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Chuck Otey’s Pro Bono Barrister for May 5

May 5, 2017 By Charles F. Otey, Esq. Brooklyn Daily Eagle
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.  AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
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Trump, Sessions Show Ignorance of Law and Disrespect for Judiciary

In Hissy Fit, President Threatens to Disrupt Ninth Circuit

“I really am amazed that a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific can issue an order that stops the president of the U.S. from what appears to be clearly his statutory and constitutional power,” Attorney General J.  Beauregard Sessions said this past week as yet another federal judge rejected an illegal anti-immigration ploy by President Donald Trump. The Justice Department later tried to modify Sessions’ ill-phrased rant, but dug even a deeper hole:

“Hawaii is, in fact, an island in the Pacific — a beautiful one where the attorney general’s granddaughter was born,” he said. “The point, however, is that there is a problem when a flawed opinion by a single judge can block the president’s lawful exercise of authority to keep the entire country safe.”

But how about J. Beauregard?   He’s a lawyer, a former prosecutor and U.S. senator who was sworn in as attorney general to protect the rights of the citizens. How could he not know that a federal district judge in Hawaii has the same authority as does her counterpart sitting in Birmingham, Alabama?

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Sessions Lied to VP Mike Pence About Russia

Is Sessions’ shocking commentary on the law masking something more ominous underneath? The FBI is still looking into Sessions’ campaign contacts with Russians while endless hacking by Putin’s puppets later sank an already challenged Clinton candidacy.

Trump later threatened, in another hissy fit, to dismantle the Ninth Federal Circuit, the current source of his tsouris. Someone should remind Trump and the attorney general that Judge Derrick Watson was and is an appointed and confirmed federal judge.

Lawyers we’ve talked with here in Brooklyn used words like “shocked.”   “This is scary!” one said, and another asked, “How could Sessions not know the Federal Court System?”

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Justice Spodek to Address Columbian Lawyers

The Brooklyn Columbian Lawyers Association will hold its next CLE-accredited dinner session on May 2 at the Rex Manor on 60th Street here in Brooklyn. The topic is “Settlements and Mediations” — two of the best ways to avoid going before a jury.

In addition to offering a gourmet dinner at the hallowed Brooklyn eatery, this is a CLE-accredited dinner session, according to Columbian Executive Secretary Lucinda DiSalvo.

This year the Columbians are led by President Dean G. Delianites, First Vice President Linda Locascio, Second Vice President Joseph S. Rosato, Third Vice President Susan Gennusa, Treasurer Mark A. Longo, Corresponding Secretary Christopher Caputo, Recording Secretary Maria Aragona, historian George J. Siracuse, Chaplain Msgr. David Cassato and Executive Secretary DiSalvo.

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Lucinda DiSalvo to Receive Sobel Award

One of the most hard-working employees of the Kings County court system is DiSalvo, who, in addition to serving as secretary to Justice Ellen Spodek, has also been the executive secretary of the Columbians and the administrator of the Kings County Nathan R. Sobel Inn of Court.

It’s appropriate that at its next meeting on May 10, the Brooklyn Bar Association (BBA) will honor her with the Nathan R. Sobel Award. Well done to all!

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Foundation Law Committee Sets Free Forum on Family Court Challenges

On Monday evening, May 15, at 6 p.m. the BBA’s Foundation Law Committee will present another free program to the public at the BBA, 123 Remsen St. in Brooklyn Heights, between Clinton and Henry streets.

The topic will be “Filing in Family Court for: Child Support, Custody, Visitation, Paternity — An Overview of the Process for the Layperson.”

All of these programs are free and members of the public are invited to attend and benefit from the comments of leaders in the Kings legal communitiy, according to spokeswoman Fern Finkel, who has been involved with the program since its start.

The presenters are co-chairs of the BBA’s Family Law Committee: Justice Esther M. Morgenstern and Robert Ugelow, Esq.  

Reservations are not required, but are recommended.

Light refreshments will be served.  For further information, contact [email protected].

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Steve Cohn’s Seneca Club to Honor Stars, Community Organizers at June 27 Dinner

Attorney Steve Cohn, whose breakfast and dinner events are among the best known and most enjoyable in Brooklyn, advises that the Seneca Club of Brooklyn, celebrating its 118th anniversary, will hold its annual “Salute to Elected Officials and Community Stars” on June 27 at Giando on the Water, 400 Kent Ave. The Seneca Club is the oldest Democartic club in Brooklyn.

Among the honorees are attorney Scott Rynecki of Rubenstein & Rynecki, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Assemblymember Joe Lentol, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, John Witkowski, Rabbi David Neiderman and Andy Holm.  

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