This past month, our Judiciary Committee, co-chaired by Olivia Sohmer and Olivia Lee, conducted its review, evaluation and rating of candidates for judicial office in New York County. We appreciate the hard work of the committee chairs and members in conducting this time- and labor- intensive effort, which is critical to the integrity of the process of judicial selection in NYC. The committee released its ratings before early voting started on October 25, 2025. We congratulate the candidates who appeared before our committee, all of whom were rated “Approved” and all of whom are NYWBA members.

As you can see in the newsletter, we hosted several fun mixers, including the Reproductive Rights & Women’s Health Committee Happy Hour; the Coming Out Day Mixer, co-sponsored by the Brooklyn Bar Association, the Brehons and Puerto Rican Bar Association; and a memorable members-only event in the atelier of Nanette Lepore, a fashion designer who hosted a group of us organized by Hon. Crystal Villaseñor.

We were proud to co-sponsor a program organized by Jen Frankola and Hon. Kathleen Waterman-Marshall on Protecting the Record from Start to Finish at Jury Trials: Perspectives from Appellate Counsel; and to host CLEs on the Child Parent Security Act, QDROs-presented by Board member Hon. Laura Drager, and Civility as a Litigation Strategy.

Given the urgency of immigration issues, NYWBA has been active in bringing these issues to the forefront. In October, we co-sponsored Metro on Tap: Evolving Changes in Membership Law, an event bringing together law students, alumni, attorneys and advocates to discuss evolving issues in immigration law. The proceeds went to support the NYC immigration Coalition, a non-profit organization doing vital work for NYC’s immigrant communities. The Criminal Law Committee organized a successful CLE on Issues at the Intersection of Criminal Law & Immigration. We also joined the Brehons in co-hosting. Lunch & Learn on Know Your Rights: Navigating the Current Immigration Policies and Legal Landscape.

We also launched our annual membership drive, aiming to increase our membership, under the leadership of our dynamic Membership Committee co-chairs, Melissa Glassman and Jehan Worthy. This year, we have increased our outreach to law students and are planning innovative programs to continue engage them in our organization. In addition to planning committee meetings and programs to engage their members, our committee chairs have been connecting with their members to ensure their continued membership and participation in NYWBA. If you have not renewed your NYWBA membership, we hope you will do so as soon as possible, to continue to work with us and enjoy the many benefits of membership.

As Thanksgiving nears, we are mindful that many fellow New Yorkers are facing the prospect of losing critical assistance for food, childcare and utilities if the government shutdown continues. NYWBA is working with other organizations to help NYC’s most vulnerable as they face these hardships, through service, food drives, and/or donations. Please stay posted for ways to contribute to help our neighbors.

We wish you all a peaceful season of thanksgiving and renewal.

Lissett Costa Ferreira