“Advancing Diversity in the Aftermath of SFFA v. Harvard—Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Bench and Bar.” 

This program is free for NYSBA members

CLE Program: 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Reception & Award Ceremony: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Please join us for the 2024 Smooth Moves Diversity & Inclusion CLE and The Honorable George Bundy Smith Pioneer Award Ceremony, honoring and celebrating Brooklyn District Attorney, the Honorable Eric Gonzalez.

This year’s esteemed panel of the Honorable Edwina Richardson, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge, Office for Justice Initiatives, and Sandra Grannum, Partner, Faegre Drinker LLP, will explore and discuss the legal and practical implications on diversity and inclusion in light of the recent decision in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College.

The Commercial & Federal Litigation Section of the New York State Bar Association will be bestowing The Honorable George Bundy Smith Pioneer Award (the “Pioneer Award”) to the Eric Gonzalez, the Brooklyn District Attorney. The Pioneer Award is presented annually by the Section to an attorney or jurist of color whose career accomplishments exemplify the high standards set by the Honorable George Bundy Smith, the late judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. The award, which celebrates the hallmarks of Judge Smith’s career — legal excellence, community commitment and mentoring — was established in 2007 in recognition of his work as a Freedom Rider during the Civil Rights Movement, and his unwavering commitment to social justice during his 30 years of public service as a judge.

District Attorney Gonzalez is a true pioneer.  Prior to his election, District Attorney Gonzalez served as Chief Assistant District Attorney to the late District Attorney Kenneth P. Thompson, where he guided the launch of the office’s Conviction Review Unit, widely recognized as a national model.  District Attorney Gonzalez built on this work with the creation of a comprehensive, first-in-the-nation Post-Conviction Justice Bureau.  Guided by his extensive experience working with victims and those accused of crimes, and informed by social science and data, District Attorney Gonzalez has built a culture of innovation, embracing groundbreaking new initiatives to improve public safety and strengthen community trust.