Karena Rahall, a law professor and former public defender, has been named Executive Director of the Court Square Law Project (CSLP), a unique, mission-driven, for-profit law firm formed by the New York City Bar Association and City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law to address the persistent justice gap in America and the employment difficulties affecting new lawyers.

The City Bar Fund, the New York City Bar Association’s charitable sister organization that undertakes public service, education, policy advocacy and research activities, has named Lauren Sampson Vice President, Development and External Relations. Sampson will lead fundraising and outreach efforts for the City Bar Fund.

In a report by its Task Force on Climate Adaptation released today, the New York City Bar Association warns that despite the commitments made at the COP21 meeting in Paris to reduce (or ‘mitigate’) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, climate change “will make portions of major cities (and in some cases entire cities) uninhabitable and agricultural areas unproductive, undermining fundamental rights and the rule of law for tens (perhaps hundreds) of millions of people and creating explosive conditions that threaten social stability and democracy in many regions of the world.”

The New York City Bar Association has sent a letter to U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell and Harry Reid, the Senate's Majority Leader and Minority Leader respectively, opposing recent congressional proposals to halt or delay U.S. resettlement of refugees from Iraq or Syria.

The New York City Council has introduced proposed resolution Res. 0551, which would recognize “Meatless Monday,” a national and international campaign that encourages people to enjoy meat-free meals on Mondays to improve their health and to promote animal welfare, wildlife protection and environmental and agricultural sustainability.

With another Election Day behind us, we are thoroughly unsurprised at reports of abysmal voter turnout. As we head toward primary season for the 2016 elections, now seems a good time to reflect on why this is and to review an issue of great importance to the New York City Bar Association: election law reform.