The Legal Response to 9/11 – 44th Street Podcast
Watch this episode on YouTube (above) and Spotify. Listen on Apple, SoundCloud and iHeart.
The horrific attacks on September 11, 2001, left New York City in dire need of help. Families were searching for missing loved ones, and those who lost loved ones could not access support without a death certificate. Small businesses and street vendors in Lower Manhattan lost their livelihoods overnight. Immigrants were targeted and detained.
The legal needs were tremendous, varied, and urgent, and the legal community stepped up.
On this podcast marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, host and City Bar President Matthew Diller reflects on the unprecedented volume of pro bono legal service that followed the attacks. He is joined by three lawyers — Anthony Crowell, Maria Imperial, and Janet Sabel — who helped lead the response. They share stories from that work, about the City Bar’s role as a coordinating hub for volunteers and legal service providers across the city, the family assistance center at Pier 94, the triage system built at the Metropolitan Detention Center, and the innovative use of the internet to expand outreach.
They also reflect on the emotional cost of the work and what it taught them about the profession’s capacity to show up when needed.
Guests:
- Anthony W. Crowell, Dean and President, New York Law School
- Maria Imperial, Vice President, Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center
- Janet Sabel, Director, Center on Civil Justice, NYU School of Law
Participate:
- Join us at the City Bar for The 25th Anniversary of 9/11: A Conversation with Kenneth R. Feinberg on Wednesday, September 23, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Register here.
- Read stories and reflections on our 9/11 Commemoration Message Board, and feel free to add your own.
Resources:
This podcast was produced by Jalen Martin (Communications, New York City Bar Association) and Maya Chrobot (Student, Fordham University School of Law).