Demapan sits on panel at NY state bar summit

Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan of the Commonwealth Supreme Court recently participated in the New York State Bar Association’s Presidential Summit, during which he sat on the panel that heard mock arguments presented by oral advocacy luminaries.

Demapan was in New York City for the Conference of Chief Justices Midyear Meeting when his invitation to the summit came from Lesley F. Rosenthal, one of the summit’s chairs.

Entitled “Arguing the Great Issues of the Day,” the summit took place on Jan. 26, 2005, in New York City.

While there, Demapan sat on a panel alongside Chief Justice Nancy A. Becker of the Supreme Court of Nevada, Chief Justice Gerry L. Alexander of the Supreme Court of Washington, Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard of the Supreme Court of Indiana, and Immediate Past Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal of the Supreme Court of South Carolina, and heard mock arguments presented by such luminaries as Preeta Bansal, Esq. of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; Gregory G. Garre, Esq. of Hogan & Hartson LLP; Martin Long, Esq. of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; and Andrew Patel, Esq. of the Law Firm of Andrew Patel.

The mock cases were modeled after the recent enemy combatant cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court during its last term, and on a recent high-profile case challenging New York’s state lobbying laws.

Following the case presentation, members of the panel engaged in a discussion moderated by Rita Cosby, an Emmy-award winning journalist from FOX News. The discussion touched on issues vital to the modern-day adjudicative process and legal practice, such as ethical client relations, courtroom management, and media and other considerations.

Leslie F. Rosenthal thanked the panel members, saying, “What a major contribution you made to the success of the NYSBA Presidential Summit! We are deeply touched by the time and care you took to prepare your ‘hearing’ of the two cases, and the thought and grace with which you took questions from the moderator and the floor during the panel discussion.”

Demapan said it was an honor to participate and represent the Commonwealth at the summit. He hopes that those in the legal profession will continue to create opportunities for discussing the controversial issues of today, particularly those affecting the underrepresented groups in society, and engage in self-reflection.