 2008
Section Meeting
Parents Involved: A Year Later
Nadine Cohen, Greater Boston Legal Services, and Susan Eaton, Harvard University, will review the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Parents Involved In Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1, the history of litigation involving voluntary integration education efforts, and the implications for future programs. Maura Healey from the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office will serve as moderator.
May 28, 2008
CLE Program
Wage and Hour Issues for the Complex Workplace
Sponsors
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
Labor & Employment Law Section
A significant amount of legal time has been spent analyzing and litigating equal employment law issues in the workplace, such as sexual harassment and race discrimination. Until recently, however, there has been limited focus on an employer’s duties and an employee’s rights under wage and hour laws. This program will educate practitioners on some common issues in the field.
Click here for complete program description.
May 13, 2008
Section Meeting
The FBI and the Mob
Senior Lawyers Section
Litigation Section
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
Solo & Small Firm Section
Please join Juliane Balliro, WolfBlock, and Victor Garo, two of the attorneys who secured a $101.75 million judgment against the federal government in the malicious prosecution case of Limone v. United States, 497 F. Supp. 2d 143 (D. Mass. 2007), appeal pending, as they discuss the legal and personal issues that they confronted in litigating it.
Background:
Nearly 40 years ago, four alleged organized crime figures were convicted of murder based upon the false testimony of an FBI informant. Of the four of them, two were sentenced to death. Two died in prison, and two others lived long enough to see their convictions vacated. After a decades-long effort and a 22-day bench trial before the Honorable Nancy Gertner, their attorneys obtained civil relief for them.
April 23, 2008
Section Meeting
Education About Voting Rights
Sponsors
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
New Lawyers Section
College & University Law Section
Boston Area Colleges Elections Improvement Project
ACLUM Science and Technology Committee
American Constitution Society
The Boston Area Universities Election Improvement Project is attempting to implement real-world programs that improve the electoral process and increase understanding of voting behavior.
The Project has two primary facets, the first focusing on vote administration and the voter experience, the second focusing on program evaluation and statistical techniques. Beyond this information being of interest on its own, it will also facilitate the study of quantitative methods used to understand voting behavior, such as might be used in voting rights analysis. These new methods would be designed to replace current techniques used in, among other places, federal courts.
March 13, 2008
Section Meeting
Transgender People and The Law: What Every Lawyer Should Know
Sponsors
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
Labor & Employment Section
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition
Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders
Join us as panelists discuss the legal landscape generally with regards to representation of transgender persons, including a discussion of specific case examples as well as legislation affecting transgender persons. The panel will be moderated by Laurie Carafone, Dwyer & Collora, LLP.
Panelists:
This program is Co-chaired by Laurie Carafone and Bennett Klein.
March 12, 2008
Section Meeting
Press & Privacy: Freedom of the Press & the Public's Right to Know vs. Family Privacy Rights
Sponsors
Arts, Entertainment & Sports Law Committee
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
Massachusetts Practice & Procedure Committee
Mike Gass, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP , will discuss a recent case involving media access to autopsy reports of two firefighters who died while fighting a fire in West Roxbury in August, 2007. The reports revealed traces of drugs and alcohol in the firefighters systems at the time of the fire. Mr. Gass represented WHDH/Channel 7 in opposing a restraining order issued by a Superior Court judge to the firefighters union prohibiting Channel 7's release of the story and prevailed in the SJC. He will discuss both the first amendment and procedural aspects of the case and its impact on the law related to freedom of the press.
February 14, 2008
Section Meeting
The Future of the Death Penalty: Does It Have One?
Sponsors
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
The Boston Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society
Suffolk University Law School Student Chapter of the American Constitution Society
Please join us for this discussion featuring:
Deborah Fleischaker
Director of the American Bar Association
Death Penalty Moratorium Implementation Project
Daniel J. Givelber
U.S. Professor of Law
Northeastern University School of Law
Member of the Board, New England Innocence Project
Dr. Carl Ladd
Connecticut Department of Public Safety
Forensic Science Laboratory
January 15, 2008
Section Meeting
Update on Supreme Court Argument Concerning Guantanamo Cases
Sponsors
Senior Lawyers Section
International Law Section
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
The United States Supreme Court heard oral argument on December 5, 2007 in Boumediene v. Bush and a related case, which undoubtedly involve the most important issues to come before the Court this term. Steve Oleskey and Mark Fleming, of WilmerHale and counsel for the petitioner, will give their impressions of the argument, the issues and what is likely to happen in the future.
January 11, 2008
Section Meeting
Bench-Bar Conference on Federal Habeas Corpus Actions Challenging State Convictions
Sponsors
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
Criminal Law Section
Litigation Section
Join a panel of federal district and magistrate judges for a program on what has been described in judicial opinions as "one of the most complex" areas of federal law. Discussion will focus on aspects of practice and procedure unique to this area and will provide an opportunity for questions and comments by practitioners representing inmates and the government.
Panelists:
- Hon. William G. Young, United States District Judge
- Hon. Judith G. Dein, United States Magistrate Judge
- Hon. Leo T. Sorokin, United States Magistrate Judge
December 6, 2007
Section Meeting
The CORI System: The Good, The Bad and The Prospect for Reform
Join us as an experienced panel identifies the key issues in the on-going debate over CORI reform in Massachusetts and examines the need for changes to the current system. CORI refers to "Criminal Offender Record Information," the body of Massachusettscriminal records information which is kept by the state and presided over by the Criminal History Systems Board (CHSB).
While originally intended to protect the privacy of individuals with criminal records and to make the criminal justice system more efficient, CORI laws have been recently expanded to permit access to criminal records by employers and housing agencies, among others. In recent years, reform of the CORI system, and in particular, the question of whether the CORI system strikes the right balance between the right to know and the public interest in the rehabilitation of ex-offenders has become an important issue.
Panelists:
- Ernest (Tony) Winsor, of the CORI Project of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
- Jeffrey J. Pyle, a trial lawyer specializing in First Amendment and media law at Prince Lobel Glovesky & Tye, LLP
- Michael O’Keefe, the District Attorney of the Cape and Islands District, or Tara Maguire, the Association’s legislative counsel.
November 27, 2007
Section Meeting
Immigration Enforcement & the New Bedford Raids Litigation
Please join the Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section for a discussion with a distinguished panel of authorities on efforts to enforce immigration laws, the impacts of those efforts, related legislative proposals, and the litigation arising from the recent immigration raids in New Bedford. The panel discussion will be followed by a reception.
Panelists include:
November 5, 2007
Section Event
The Constitution's Unfinished Business
Join us as Lawrence M. Friedman, Associate Professor of Law at New England School of Law, moderates a discussion about how the nation continues to struggle with certain issues in Constitutional Law. Michael J. Klarman and Mark V. Tushent, two distinguished law professors, will discuss their areas of expertise, including racial inequality and the Second Amendment. This discussion should be a lively dialogue about the history of the constitution, the role of law in American life and solutions and resolutions to some of the Constitution's most vital areas of 'unfinished business.'
Klarman is one of the nation’s leading authorities on race and constitutional history, and he is currently a James Monroe Distinguished Professor of Law and Professor of History at the University of Virginia. In Unfinished Business: Racial Equality in American History, Klarman illuminates the course of racial equality in America and reveals why the elimination of this inequality still remains “unfinished business” for America.
Tushnet is a William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and is one of the nation’s leading legal scholars. In Out of Range: Why the Constitution Can’t End the Battle Over Guns, Tushnet reviews both sides of the argument surrounding the Second Amendment and points the way to solutions that could calm, if not settle, this undeniably hostile dispute that has divided our country.
October 2 2007
Section Event
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section Annual Kickoff
Join the Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section as it kicks off a year of enlightening programming and warm collegiality! The program will feature a talk on the abolitionist movement in Boston by L'Merchie Frazier, Director of Education of Boston’s Museum of African-American History, which has recently opened a new welcoming center right next to the BBA on Beacon Street. Attendees will also have an opportunity to mingle at a reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
June 27 , 2007
CLE Program
High Tech Monitoring and Workplace Privacy: Spotlight on Labor & Employment Law
Sponsors
Labor & Employment Law Section
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
Business Law Section
Current technological advances have provided employers with new surveillance tools to monitor employee activities and use of company resources while at work. This program will discuss the rights of employers and employees in this new environment, as well as the areas of the law that provide the possibility for privacy protection.
April 24, 2007
Section Meeting
Thomas Mela and Leslie Lockhart of Massachusetts Advocates for Children will discuss the fundamentals of special education law applicable to school proceedings and the Massachusetts Bureau of Special Education Appeals. Mr. Mela and Ms. Lockhart will give practical tips for advocating during the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and for practicing in this area of the law.
April 18, 2007
Section Meeting
The Military Commissions Act of 2006: Legal Implications on the National and International Levels
Join us as we explore the legal implications of the newly-enacted Military Commissions Act of 2006. Panelists, who are currently engaged in detainee litigation, will comment on the domestic and international ramifications of this controversial piece of legislation.
Panelists include:
March 29, 2007
Section Presentation
The BBA Welcomes Attorney General Martha Coakley
Sponsors
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
Criminal Law Section
Environmental Law Section
Intellectual Property Law Section
Solo & Small Firm Section
Attorney General Martha Coakley will outline her priorities for her administration, with specific emphasis on criminal matters. Please join us for this unique opportunity to hear from and speak with the Attorney General about her plans.
A reception will follow the program.
March 16, 2007
Section Meeting
A View to Guantanamo
Sponsors
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
Delivery of Legal Services Section
Labor & Employment Section
Ellen Lubell and Doris Tennant of Tennant Lubell, LLC, having recently returned from visiting their client in Guantanamo Bay, will discuss the challenges - both legal and personal - of representing a detainee.
February 28, 2007
Section Meeting
The Assault on the Lawyer-Client Relationship
Sponsors
Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Section
Senior Lawyers Section
An official in the Department of Defense publicly asks corporations to fire lawyers who represent "war on terror" clients, and a major newspaper applauds; the Department of Justice wants corporations to waive the lawyer-client privilege in exchange for favorable treatment; Congress makes Bankruptcy lawyers personally responsible for representations and defaults of debtors; governments wiretap conversations between lawyers and clients. Join us as a panel of experienced and thoughtful experts describe recent attacks on relationships between lawyers and clients, and try to describe what it all means.
Program Chair
Mala Rafik, a partner at Rosenfeld & Rafik, PC. and Co-Chair of the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Section of the Boston Bar Association
Moderator
Richard L. Levine, Co-chair of the Senior Lawyers Section of the BBA
Panelists Include
Jack Cinquegrana, a partner at Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP and President of the Boston Bar Association.
Judith A. McMorrow, Professor at Boston College Law School
Carol V. Rose, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts
February 8, 2006
Section Meeting
Spies and Patriots - Who's Watching America 's Rights?
Carol Rose , Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, will lead a discussion of the National Security Agency (NSA), domestic surveillance, and implications for civil liberties.
December 14, 2005
Section Meeting
The First Amendment Behind Bars: Prisoners' Rights and Religious Freedoms
Neil McGaraghan, of Bingham McCutchen LLP and pro bono counsel to Massachusetts inmates in two pending appeals, will discuss the free exercise of religion in prison. What is protected? What are the limits? What are the challenges? Join us for a discussion of religious rights and liberties behind bars.
November 17, 2005
Section Meeting
Criminal Offender Record Information and Prospects for Reform
In Massachusetts, employers often seek Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) in evaluating potential employees. What restrictions exist on an employer's right to obtain such information? Does the CORI system strike the right balance between the right to know and the public interest in the rehabilitation of ex-offenders?
Ernest (Tony) Winsor, of the CORI Project of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, will discuss the CORI system and possible improvements, including pending legislation supported by the CORI Project. There will be written materials available and time for questions.
November 10, 2005
Section Meeting
Committee Meeting: The New Hampshire Trespass Cases
Mona T. Movafaghi will discuss the facts surrounding the charging of undocumented aliens with Criminal Trespass under NH RSA Section 635:2, and why this seemingly inconsequential case gained such prominence. Ms. Movafaghi will also discuss the State’s theory of the case and the doctrine of federal preemption. She will cover new threats to undocumented alien in the State of New Hampshire and across the country.
Cases to be discussed:
State of New Hampshire vs. Jorge Mora Ramirea
Jaffrey/Peterborough District Court
Case No.: 05 CR 00736
State of New Hampshire vs. Margarito Jaramillo Escobar
Nashua District Court
Case No: 05 CR 3946
October 12, 2005
Section Meeting
Same-Sex Marriage Update
Michele Granda of the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, lead counsel for the plaintiffs in Cote-Whitacre v. Department of Public Health, will discuss the case and other interstate marriage recognition issues associated with the availability of marriage for same-sex couples in Massachusetts.
In Cote-Whitacre, eight same-sex couples are challenging the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ refusal to issue marriage licenses to non-resident same-sex couples under G.L. c. 207, s. 11, the so-called "1913 law."
September 7, 2005
Section Meeting
Sneak Preview of a Provocative New Television Series, The ACLU Freedom Files
Join us for a sneak preview of a provocative new television series, The ACLU Freedom Files, produced by documentary filmmaker Robert Greenwald's Brave New Films (makers of Uncovered: The War On Iraq; Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism; and Unconstitutional: The War On Our Civil Liberties).
The new series, which will be broadcast on Link TV, aims to strip away the sound bytes to reveal how civil liberties affect real people every day, by featuring actual clients and the attorneys who defend them, as well as actors, activists and comedians.
We will show the 30-minute premiere of the series, entitled Beyond the Patriot Act, which will highlight the importance of the current efforts to reform that legislation and other government policies. Discussion to follow.
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