Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Commons^™

Singapore Convention Defences Based On Mediator's Misconduct: Articles 5.1(E) & (F), Michel Kallipetis

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

At the February 2019 ICC Mediation Competition in Paris, Damien Cote from Canada and David Lewis from New York moderated a "debate" on the Singapore Convention. One of the panellists launched into a full-scale attack on the Convention, in which he dismissed it on the basis that the "whole document resembled the New York Convention and was redolent of arbitration rather than mediation." The speaker focused on Article 5 and the Grounds for Refusing Relief, and he was particularly critical of Articles 5.1(e) and (f). He expressed his view that these articles were apposite to the setting aside of an …

Required, Permissible, And Impermissible Forms Of Federal Judicial Assistance To Self-Represented Litigants: Toward Establishment Of A Judicial Duty Of Reasonable Assistance, Jona Goldschmidt

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The article examines the evolving role of judicial assistance to self-represented litigants (SRLs) in federal courts, arguing that while the Supreme Court has maintained a strict no-assistance policy, lower courts have increasingly recognized the need for accommodations to ensure fair trials. The author advocates for a more consistent and expansive approach to judicial assistance, aligning with due process and the constitutional right to self-representation, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining judicial impartiality.

The Cost Of Rules, The Rule Of Costs: A Practical Practitioner's Perspective, Sarah L. Cave

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Reaching For The Stars: A Proposal To The Ftc To Help Deter Astroturfing And Fake Reviews, Matthew Barish

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Mitochondrial Dna Replacement: Moral And Halakhic Concerns, J. David Bleich

Articles

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), transmitted from mother to child, have their own genetic code that may cause debilitating genetic diseases. To prevent such unfortunate occurrences, researchers have developed a process enabling them to completely replace an ovum’s mitochondria with mitochondria contributed by a donor. Children born by use of this method have genetic material from both the mitochondrial donor and the birth mother; they are “three-parent babies.” Resultant medical, ethical, legal and theological problems are obvious.

Moreover, this technology may pose significant risks to neonates born of such procedures. Certainly no person has the right to cause harm to a fellow …

The Culture Of Misdemeanor Courts, Jessica A. Roth

Articles

The misdemeanor courts that preside over the majority of criminal cases in the United States represent the “front porch” of our criminal justice system. These courts vary in myriad ways, including size, structure, and method of judicial appointment. Each also has its own culture – i.e., a settled way of doing things that reflects deeper assumptions about the court’s mission and its role in the community – which can assist or impede desired policy reforms. This Article, written for a Symposium issue of the Hofstra Law Review, draws upon the insights of organizational culture theory to explore how leaders can …

Human Rights, Human Dignity, And The Concept Of Honour: A German Perspective, Eric Hilgendorf

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The overuse of terms like human rights, human dignity, and honour in European legal discourse risks diminishing their normative impact. Rooted in Enlightenment ideals and reactions to historical injustices, these concepts are central to German law, balancing individual rights with freedoms like expression. However, their broad application, especially in criminal law, necessitates a more precise definition to preserve their legal potency.

Conviction Integrity Units Revisited, Barry Scheck

Articles

“Conviction Integrity Unit” has become a brand name that has good public relations value for an elected official. But what does it really mean? Is it just a fashion accessory, a flashy but empty appellation intended to convey the idea that the office is extremely serious about correcting wrongful convictions and holding its own members accountable for errors or acts of misconduct, but really is not? Is conviction integrity nothing more than a passing fad, a nebulous slogan without real meaning that is good for propaganda purposes, but will not bring about any serious change in the way business is …

A Model For The Use Of Adr To Efficiently Distribute A Significant Settlement Fund In Mass Claims Litigation Without Sacrificing An Individualized Assessment Of Claims, Lynn P. Cohn

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

Courts in the United States struggle to deal with litigation involving large numbers of claimants. A challenge in these cases is balancing the need for efficiency with opportunities for individualized claim assessment. Generally speaking, efficiency can be sacrificed at the expense of individualization, and vice-versa, but it is often difficult to strike a middle ground. The settlement process described in this article successfully managed this tension and as such can serve as a model for distributing a substantial fund in mass claims litigation.

This article will begin by detailing the legal background of the litigation of A v. B (2013). …

Mediation Ethics: A Camp Courthouse Colloquy, United States Court Of Appeals For The Second Circuit, Robert Katzmann, Kathleen M. Scanlon, John Feerick

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

On January 18, 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held its first Court Appeals Mediation Program "Courthouse Colloquy." The subject of the colloquy was mediation and ethics. What follows is a transcript of the discussions.

Movement For Quality Government In Israel V. Prime Minister, Salim Joubran, Yoram Danziger, Neal Hendel

Translated Opinions

This was a petition challenging the decision to appoint Knesset Member Rabbi Aryeh Machlouf Deri (hereinafter: Deri) to the office of Minister of the Interior in the Israeli Government. The petition was submitted against the background of Deri’s conviction of corruption offences, among them offenses of bribe taking and breach of trust, committed in the period during which he held several senior positions in the Ministry of the Interior at the end of the 1980s. It should be noted that pursuant to Deri’s appointment as Minister of the Economy and Minister for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee, …

New Models For Prosecutorial Accountability, Ellen Yaroshefsky

Cardozo Law Review de•novo

There has been significant and increasing attention to prosecutorial accountability for misconduct in recent years by courts and disciplinary authorities, in some prosecutors’ offices and by defense organizations, in academia, and of course, in popular media. In great measure, this attention is the result of the remarkable work of the Innocence Project and Innocence networks around the country. It is also the result of awakening to the fault lines in the criminal justice system—such as mass incarceration—and to the disproportionate targeting of black and brown people for arrest and prosecution. Of course, this attention is all exacerbated by the Internet, …

Enforcing Compliance With Constitutionally-Required Disclosures: A Proposed Rule, Emmet G. Sullivan

Cardozo Law Review de•novo

To provide a striking example of the need for a federal disclosure rule, in Part I, I briefly summarize a report on the discovery abuses that occurred in the case of United States v. Theodore F. Stevens. In Part II, I describe efforts beginning in 2003 to amend Rule 16. In Part III, I provide an overview of the local district court disclosure rules and standing orders nationwide. Part III also provides the proposed rule now being considered for adoption by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Sampling And Reliability In Class Action Litigation, Hillel J. Bavli

Cardozo Law Review de•novo

In this Article, I explain my conclusions in Aggregating for Accuracy in non-mathematical terms, and underscore certain implications with respect to class action litigation and considerations in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo. I begin by describing the building blocks of my analysis—the concepts of reliability and accuracy in the law.

Introduction, Forrest S. Mosten

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This special edition of the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution reflects the current exciting state of the Family Dispute Resolution field, inside and outside of the law school academy. The articles selected for this portion of the issue carry on the vibrant dialogue that took place at the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution's Annual Symposium "All in the Family: Intimate Parties, Intimate Issues and ADR". This Symposium, hosted at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law on October 19, 2015, engaged scholars, practitioners, and students from across the country.

The Scrivener's Dilemma In Divorce Mediation: Promulgating Progressive Professional Parameters, Robert K. Collins

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This Article starts with an examination of one state's relatively recent contribution to the controversy over divorce mediator drafting, and then tours the nation to illuminate the confusing array of approaches to this issue that have been adopted in different jurisdictions. It then steps back to examine the role that lawyers have traditionally played in assisting or impeding access to justice for divorcing couples, and explores why divorce mediation can now offer a more appropriate approach than classic lawyering to marital reorganization. It concludes with an endorsement of attorneymediators acting as scriveners for their clients, and explores an approach that, …

Said I, 'But You Have No Choice': Why A Lawyer Must Ethically Honor A Client's Decision About Mental Health Treatment Even If It Is Not What S/He Would Have Chosen, Michael L. Perlin, Naomi M. Weinstein

Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal

The article argues that lawyers representing individuals with mental disabilities have an ethical responsibility to prioritize their clients' expressed preferences and autonomy, rejecting the presumption that substituted decisionmaking is acceptable. It critiques the legal system's reliance on paternalistic approaches and highlights the importance of supported decisionmaking, as mandated by international human rights law, particularly under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The analysis emphasizes the need for legal frameworks and attorney practices to align with therapeutic jurisprudence, which prioritizes psychological well-being and dignity while upholding due process principles.

No More Click? Click In Here: E-Mediation In Divorce Disputes-The Reality And The Desirable, Dafna Lavi

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This Article deals with the relatively innovative field of e-Mediation (also known as "online mediation" or "cyber mediation") as used for the resolution of divorce disputes. The first part of the Article surveys the framework and background of the development of eMediation, its implementation, its advantages and disadvantages, focusing on the field of divorce disputes. It includes insights regarding the proven need for the development of alternative dispute resolution processes for such disputes, and the great potential inherent in the model of e-Mediation to address many of the problems typically accompanying such disputes.

In view of the urgency of the …

Death By Discovery, Delay, And Disempowerment: Legal Authority For Arbitrators To Provide A Cost-Effective And Expeditious Process, Tracey B. Frisch

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

Whether warranted or not, despite statistics to the contrary, arbitration in recent years has become a punching bag for criticism that it has begun to mirror the type of scorched earth discovery practices and delays seen in litigation. Why is this? Is it because parties are not actively participating in the arbitration process and instead have allowed their outside counsels to use the litigationstyle discovery and delay tactics with which counsel feel most comfortable? Maybe. Do parties themselves want protracted discovery and a drawn out arbitration process? Some, perhaps. Has arbitration become a victim of its own success, attracting more …

Beginning With Yes: A Review Essay On Michael Wheeler's The Art Of Negotiation: How To Improvise Agreement In A Chaotic World, Leonard L. Riskin

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This Review Essay describes the book, introduces a new system for understanding models of negotiation, and uses it to explain and expand upon some of the ideas in The Art of Negotiation. Then it suggests a different title for Wheeler's book, and describes recent efforts to connect improv with negotiation and mediation training and practice. I mean to honor Wheeler's important work by extending it.

Ethics, Advocacy, And The Child Client, Suparna Malempati

Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal

The article argues that lawyers representing children in abuse and neglect proceedings should act as traditional advocates, respecting the child's autonomy and adhering to ethical standards, rather than adopting a paternalistic role akin to a guardian ad litem. This approach ensures that children's voices are heard and their legal rights are protected.

Fraud And Abuse In Mesothelioma Litigation, Lester Brickman

Articles

No abstract provided.

What Do We Talk About When We Talk About Control, Anthony J. Sebok

Articles

Despite the recent rejection by the ABA of attempts to weaken the limitations on the sharing of fees with non-lawyers, pressure to allow laypersons to invest in lawsuits remains. This article looks at one argument against lay investment in litigation, which is that laypersons should not be able to control how litigation is conducted.

Litigation Investment And Legal Ethics: What Are The Real Issues?, Anthony J. Sebok

Articles

One of the foundational principles of legal ethics is that the lawyer owes an obligation of undivided loyalty to the client, and no other interests or relationships can be permitted to interfere with the lawyer's exercise of independent professional judgment on behalf of the client. The strongest objections to litigation investment by third parties is that it may compromise a lawyer's independence. This article examines this objection in the context of a recent report from the Ethics Committee of the Commercial and Federal Litigation Section of the New York State Bar Association and argues that it misses the real legal …

Biased? Prove It: Addressing Arbitrator Bias And The Merits Of Implementing Broad Disclosure Standards, Lindsay Melworm

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The note examines the varying disclosure requirements for arbitrators in the United States and internationally, focusing on the standards for determining when an arbitral award may be vacated due to arbitrator partiality or bias. It highlights the tension between ensuring impartiality and maintaining the finality of arbitration decisions, advocating for broad initial disclosures to uphold the integrity and fairness of the process while preserving party autonomy.

Symposium Issue Introduction And Dedication, Shawna Benston

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

The 2013 Jed D. Melnick Annual Symposium, which took place on November 18th, 2013, was entitled "Bioethics, Healthcare Policy, and Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Age of Obamacare." Scholars and practitioners of bioethics alternative dispute resolution came together to discuss the likely impact of a healthcare overhaul born of an ethical challenge: to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number while continuing to honor the value of the individual. Collectively, the Symposium participants anticipated the particular importance of mediation and bioethical debate within the complex health-delivery system that has been drafted under this biomedical imperative.

Bioethics Mediation & The End Of Clinical Ethics As We Know It, Autumn Fiester

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

In this Article, I will not only argue that bioethics mediation is a superior approach for resolving ethics conflicts, but I will also defend the controversial position that it is the only ethically justifiable method for resolving values-based conflicts in a pluralistic society. Although it has so far been relegated to the status of mere handmaiden to conventional consultation, bioethics mediation-as its detractors have surmised-has the potential to end clinical ethics consultation as we know it.

Informed Consent In Mediation: Promoting Pro Se Parties' Informed Settlement Choice While Honoring The Mediator's Ethical Duties, Michael T. Colatrella Jr.

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

In explaining the proper role of informed consent in mediation, this Article will proceed as follows: Part II will examine mediation's core ethical values of self-determination, impartiality and promoting a quality process. Part III will explore the meaning and origins of the informed consent doctrine; and, in Part IV, analyze the application of informed consent policies and principles to mediation in the light of mediation's core ethical values. Part V will explore ways that mediators can promote informed outcome consent within the existing ethical framework and recommend legislative reform that will help clarify the mediator's proper role of promoting fair …

Duty In The Litigation-Investment Agreement: The Choice Between Tort And Contract Norms When The Deal Breaks Down, Anthony J. Sebok, W. Bradley Wendel

Articles

The article proposes a framework for regulating commercial litigation investment by drawing analogies to existing legal norms in similar economic activities. It argues that contract law, rather than tort law, is better suited to address the risks and challenges inherent in this growing market. The analysis emphasizes the importance of aligning legal norms with the economic realities of litigation investment, particularly in the commercial sector, where the stakes and dynamics differ significantly from consumer litigation. The authors advocate for a regulatory approach that balances protection against opportunism with the need to maintain efficient outcomes.

Congressional Policy For Work Product Protection In Congressional Investigations, Jay Brody

Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal

The note examines the conflict between congressional investigative powers and the work product doctrine, advocating for a balanced approach that considers the nature of the investigation. It argues that the type of congressional investigation—legislative, oversight, or investigative—should determine the level of work product protection applied, ensuring both effective governance and legal fairness.