Calendar
June 2025
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June 24
Mark the Date
Attorney discusses making a practice accessible
June 24
The State Bar of Michigan is hosting a lunch-and-learn webinar to better understand disability issues and ensure legal services are accessible.
The free webinar “Disability: How to Provide Accessible Legal Services for All” is set for Tuesday, June 24, beginning at noon via Zoom.
Developed in conjunction with the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Michigan attorney Ashley Jacobson will provide an overview of the basic concepts attorneys should understand—including what it means to be disabled, what accommodations can help clients obtain effective legal assistance, and how an attorney’s disability can impact their practice.
Jacobson is a disability rights attorney, disability counselor, and assessment specialist. She provides advice and counsel to lawyers and clients on legal matters where disability is a factor.
To register for the free webinar, visit www.michbar.org/diversity/home.
Webinar looks at ‘Successfully Scaling SIM Statewide’
June 24
The National Center for State Courts will present the webinar “More Than One Way to Map a State: Successfully Scaling SIM Statewide” on Tuesday, June 24, from 2 to 3 p.m. via Zoom.
The Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) is a framework designed to guide community responses to individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.
In this webinar, attendees will learn how courts can design and use SIM workshops to identify strengths and gaps in resources, services, and processes along each intercept, allowing communities to develop effective action plans that divert people with behavioral health disorders from the criminal justice system.
This webinar will feature the real-world experiences of three states: Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Missouri. The panelists will share their state's overall goals, implementation strategies, challenges, and successes, as well as how they're supporting new community partnerships, measuring impact, and planning next steps.
Speaking at the webinar will be:
• Retired Chief Justice Paula Carey, Massachusetts Trial Court
• Marisa Hebble, MPH, senior manager for behavioral health and Project NORTH co-director, Executive Office of the Massachusetts Trial Court
• Kathy Lloyd, state courts administrator, Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator
• Shawna Mitchell, MS, LCADC, administrator, Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health
• KC Rafferty, director of community engagement, Missouri Behavioral Health Council
To register for the webinar, visit www.ncsc.org and click on “Education & events.”
State Bar of Michigan to host virtual Lawyer Trust Account Webinar
June 24
Michigan attorneys will be able to learn how to ethically manage lawyer trust accounts during the State Bar of Michigan’s half-day virtual Lawyer Trust Account Webinar on Tuesday, June 24.
The cost is $25 and the session will cover management principles, recordkeeping resources for client and third-party funds, and practical information regarding MRPC 1.15 and 1.15A. Scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon, the webinar is open to members of the Bar and their legal staff.
Payment and completed registration must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, June 20. All materials will be emailed to the registered email address approximately one week prior to the seminar. To register, visit www.michbar.org/trustaccounts.
For additional information, contact the State Bar of Michigan Ethics Helpline at 877-558-4760 or ethics@michbar.org.
Bench Bar Culinary Challenge returns
June 24
Grilling for Good returns with the 16th Annual Bench Bar Culinary Challenge which will take place Tuesday, June 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the home of retired Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Elizabeth L. Gleicher.
This annual charitable event is one of a kind in metro Detroit for a friendly cook-off between teams from the bench and bar. All proceeds benefit Alternatives for Girls and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Foundation’s scholarship fund.
This year, the teams consist of:
• Grilled from the Bench—Michigan Court of Appeals Judges Anica Letica and Adrienne Young; Wayne County Circuit Court Judges Regina Triplett and Nicole Castka; and Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Michael Servitto and retired Judge Edward Servitto Jr.
• Grilled by the Hour—Erica Sarver and Donovan Asmar for Bodman; Paulina Kennedy for Sommers Schwartz; and Donna MacKenzie and Chrissy Hagen for Olsman MacKenzie Peacock.
Attendees will be able to buy voting tickets at the event to determine whether the bench or bar wins the competition. Voting tickets may also be purchased online.
Tickets are $100 per person and include food, wine, and beer. Pre-registration is required. To register, visit https://womenlawyers.org/bench-bar-culinary-challenge.
Panel to offer ‘A View from the Top Court’
June 25
Jones Day Partner Amanda Rice, Detroit office, will be among the panelists for the firm’s “Women in IP Speaker Series: A View from the Top Court” webinar on Wednesday, June 25, from noon to 1 p.m.
The U.S. Supreme Court will soon conclude its 2024-2025 term. A panel of lawyers who have argued, briefed, and followed matters in the court this term will provide their insights on a few of the court’s decided cases, a few that the court did not take up, and a few that are pending, as well as broader trends at the court in IP and advocacy.
During this program, the panel will cover:
• Recent argument data and trends at the appellate and Supreme Court levels;
• The Supreme Court’s IP docket, including its decision on trademark profit disgorgement in Dewberry Group v. Dewberry Engineers;
• Cases to watch
• Tips and best practices for effective courtroom presentations.
For additional information on the webinar, visit www.jonesday.com and click on “Insights.”
‘Inside the Minds of Today’s Law Firm Leaders’ explored online
June 25
Managing Partner Forum will conduct the special webinar “Inside the Minds of Today’s Law Firm Leaders” on Wednesday, June 25, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
The webinar offers insights into the MPF 2025 Law Firm Leadership Survey and MPF 2025 Leadership Conference. This event will provide an exclusive look at the confidential results from more than 375 managing partners and law firm leaders who participated in the MPF benchmarking surveys. Previously available only to BigLaw, this research provides in-depth analysis on productivity, profitability, and other key metrics essential for tracking progress and accountability.
During this webinar, industry experts and managing partners will share insights into emerging trends, candid concerns, and top priorities while evaluating the status of smaller and midsize law firms in today’s competitive legal services market.
This special webinar is designed for:
• Managing partners
• Executive committee members
• Practice groups leaders & department heads
• Future firm leaders
• Law firm C-Suite professionals
• Law firm consultants and vendors
In addition to the live webinar, registrants will receive unlimited access to the on-demand recording, and complete results of both surveys. This data is available exclusively through MPF.
The registration fee for the special webinar is $495. To register, visit www.managingpartnerforum.org and click on “Special Webinar.”
‘Suicide Prevention Empower Hour’ hosted by WLAM
June 25
The Women Lawyers Association of Michigan in partnership with Jewish Family Service of Metro Detroit will present a “Suicide Prevention Empower Hour” online Wednesday, June 25, beginning at noon via Zoom.
The statistics around suicide are alarming. It is easy to feel helpless, but there is so much people can do.
With just an hour of time, attendees can become more suicide-aware and feel empowered to help create a suicide safer community. This online educational presentation will feature Mayim Meyers, Suicide Prevention coordinator at JFS.
The presentation will look at:
• What leads people to consider suicide
• Warning signs
• Appropriate language to use when engaging with someone considering suicide
• Resources to connect people with if they are having suicidal thoughts
To register for the online program, visit https://womenlawyers.org and click on “Events.”
Society hosting Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner
June 25
The Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers (ISIAL) will hosts its Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner on Wednesday, June 25, at Sindbad’s Restaurant & Marina, 100 St Clair St. in Detroit.
During the dinner, the ISIAL will present its Thomas “Tiger” Thornton Award, Charles R. Rutherford Jr. Award, and scholarships to Michigan law students.
Cost for this event is $75 for ISIAL members, $140 for member couples; $60 for ISIAL members less than 5 years, $110 for member couples less than 5 years; $45 for law students, $80 for law student couples, and $80 for non-members. Register online at http://irish-lawyers.org.
An effective CMS can help with guardianship oversight
June 25
The National Center for State Courts will present a webinar on “Maximizing Your CMS for Effective Guardianship Oversight” Wednesday, June 25, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.
While most case management systems are designed to track cases from filing to disposition, guardianship cases require ongoing monitoring from courts. In this webinar, attendees will learn about the newly adopted standards for guardianship case management and how to get the most from a current case management system.
Speaking at the program will be
• Rachel Buck, senior court management consultant, NCSC
• Allan Burton, business analyst, Supreme Court of Nevada, Administrative Office of the Courts
• Miriam Hamilton, senior court research analyst, NCSC
• Emery Taylor, court research analyst, NCSC
• Moderator Diane Robinson, principal court research associate, NCSC
To register for the webinar, visit www.ncsc.org and click on “Education & events.”
‘Intergovernmental Child Support’ focus of webinar
June 26
The Michigan Judicial Institute and Friend of the Court Bureau will present the webinar “Mythbusters: Intergovernmental Child Support Edition” on Thursday, June 26, from 9 to 10 a.m. via Zoom.
Intergovernmental child support cases have a reputation for being complex, confusing, and time-consuming—but how much of that is truth, and how much is myth? This webinar will dig into the real and perceived challenges of handling intergovernmental cases and bust the common myths that make the process seem harder than it is. Whether it’s confusion around roles and responsibilities, communication hurdles, or enforcement issues, this webinar will separate fact from fiction and provide practical strategies to simplify work.
Speaking at the program will be Elizabeth West, management analyst, Friend of the Court Bureau, State Court Administrative Office, Michigan Supreme Court.
To register for the webinar, visit https://mjieducation.mi.gov and click on “events.”
State Oversight Academy Symposium conducted online
June 26
The Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy will present the State Oversight Academy Symposium 2025 titled “Legislators and Academics in Collaboration” online Thursday, June 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. via Zoom.
Like previous symposia, scholars were asked to submit working papers on state legislative oversight and related topics to be read and reviewed by practitioners. There will be a roundtable discussion focused on overcoming barriers and leveraging opportunities for collaboration between scholars and practitioners.
The keynote speakers will be David Orentlicher, Nevada State assemblymember, professor of law at University of Nevada Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law; and Megan Rickman Blackwood, PhD candidate, Department of Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The 2025 Oversight Leader will also be recognized at the symposium. The SOA Oversight Leaders designation recognizes individual state legislators and committees whose work contributes to the practice of high-quality oversight and stands as an example for others to follow.
To register for the online symposium, visit https://levin-center.org/state-oversight-academy/soa-symposium-2025.
‘Crash and Crime Scene Mapping’ discussed
June 26
The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan will present the Traffic Safety Training Program Webinar “Crash and Crime Scene Mapping, from Incident to Courtroom” Thursday, June 26, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.
The Michigan State Police (MSP) have been using Unmanned Aircraft System technology (UAS and also commonly referred to as drones) since 2015 and have logged more than 500 missions. One of the key uses for drones is crash scene reconstruction. Throwing a drone in the air and taking a bunch of crash scene photos may seem easier and quicker than pulling out a total station and spending hours logging points with a data collector. However, there is much more to it.
This webinar will go over what goes into putting a drone up in the air to photograph a crash scene, what safeguards are put in place to ensure accuracy in the photos of the crash scene, how these documents are prepared for court, and what type of testimony prosecutors can expect in court on drone exhibits.
Speaking at the webinar will be Lt. Brandon Davis with the Michigan State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit.
To register for this free webinar, visit https://michiganprosecutor.org and click on “training.”
Lunch & Learn discussion to focus on victim rights
June 26
The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan’s Victim Services Training Unit will host an online lunch-time discussion between and among victim advocates. The Victim Advocates Lunch & Learn “Lettuce Talk” will take place online Thursday, June 26, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.
PAAM VSTU plans to offer victim rights related topics to prompt discussion. It also looks to this opportunity as a way to maintain community among victim advocates across Michigan. This meeting is for AG advocates and prosecutor-based victim advocates only.
To register for the online discussion, visit https://michiganprosecutor.org and click on “Training Calendar.” After registration is approved, participants will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom access link.
Anyone with questions may contact Alex McGowan at McGowanA1@michigan.gov, Bill Dailey at DaileyB2@michigan. gov, or Jeannie Wernet at Wernet J@michigan.gov.
This training is supported by a Crime Victim Rights Award. This award was made to the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Victim Services.
Three Levels of Multidisciplinary Governance’ explored online
June 26
The Michigan Judicial Institute will present a “Three Levels of Multidisciplinary Governance: The Steering Committee, Treatment Court Team, and Advisory Board Webinar” hosted by Problem-Solving Courts (PSC) on Thursday, June 26, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.
Treatment courts bring together the expertise, resources, and legal authority from several professional disciplines to provide evidence-based treatment and complementary services, close supervision, and judicial oversight for high-risk and high-need persons. Three levels of multidisciplinary governance and service coordination are required for treatment courts to function effectively.
The success of multidisciplinary programs like treatment courts depends on how well the partnering agencies coordinate their roles to achieve mutually agreed-upon goals, practice within the bounds of their expertise and ethical obligations, share appropriate information, and avoid interfering with the work of others.
This session will explore questions, provide practical examples, and discuss strategies for getting the community involved in developing their steering committee, treatment court team, and advisory board.
For registration information, contact PSC@courts.mi.gov. After registering, participants will receive a separate e-mail with the Zoom credentials.
‘Role of the Prosecuting Attorney in Juvenile Justice’ explored in webinar
June 27
The Michigan Judicial Institute and Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Services will present a webinar on “Understanding the Role of the Prosecuting Attorney in Juvenile Justice” Friday, June 27, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.
This webinar will explain the unique role of a prosecuting attorney in juvenile delinquency cases. This session will offer insights into the responsibilities, ethical considerations, and decision-making processes that shape how prosecutors navigate these sensitive cases.
Several key topics will be discussed during the webinar including:
• What the obligations of a prosecutor are in juvenile delinquency cases.
• How prosecutors work to ensure fairness and justice for both youth and the community.
• The delicate balance prosecutors must strike between accountability and compassion when working with youth.
Leading the webinar will be Karen Field, the Juvenile Justice and School Safety Training project director at the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (PAAM). Prior to joining PAAM in 2024, Field spent more than 23 years with the Washtenaw County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Field graduated in 1998 from the William & Mary School of Law in Virginia and began her legal career in Washtenaw County shortly thereafter working in a variety of capacities and units within that office. In 1999, after the office received grant funding, Field developed, implemented, and supervised a juvenile diversion program working out of prosecutor’s office. Her assignments also included being the first assistant prosecuting attorney in charge of the juvenile unit, handling all aspects of both juvenile delinquency and neglect-abuse cases.
The intended audience for the webinar includes Juvenile Justice County Implementation Team members, court administrators, juvenile probation officers and caseworkers, courts, law enforcement, school personnel, attorneys, social service providers, other juvenile justice stakeholders, and child welfare professionals.
To register for the webinar, visit https://mjieducation.mi.gov and click on “events.”
Trauma’s impact in juvenile justice cases explored
June 30
The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan’s Juvenile Justice &?School Safety Training Project will present “Trauma and its Impact in Juvenile Justice Cases: Guidance for Prosecutors” online Monday, June 30, from noon to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Leading the webinar will be Dr. Carly Baetz, a clinical psychologist and associate professor in the Psychology Department at Purdue University Northwest. She is currently based in Chicago and also holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She was the project director and principal investigator on a federally funded grant (SAMHSA) to expand trauma-informed services in New York City juvenile detention facilities and has more than a decade of experience working with youth and families in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.
Baetz’s current work focuses on treating youth with histories of trauma exposure who are impacted by the juvenile legal system, conducting research on the implementation of trauma-informed practices in the juvenile legal system, and providing trauma-informed training and consultation to juvenile legal system professionals. Prior to becoming a psychologist, Baetz represented youth in child protective and juvenile delinquency cases as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society, Juvenile Rights Practice in New York, NY.
There is no charge to attend this webinar, but advance registration is required by June 29. To register, prosecutors and APAs should visit https://michiganprosecutor.org and click on “Training Calendar.”
‘Counterintuitive Behaviors in Child Sexual Assault Victims’ explored in webinar
July 8
The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan’s Child Abuse Prosecution Resources (CAPR) will present a webinar on “Counterintuitive Behaviors in Child Sexual Assault Victims: What They Are and How to Use Them in Court” Tuesday, July 8, beginning at 1:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Assistant Prosecutor Angela DelVero and Barbara Welke lead a training that will help child abuse investigators and prosecutors understand some of the counter intuitive behaviors demonstrated by children who have been sexually abused, how they can inform the investigation in the case, and how expert testimony about these behaviors can help judges and juries understand these behaviors.
To register for the webinar, prosecutors and APAs should visit https://michiganprosecutor.org and click on “Training Calendar.”
Webcast focuses on mental health and estate planning
July 8
American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education will present the webcast “Trust and Estate Planning for Addiction and Other Mental Health Challenges” on Tuesday, July 8, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The prevalence and complexity of addiction and mental health conditions present unique and often difficult challenges for estate planners. Effective planning in these cases requires a thoughtful, individualized approach that is holistic and adaptable. While early collaboration with treatment and healthcare professionals is ideal, it’s not always feasible. Planners must be equipped to meet clients and beneficiaries wherever they are in the cycle of illness, recovery, or relapse.
Attendees will gain practical insight into how to support clients and beneficiaries navigating recovery or struggling with ongoing substance use or mental illness. Topics include:
• Looking at Addiction and Mental Health Diseases Through a Clinical Lens.
• The Brass Tacks of Estate and Trust Planning: Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders.
• Providing Sage Counsel Without Compromising Your Ethics or Your Well-Being.
Cost for the webcast is $249. To register, visit www.ali-cle.org.
Firm continues IRS series with webinar
July 9
Plunkett Cooney will continue its What to do When the IRS Comes Knocking series with a webinar on “IRS Collection Alternatives for Unique & Complex Tax Controversy Cases” Wednesday, July 9, from 11 a.m. to noon.
Staying on track with one’s tax liability can be a challenge for any number of reasons. That’s why we wanted to examine the question we frequently hear from our clients: “What Should I do When the IRS Comes Knocking?”
This second installment of the three-part webinar series will build on what was discussed in part 1, which included a review of the IRS tax collections process and a discussion about the agency’s two most common collection alternatives for taxpayers – installment agreements and offers in compromise.
This session will focus on additional collection alternatives for taxpayers with unique and complex situations. These include first-time penalty abatements, reasonable cause abatements, administrative waivers, statutory exemptions and even bankruptcy.
In addition, attendees will learn about the IRS’ passport denial and revocation program, agency-imposed liens, innocent spouse relief, and more.
Presenting the webinar will be Joseph A. Peterson, a member of Plunkett Cooney’s Business Transactions & Planning Practice Group who serves as leader of the firm’s Tax Law Practice Group. He has experience with tax law, risk management and litigation.
For additional information on the webinar, visit www.plunkettcooney.com and click on “Insights.”
‘Special Needs Planning in Judicial Practice’ offered online
July 9
The Michigan Judicial Institute will present a webinar on “Special Needs Planning in Judicial Practice: What Every Michigan Judge Should Know” Wednesday, July 9, from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.
This session provides an essential overview of special needs planning for Michigan judges, magistrates, referees, and probate registers.
Through real-world examples and case intersections, participants will gain foundational knowledge about how special needs trusts, public benefits eligibility, guardianships, and structured settlements affect the administration of justice.
The session will clarify common pitfalls, outline the roles of trustees and courts, and offer practical guidance. Supplementary reference materials will be provided for ongoing judicial use.
This webinar is eligible for CJE Credit [1.0 Judicial Practice & Related Areas].
To register for the webinar, visit https://mjieducation.mi.gov and click on “events.”
‘Magistrate Specialty Webinar’ presented
July 10
The Michigan Judicial Institute will present a “Magistrate Specialty Webinar” on Thursday, July 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. via Zoom.
MJI is pleased to offer a webinar for district court magistrates that will focus on:
• Statutory, Court Rule, and Caselaw Update
• Ethics
• Pretrial Release: Strategies and Considerations
• Increasing Public Trust and Confidence
Speaking at the webinar will be:
• Dr. Kelvin Banks, associate director at The Center for Effective Public Policy
• Zenell Brown, Fairness and Accountability administrator, State Court Administrative Office, Michigan Supreme Court
• Abby Graves, court analyst, State Court Administrative Office, Michigan Supreme Court
• Bobbi Morrow, management analyst, State Court Administrative Office, Michigan Supreme Court
• Alison Shames, director, The Center for Effective Public Policy
MJI anticipates this webinar will qualify for up to 5.0 CJE credit hours: [Judicial Practice and Related Areas (2.5 hours) and Integrity and Demeanor (2.5 hours)].
To register for the webinar, visit https://mjieducation.mi.gov and click on “events.”
Public defender discusses ‘Unseeing the Prosecution’s Case’
July10
The National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) will present a webinar on “Unseeing the Prosecution’s Case” Thursday, July 10, from 2 to 3 p.m.
This presentation will discuss the way to approach developing a defense from the beginning of a representation of a client. Attendees will learn how to move past the discovery and expand the information to lay the groundwork to developing a proper theory of defense. The program will also explore strategies to control the evidence which is presented to the jury so the facts of the case are those which best support a theory of defense.
Speaking at the webinar will be Andre Vitale who has served as a public defense lawyer for more than 25 years as a trial lawyer, training director, educator, and mentor. He currently works as the First Assistant Deputy Public Defender with the Essex Trial Region of the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender. He has developed an expertise in defending homicide and sex cases, with a proficiency in contesting forensic and other technical evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, CSAAS, and eyewitness identification.
Cost for the webinar is $50. To register, visit https://publicdefenders.us/event/unseeing-the-prosecutions-case.
‘Elements of Crimes in Child Abuse Cases’ examined
July 10
The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan’s Child Abuse Prosecution Resources unit (CAPR) will present a webinar on “Building a Case for Court: Understanding the Elements of Crimes in Child Abuse Cases” Thursday, July 10, beginning at 9 a.m. via Zoom.
CAPR Director Pamela Maas will discuss what prosecutors need to prove to be able to establish cases and will provide investigators with the information that can focus their investigations.
To register for the webinar, prosecutors and APAs should visit https://michiganprosecutor.org and click on “Training Calendar.”
Australian, South Korean courts offer insights on AI use
July 16
The National Center for State Courts will present a webinar on “AI in Courts: Insights from South Korea, Australia & Singapore” Wednesday, July 16, from 1 to 2 p.m. via Zoom.
The webinar provides the opportunity to learn how the judicial systems of South Korea, Australia, and Singapore are using AI during this webinar from the TRI/NCSC AI Policy Consortium. In this session, attendees will learn about the use of AI courts and discover best practices and challenges in these jurisdictions. Attendees will:
• Gain an understanding of how AI technologies are being integrated into the judicial systems of South Korea, Australia, and Singapore.
• Learn about the best practices and strategies adopted by these countries to ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI in courts.
• Assess the potential risks associated with AI deployment in legal settings and explore mitigation strategies to uphold confidentiality, accuracy, and fairness in judicial processes.
Speaking at the program will be:
• Deputy Chief Magistrate Timothy Bourke, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria (Australia)
• Matthew Heaphy, director of Case Center for Asia & Emerging Markets, Thomson Reuters
• Judge Bowon Kwon, Intellectual Property High Court of Korea
• Ken Hwee Tan, chief transformation & innovation officer, Supreme Court of Singapore
• Moderator Diane Robinson, principal court research associate, NCSC
To register for the webinar, visit www.ncsc.org and click on “Education &?events.”
Civil rights activist Maya D. Wiley to receive ABA Thurgood Marshall Award
July 31
The American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice will honor civil rights activist Maya D. Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and The Leadership Conference Education Fund.
The award will be presented at a virtual celebration honoring Wiley’s longtime career advancing civil rights on Thursday, July 31, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
“Maya Wiley is not only a civil rights leader but a moral compass for our times,” said Lacy Durham, chair of the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice. “With vision, courage and boundless compassion, she has transformed lives and challenged the structures perpetuating injustice. Her work is a living tribute to Justice Thurgood Marshall’s legacy of advancing equality, amplifying the voices too often silenced and insisting that the law is a tool for liberation, not limitation.”
The award honors U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who epitomized individual commitment, in word and action, to the cause of civil rights in this country. The award recognizes similar long-term contributions by other members of the legal profession to the advancement of civil rights, social justice and human rights in the United States. Marshall was the first recipient of the award.
Wiley, a nationally respected civil rights attorney and advocate, has dedicated her career to advancing equity and justice across philanthropy, nonprofits, government and higher education. Her leadership continues to shape the dialogue on racial justice, equity and democracy.
Wiley was the first Black woman to be counsel to a New York City mayor, having worked with Mayor Bill de Blasio. During her tenure in city government, she helped fuel the expansion of minority/women-owned business enterprise contracts. Following the city government, she worked in academia and was a faculty member and senior vice president for social justice at the New School University. That led to her serving as chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, where she led the release of the “hold” on proceedings against police officer Daniel Pantaleo whose illegal chokehold killed Eric Garner. The CCRB’s administrative prosecution of Pantaleo resulted in his firing. Also, in 2021, Wiley was a candidate for New York City mayor.
As a Henry Cohen professor of public and urban policy at the New School, Wiley founded the Digital Equity Laboratory on universal and inclusive broadband. She also served as a legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC.
Having worked at the ACLU and the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund Inc., early in her career, Wiley focused on racial justice issues. She has been a litigator at the ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. She also helped create a criminal justice program for a major foundation in South Africa. Wiley co-founded and led a national policy advocacy organization, the Center for Social Inclusion, now a part of Race Forward, a national policy strategy organization working to end structural racism. She has received numerous awards and has been a public voice for rights, justice and democracy. Wiley is the author of the memoir, “Remember You Are a Wiley.”
A graduate of Dartmouth College, Wiley earned her law degree from Columbia Law School.
Durham added, “Maya’s fearless advocacy and principled leadership remind us that justice is not a destination, but a journey we must walk together — boldly, urgently and with heart. Like Justice Marshall, she channels the law into purposeful action, moving us closer to the promise of a more just and equitable future.”
The ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice provides leadership within the legal profession in protecting and advancing human rights, civil liberties and social justice. Representing nearly 10,000 members with a wide range of professional interests and expertise, the section keeps its members abreast of complex civil rights and social justice issues and ensures that they remain a focus of law and policy.
For more information about the event, visit www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/about/awards/thurgood-marshall-award/recipients/2025.
(https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/ 2025/06/maya-wiley-aba-thurgood-marshall-award/)
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