Kathryn Grant Madigan's Blog

My apologies for the lag in blog entries, but I have been on the road again, this time at the International Practice Section meeting in Peru. More on that in blog entries to come…

This is an update on our efforts to bring our efforts to provide “justice to all” to the airwaves here in New York State through our public service announcements (NCSA) in coordination with the New York State Broadcasters Association. We chose the title “Justice for All” for this public education media campaign because as advocates for the people and the voice of the profession, access to justice for all, not just those who can afford it, is an Association priority. We should be proud of the important work attorneys across our state do everyday in serving the needs of our poor and most vulnerable citizens.

I recently taped four NCSAs outlining these priorities, including the concept of Civil Gideon ie. providing essential civil legal services to those in need; the importance of advance planning through Health Care Proxies; and the vital work undertaken by New York lawyers through pro bono and public service.

These NCSAs will begin airing – statewide – in mid October. We've been engaged in this public education partnership with the NYS Broadcasters Association program for a number of years and the feedback has been universally positive.

If you would like to listen to this year’s announcements, just click on the icons below. And do let me know what you think. We'll have an opportunity in the spring to record a second series of public information spots, so if there is a message you think we need to get out on the airwaves, I'm all ears.

Civil Gideon 60 seconds
Doing the Public Good 30 seconds
Health Care Proxy 30 seconds
Civil Gideon 30 seconds

During the last week of September, I had the privilege of attending the International Law and Practice Section's annual meeting in Lima and Cusco, Peru. The conference was held over the course of 6 days and attended by more than 230 attorneys from almost every Latin American country, 9 additional countries and 6 states. Programs held throughout the meeting afforded NYSBA members around the globe with the opportunity to meet with newly credentialed US Ambassador to Peru, P. Michael McKinley, Peru Prime Minister Jorge Del Castillo and Chief Justice Francisco Tavara.

On top of what was an exciting and empowering week I was honored to join with Section Chair Oliver J. Armas (Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP) in presenting a $10,000 check to the Dean of the Colegio de Abogados de Lima (Lima Bar Association) from the Section to assist in the delivery of essential legal services to the victims of the devastating earthquake in Peru who are now struggling to rebuild their lives.

This was an extraordinary opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with international bar leaders and policy makers on the future of international trade and the rule of law, and most especially, to do what we do best - helping lawyers and their communities in times of crisis.

from the left is Aaron Schindel, Chair of the Program, Jose Antonio Olaechea, member of the Peru Steering Committee, US Ambassador to Peru, P. Michael McKinley, KGM, Oliver Armas, International Law and Practice Section Chair and Mark Alcott

(note that Mike McKinley is holding his Tiffany "Big Apple" from the Section)

Last week the legislature did not address the salaries of New York State Judges. In response, I sent this letter to the editor to newspapers across the state. I am happy to report that appeared in The Buffalo News and in the Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin. As always, I am very interested in hearing what you have to say about this important issue.

October 25, 2007

Dear Editor:

Virtually no one disputes the notion that New York's judges deserve a raise, but the State Legislature has now come and gone from Albany yet again without taking any action.

The members of our state judiciary are among the outstanding pillars of our society and the failure of the Legislature to enact a judicial salary adjustment has gone on far too long, bringing us to the brink of crisis.

Since 1999, when state judges received their last raise, the salaries of the federal judiciary, judges in other states and non-judicial employees in the court system have increased to keep up with inflation, while the value of New York State judges' salaries has eroded. Today, they are near the bottom of the nation's judicial pay scale. Our judges have gone longer without a raise than any other judges in America.

A number of judges have already filed a lawsuit to force the Legislature to act. The compensation issue is a topic of conversation at virtually every gathering of the legal profession and the judiciary. Our Chief Judge, Judith Kaye, wrote recently: "Experienced judges increasingly talk of resigning so they can afford to continue to live in New York and educate their children. Outstanding lawyers for whom judicial service should be a calling see it as a sacrifice they cannot afford."

How can we expect our judges to feel valued, that their remaining on the bench is worth the sacrifices they make? How can we say that we are committed to maintaining a judiciary of the highest quality when we don't adequately compensate the talented men and women who already serve?

The current political stalemate must end now. The Legislature should reconvene as soon as practicable and put judicial salaries at the top of its agenda.

Sincerely,

Kathryn Grant Madigan
President, NY State Bar Association