BAEC Summer 2020 Bulletin

BAEC Bulletin | Summer 2020 | 5
Letter from the
President
As I commence this journey as president of the Bar Association of Erie County, I first want to thank
the members of this Association for placing your trust in me to serve in this capacity. My humble
pledge is to each and every day honor your trust.
The first step on my journey is to recognize and commend my predecessor, Bridget M. O’Connor. She
has, despite the extraordinary circumstances confronting us due to the global public health pandemic,
ably and effectively led this Association. With class, wit and exceptional interpersonal skills, Bridget
has worked tirelessly to guide the Association in meeting the needs of our members. At the risk of
Oliver C. Young
appearing to overstate the matter, I can forthrightly state that Bridget’s fortitude and steadfastness
have shown us that with perseverance we may even accomplish the nearly impossible. Emblematic
of her awesome stewardship of the Association is Bridget’s management of the widely-heralded visit of Associate Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg to
Buffalo. We all still have a sense of pride from the Ginsburg visit. Bridget’s love for lawyers and the legal profession is palpable and is evinced by her
eagle-eyed focus on the need of Association members, further evinced by her successful efforts in working closely with our committee chairpersons
to strengthen our standing committee structure. Thanks Bridget for all you have done for the Association. Your leadership has been awe-inspiring.
Next, I wish to acknowledge our BAEC Committee Chairpersons, who have, throughout the shutdown, continued to call committee meetings
and to do the work of the Association. Since the shutdown, the chairpersons have been meeting with the Association leadership twice per week to
receive information about the state of the court closing, which information is passed on to their committee members. The chairpersons’ willingness
to participate in this twice-weekly exercise is worthy of praise and very much appreciated.
The Court Pause
We were all dismayed by, and have come to understand the reasons for, the Governor’s decision to close schools and non-essential businesses, as
well as concerned about the impact of the decision on some court operations. The novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) has dealt a devastating blow to
the citizens of New York State, having caused a heavy loss of life and business interruptions. However, a decision on the part of our governmental
authorities not to shut down in March 2020 would likely have resulted in more deaths and other losses. In the wake of the pause in some court
operations, our ability to practice law in some courts and serve our clients has been somewhat hampered. The future uncertainty has caused
enormous consternation. We should look to our institutions, like the Bar Association, for assistance in navigating these troubled waters. Hopefully,
we are not at Winston Churchill’s “end of the beginning,” but rather closer to the “beginning of the end.”
As of this writing, we are about to enter Phase Three of the courts’ return to full operation. Phase Three will allow for more access to the courts for
the processing of additional non-essential matters. The expansion under Phase Three will not be a return to “business as usual” in the near term.
What you will see, in the parlance of Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, is a “new normal” in court operations. For the near future, there will be heavy
reliance on technology and virtual court proceedings. The Association is working closely with the courts to devise processes and procedures to
resolve pending cases and calendar new cases.
George Floyd and Police Misconduct
By the time you read this post, the Human Rights Committee will have held a CLE seminar entitled “Law Enforcement Accountable: Section
1983 and Excessive Force Claims.” The tragic death of George Floyd has touched people deeply not only in this country, but in far-flung places all
around the world. On the heels of Mr. Floyd’s death, there was the killing of Rayshard Brook by an Atlanta police officer. The seminar will address
how lawyers can seek redress for their clients injured as a result of police misconduct. More about the seminar in my next letter.
I was able to join 200+ other lawyers on the June 10 th Walk for Justice, organized by Buffalo attorney Shawn W. Carey. The .6-mile walk, which
started in front of Old County Hall, included a kneel-down in front of the U.S. Constitution sketched on the outside wall of the federal courthouse.
While the Walk was not a BAEC-sponsored event, some of our members assisted in organizing it and many other members took part in the walk
(Note that the Bar Association on June 1, 2020 issued a presser addressing the George Floyd matter).
Re-Opening Our Law Offices
The BAEC has created a task force entitled Resuming Operations: Adapting to Practicing in a COVID-19 World. The task force, headed by
BAEC Director Liz Kraengel, will make recommendations on how to re-open safely our offices, and how to navigate and maneuver in this
COVID-19 environment. Please check the BAEC website in the coming weeks.
Election 2020
I wish to thank our retiring Board members for their outstanding service to the BAEC. They include: President Bridget M. O’Connell, Treasurer
Craig R. Bucki, and Directors Jennifer I. Fay, Mario A. Giacobbe and Peter Matthew Kooshoian. Much success to them in all of their future
endeavors.
In closing, please enjoy the remainder of this summer. Stay safe. Be well. I will be in touch again by way of this medium in the Fall.