Esteemed Students!

YOU are cordially invited to the Law and Paralegal Studies Club’s Alumni-Student Q&A Mixer TONIGHT!!  Fri. March 19, 5-7pm. Check out the flyer below for who’ll be there and other details.  Zoom information is also below!

I hope you’ll attend!

Have a great weekend,

Prof. C.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82007653236?pwd=QnlvOGp5SHdjdFlWNkhqWW5qRHRCdz09

Meeting ID: 820 0765 3236

Passcode: 454312

Esteemed Students,

If there are any homework assignments you have not submitted, you may submit them through the end of the day tomorrow (Fri. March 19) and I will still consider them in your midsemester status grade (P, BL or U).  All homework assignments for this semester are listed on the “Assignments” page.  Please do not ask me whether you submitted any assignments.  You can confirm whether you submitted an assignment by searching the posts or “replies” here on OpenLab, or by checking your email’s “sent” folder for assignments submitted by email.  This grace period does not apply to assignments that I noted would not be accepted late.

Have a great day and weekend!

Prof. C.

COURT SYSTEM RESOURCES! (charts, maps, etc.)

• Federal court system charts: from Civil Procedure textbook and color chart
• Map of federal court system districts and circuits
• Chart of NYS court system (from Civil Procedure textbook)
• List of NY App. Div. departments & counties (from Civil Procedure textbook–adapted!)
• Map of NYS court system counties and departments
• “Introductory Guide to NYS Courts” (handy government publication)
• Chart on “binding/persuasive” authority (including when state courts bind federal courts and vice versa)

Esteemed Students,

By 9am on Tuesday, March 23, please read Lisa L. v. Anthony H., a SHORT! 1995 decision by the N.Y. Appellate Division, First Department, and reply to this post with a draft of the element of the brief assigned to you below, as you would write it for a case brief!  In your post, please identify which element you are drafting.  For guidance, check out the helpful descriptions of each element of a brief and the sample brief in textbook ch. 18 pp. 351-365 (on Blackboard), and this sample brief of People v. Neulander.

• Procedural history: Sherona, Evens, Natalie, Sharon, Nyiah
• Issue/question presented: Jasiyah, Joseph, Shayer, Brandon, Alexandra;
• Holding: Aaliyah, Leilani, Ariana, Daniella, Fatou
• Disposition: Nasser, Ninmah, Kaela, Mackenzie, Yaire

Happy briefing! 🙂

Prof. C.

Esteemed Students,

I hope you are enjoying this sunny (though chilly) day!  Don’t forget, we WILL meet for class tomorrow (Tues. March 9) at 10am on Zoom!!  We’ll finish about 10:45am so you can take Quiz #2 on Blackboard.  Be sure to STUDY!!  It covers everything we’ve discussed since quiz #1, particularly when state and federal courts bind each other (ch. 1 part B) and the case reporting system (ch. 3).  See the “class notes & materials” page for helpful study tools, like notes I showed you on the screen, handy charts, etc.  In prep for our class discussion before the quiz (10-10:45am), please review Prof. Novkov’s essay, “How to Read a Case” and re-read this version of People v. Neulander (from WestLaw).

Have a pleasant evening, see you tomorrow 10am!

Prof. C.

Read this essay, “How to Read a Case” by Prof. Julie Novkov of SUNY at Albany, and this NY Court of Appeals decision, People v. Neulander.  By 9am Thursday, March 4, post a “reply” to this post in which you do TWO THINGS: (1) Write a short response and/or question about the essay that  shows you read and thought about it!  (2) Answer any ONE of questions 1-4 in the essay (including the “bullet point” subquestions beneath it) as it applies to People v. Neulander.  This assignment will not be accepted late. 🙁  Optional: For extra insight on reading court decisions, check out these sources from Roosevelt University and FindLaw!

Just a reminder!  Tomorrow (Tues. Feb. 23) we’ll meet for class at 10am as usual, then at about 10:45am, we’ll stop and you’ll all go to Blackboard to take our first quiz!  PLEASE study!  Review the “class notes,” maps, charts, and other materials posted here under “Class notes & materials,” as well as your own notes, assigned readings, and other information you find useful.  If you plan to review these materials for the first time during the quiz, you probably won’t have time to complete it!  🙁

It looks like we are a GO for our (optional) walking tour of the courts this Thursday!  🙂  Forecast shows sunny and 45 degrees.  Information about the trip is posted below and on the “Events & opp’s” page, and we’ll discuss it briefly in class tomorrow.  We’ll also discuss the oral presentation assignment, here it is in case you want a preview.

See you tomorrow!

Prof. C.

Good afternoon students!  Here is some information about our OPTIONAL walking tour of the courts near City Tech, this Thursday, Feb. 25.

We’ll meet at the Atrium entrance to City Tech (on Tillary Street) at 10am SHARP!  Maps and directions are below, and here is what it looks like:

We will leave City Tech for the tour at 10am and return to City Tech about 11:15am.  If these times are a problem for you, let me know!

This trip is OPTIONAL.  Each student may choose not to attend for any reason at all, which you do not need to tell me.  To gain the academic benefit of the tour and to earn credit for attending Thursday’s class, you may view a video option that will be posted, and post a “reply” with a comment or question about it.

Here is helpful information for the trip:

• Directions to college and campus map
• Link to campus map on Google maps
• Coughlin’s marked-up campus map with “Enter Here!” marked
• Coughlin’s cell number if you can’t find us: 917.363.0063 **Please CALL! Don’t text or email–I won’t see it.
• Everyone must wear masks over nose and mouth, and maintain 6 feet social distance, throughout our time together. I will have extra masks if you need one!
• Please download the EverBridge app from Apple Store or Google Play and complete the Wellness Check Survey before traveling to City Tech.  The quick survey involves five short questions and is accessible through Everbridge’s health screening app. Please use this Instructional Guide for accessing and using the app.  (For the institution, choose CUNY. Log in, using your CUNY credentials, such as John.Smith22@login.cuny.edu.  Then navigate your way to CUNY Health Screening.  Press the red shield in the lower right hand corner of the screen to get to the series of questions.)  Visitors should use the Visitors’ Guide for instructions.  Based on the answers provided, you will receive confirmation on your phone or email that clears you to enter the college. When you successfully answer the questions (“no” to all of them), you will be pre-approved to enter the College and receive a green check-mark confirmation.  You will show that confirmation to the staff at the entryway to the campus building.  If you are not cleared to enter the college, please refrain from attending the trip and follow the app’s recommendations on next steps. Please review these FAQs if you have a question.

Hope for good weather!

Prof. C.

Esteemed Students,

It was delightful to see you all in class this morning!  Great participation and great work.  Our walking tour of the courts scheduled for this Thursday is postponed due to expected inclement weather. 🙁 Let’s tentatively plan for next Thursday, Feb. 23 and keep an eye on weather developments.

Here is a link to information about the “Follow Black Women Mayoral Town Hall” I mentioned in class today, that takes place tonight (Tues. Feb. 16, 6:15-8:15pm).  There’s additional info under the “Events & info” tabl.  If you attend, let me know, and maybe write an extra credit post about it?

I’ve posted the notes and maps, charts, etc. from today’s class under “Class notes & materials.”  As noted in “Assignments,” please review those items in prep for Thursday’s class, when we’ll continue discussing the federal and NYS court systems.

Have a pleasant afternoon, evening, and Wednesday, I look forward to seeing you Thursday at 10am on Zoom!

Cheers,

Prof. C.

https://www.cvhpower.org/events