OUR NEWS
PRESS RELEASE
Garden State Bar Association Statement on Supreme Court Decision Against Affirmative Action
07/07/2023
Newark, New Jersey – Throughout our nearly 50 year history, the Garden State Bar Association has served as an advocate to collectively tackle challenges in order to improve the lives of African-Americans and other historically disenfranchised groups and we will continue to advance efforts designed to empower and lift us toward justice, true liberty and equity.
The Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action is incredibly disheartening as it dismantles concerted efforts exerted to address race inequality in higher education and will have profound implications for Black, Latino, Native American, Asian American and other underrepresented communities. For over 50 years, affirmative action – a policy that allows the use of race as a factor in deciding student admittance to colleges and universities – has been crucial for increasing educational access and equity and has given many underrepresented students the opportunity to be in spaces that could truly make a difference in their lives and future generations. The Court found that Harvard and the University of North Carolina’s affirmative action programs violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by using race-conscious admission policies that benefited applicants from underrepresented backgrounds. Not only does this decision undermine universities’ abilities to maintain and increase diversity on their campuses but it will also further entrench the already-existing structural barriers to higher education.
Race is a factor in real life, regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s words hit the mark: “Deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.” This is why we must continue to work towards stripping away the barriers to access and opportunity for those who have been historically discriminated against.
For further information, please contact info@gardenstatebar.org
The GSBA is New Jersey's oldest and largest professional organization for African American judges, lawyers and law students.
An affiliate of the National Bar Association
Congratulations, Tiffany Williams Brewer!
Tiffany Williams Brewer was selected as the Vice Chair Elect for the ABA Litigation Section and will officially be voted as Vice Chair in August at the ABA Annual Meeting.
She will be the second African American woman in the 50-year history to serve as Chair.
The Litigation Section is the largest section in the ABA.
Voter DISENFRANCHISEMENT in new jersey
October 2019
by James Alexander Lewis, Esq
Read the article HERE
GSBA SUPPORTS NEW JERSEY BILL NUMBER S-2100
January 2019
The Garden State Bar Association supports New Jersey Senate Bill Number S-2100, as it will restore the fundamental right to vote to nearly 100,000 New Jersey citizens who are either in prison, on parole, or on probation. PRESS RELEASE
GSBA Launches Reaching Back As We Climb Mentoring Program
The GSBA is excited to announce the official kickoff of our 2018-2019 Reaching Back As We Climb Mentorship Program. This program is designed to match law students and attorneys young in the practice (5 years or less) with seasoned practitioners. We will have more details for participants, so please do sign up!
Below, are two links to applications. The first is for those seeking to be matched with a mentor; the second is for those seeking to be matched with a mentee. Please fill out the form (5 minutes max) and send your resume to email provided on the applications.
Mentee Form: https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSc6IPbDg5p2LCp2QO…/viewform
Mentor Form: https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSdE0mg0_SdGkIQP8…/viewform…
Should you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to email Cliff Dawkins, GSBA-YLD Chair, directly at Clifford.dawkins@jacksonlewis.com
GSBA Supports Michellene Davis, E.V.P. & Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at RWJBarnabas
October 2018
Read the letter HERE.
GSBA Opposes Proposed CHANGES TO THE N.J. CONSUMER FRAUD ACT
September 2018
The GSBA stands alongside the NAACP, New Jersey State Bar Association, New Jersey Association for Justice, Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, New Jersey Citizen Action, Consumer League of New Jersey and many other consumer groups who oppose this legislation. PRESS RELEASE
GSBA PRESENTS THE ARCHER GSBA DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP SUMMER
ASSOCIATE PROGRAM
February 2018
The GSBA in partnership with The Archer Firm and Panasonic present a summer associate program for diverse law students.
PRESS RELEASE I APPLICATION
GSBA ARGUES FOR DISCLOSURE OF DASH-CAM RECORDINGS
July 11, 2017
The GSBA joined as amicus curiae in the matter of North Jersey Media Group, Inc. v. Township of Lyndhurst, which was argued before the NJ Supreme Court. The case held that dash-cam recordings and use of force reports are subject to disclosure under the common law. READ MORE
GSBA URGES DIVISION OF ELECTIONS NOT TO RELEASE VOTER INFO
July 10, 2017
The GSBA sent a letter to state officials opposing a request from the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity which seeks sensitive voter information and would likely lead to voter suppression. READ MORE
GSBA REQUESTS THE COURT TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF ITS PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATORY CONDUCT IN THE PROFESSION
June 30, 2017
The Garden State Bar Association supports an adoption of the ABA Model Rule governing the conduct of attorneys which provides additional safeguards against discriminatory conduct. READ MORE
GSBA PUSHES FOR DIVERSITY-FOCUSED REQUIREMENTS IN ATTORNEY CONTINUING EDUCATION
June 30, 2017
Following the adoption of ABA Resolution 107, the GSBA urges New Jersey to require that attorneys attend diversity and inclusion programming in order to fulfill biennial continuing legal education credits. READ MORE
