NYC CLE: Affidavits in Lieu of Direct Testimony on Sept. 20

The New York State-Federal Judicial Council, the Second Circuit Judicial Council and the New York County Lawyers’ Association (NYCLA) are co-sponsoring a first-of-its-kind CLE program on the use of affidavits in lieu of direct testimony at bench trials.

This NYC CLE program, on September 20 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Ceremonial Courtroom of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse at 500 Pearl Street in Manhattan, is free for attorneys who are admitted to practice in the State of New York.

The practice of substituting affidavits for direct testimony at bench trials is becoming more widespread in courtrooms across the country. NYCLA recently recommended that the Family Court implement this practice to increase efficiency; it is already in place in the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court and it is prevalent in federal courts.

Columbia Law School's Professor Jane Spinak will moderate the session. The panel will include:

• Judge Richard M. Berman, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
• Judge Laura E. Drager, New York State Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County.
• Judge Douglas E. Hoffman, New York State Family Court (Manhattan).
• Susan Bender, Esq., of Bender Rosenthal Isaacs & Richter LLP.
• John J. Kerr, Esq., of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.

Participants will receive two Professional Practice credits. Space is limited, so prospective participants are encouraged to register for the program through the Second Circuit Judicial Council's website no later than September 13.

Related Resources:

• FindLaw's Second Circuit blog (FindLaw)
• NYC CLE events (NYCLA)
• No Automatic Miranda Warnings Trigger in Border Stop (FindLaw's Second Circuit blog)
• Centers for Law and Legal Studies (FindLaw's LawBrain)