Celebrating the Career of Chief Judge Judith Kaye

The New York Law Journal is celebrating Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye's career in a variety of posts over the next several weeks:

Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye has written hundreds of opinions hewing closely to the state's legal traditions at the same time they seek to anticipate changes in society.

As the chief executive officer of all the state's courts, she has promoted myriad reforms to make justice more efficient and more accessible.

At the end of this month, her 25 years on the state's highest Court - a record 15 as chief judge - will end. Beginning today, the Law Journal will examine her legacy.

The Interview Suit

The New York Times reports that classic suits are making a comeback in The Return of the Interview Suit. The unemployment rate is currently high in America, and so are suit sales: 

Companies like Men’s Wearhouse and Tahari are reporting an upswing in suit sales, particularly for those classic navy or gray pinstripe styles they classify as “interview suits.” Arthur S. Levine, known as the suit king of Seventh Avenue (who now designs a collection of women’s career clothes in a joint venture with Mr. Tahari), said he sold 1.8 million outfits this year, almost 10 percent more than he had expected.

Balancing Life, Work, and Jury Duty

Dakota Hankin, Sloan Network Graduate Research Assistant, writes about fulfilling our civic obligation while balancing work and personal life in her guest post, Family Friendly Jury Duty:

I came across several articles as well as a blog entry discussing work and family issues that arise while fulfilling our responsibility as citizens to provide our peers with access to a fair trial. How do we fulfill this responsibility while limiting the impact on our jobs, family obligations, and child and/or elder care responsibilities?

Each state has laws outlining the individual’s civic obligations and the special circumstance for which one might not qualify for service, such as Massachusetts Chapter 234A: Section 4: Disqualification from juror service. Most states do require that employers allow employees time offfor jury duty. However, there is little emphasis on how one might fulfill their civic duty while also maintaining work and family obligations. While researching this issue, I did find a website focusing on jury duty legislation needed for breastfeeding mothers, families with special needs children, and stay at home parents. The Sloan Work and Family Network provides specific information on shift work and breastfeeding that are relevant to jury duty. You may also find information on state law and jury duty in our Bills and Statutes Database.

Dakota hopes that others will respond, explaining ways they have balanced life, work, and jury duty.

First Female Solicitor General?

The U.S. Solicitor General position has been held by many prominent lawyers--Thurgood Marshall and Robert Bork, to name two--but the position has yet to be filled by a woman. Several sources are reporting that "some women could be on Obama's short list for the spot", including Washington lawyer Beth Brinkmann, Stanford Law School professor and former dean Kathleen Sullivan, Harvard Law Dean Elena Kagan, former New York State solicitor general Preeta Bansal, and MetLife litigation counsel Teresa Wynn Roseborough.

Reporting on the immediate impact Obama's decision could have, Joan Biskupic writes:

Unlike justices, who are appointed for life, the solicitor general (SG) serves for four years or less during the president's term. A vacancy on the bench may arise by next summer. Five of the nine justices are 70 or older, and John Paul Stevens is 88. In recent decades, retiring justices generally have waited until the end of a court term, around June, to reveal their intentions.

Election 2008, More Female Firsts

NH Makes History With First State Senate With Female Majority:

New Hampshire’s State Senate is now unlike any in the country and unlike any before it. After Tuesday’s election, women now make up the majority of the New Hampshire State Senate. In an election year that saw Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and Nancy Pelosi grab headlines and airtime across the country, New Hampshire didn’t just vote blue, it voted for women.

Power in the Ballot: Vote to Make History

I am a week behind in my reading for Con Law, my laundry is piling up, I have grocery shopping to do, I have messages to return, and emails to send.

But all this can wait while I go vote. I will cast my ballot, even if it means falling another day behind, even if it means waiting in line for hours, even if it means standing in the rain.

Julie Albrecht Royce cautions that we not take our right to vote for granted:

Your odds of an IRS audit are 175-1, of having your identity stolen 200-1, of a meteor landing on your house 182,138,880,000,000-1.

But 1-in-3 registered female voters will find a reason not to vote Tuesday.

Perhaps, on Nov. 4, you are up to your eyeballs in job and family obligations. You have every intention of voting but something -- sick baby, soccer game, board meeting, last-minute work assignment, grocery shopping, or a hard-earned headache -- might get in the way. The polling place may be several minutes from your home. The lines may be long and you have no time to spare. You are only one person; does your vote really matter?

When Nov. 5 dawns, the dirty laundry may be piled higher and the to-do list may be longer, but the odds are absolute, you will never have another chance to vote in this presidential election.

Margaret Brent Women of Achievement, Call for Nominations

The ABA Commission on Women in the Profession is accepting nominations for the 18th Annual Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award.

The award was established in 1991 to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of women lawyers. Each year, this award honors five outstanding women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence within their area of specialty and have actively paved the way to success for other women lawyers. These women demonstrate excellence in a variety of professional settings and personify excellence on either the national, regional, or local level.

The deadline to submit the nomination form and supporting materials is the close of business on Tuesday, November 25, 2008. The 2009 award will be presented at the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL on Sunday, August 2, 2009.

Nomination Criteria and Application Requirements

Nomination Form

Ms. JD 2008 Fall Intern

Ms. JD is seeking responsible and self-motivated law students to intern for the remainder of the fall semester.  Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, so apply today! A stipend of $300 will be offered for 30 hours of work. 

Survey: Flexing, Floundering or 'Just Fine Thanks': Work/Life Issues in America

Life Meets Work is conducting a first annual survey: Flexing, Floundering, or 'Just Fine Thanks': Work/Life Issues in America.

Seeking to capture the opinions of Americans regarding work/life challenges, the role of government, and flexible work programs, Life Meets Work invites you to share your views on Work/Life Issues in America.

The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete.  Your responses are confidential and only will be shared in aggregate. Take the Survey now.

The results will be discussed during a free webinar on October 28, 2008. To register for the Webinar, click here.

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending October 10, 2008

Cleveland Law Firm Offers Perks that Help Employees Balance Work and Family

ABA Secretary Wins Women Judges Award 

Old Gender Roles With Your Dinner?

Obama and McCain’s Stances on Work-Life Issues

What Michelle Obama Didn’t Like About Working at Sidley Austin