Lawyers e-Journal
Thursday, Jun. 23, 2011
Photograph by
Marc D'Antonio
From left to right: Labor & Employment Conference Co-Chair Christina L. Montgomery, Keynote Speaker Associate Justice Ralph D. Gants of the Supreme Judicial Court, Labor & Employment Conference Co-Chair Sheryl D. Eisenberg.
June conferences provide overviews and updates in Labor & Employment, Public and Health Law
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Judge Gants provides inside
view of SJC at labor conference
Supreme Judicial Court Associate
Justice Ralph D. Gants delivered the keynote address at the 32nd
Annual Labor & Employment Law Spring conference, giving
attendees an inside view of the workings at the state's highest
court.
The conference was held June 6 at the Colonnade Hotel in Boston,
featured a daylong series of programs, followed by an afternoon
reception co-sponsored by the General Practice, Solo & Small
Firm Section.
Aside from an occasional reference to budget calamities, Gants
focused on explaining the caseload, schedule and responsibilities
of the justices. He said that the weekend before a sitting,
justices are reading roughly 3,000 pages of briefs for between 16
and 20 cases they're considering hearing. A "reciting judge" will
lead the discussion on an individual case and make recommendations
to the group, though he noted that it is the practice of the
current SJC for every justice to read up on each case.
Gants described the ways in which cases make it before the SJC,
including further appellate review and direct appellate review,
sua sponte cases in matters of "significant" legal
consequence, and cases by right - including first degree murder
cases. "Friday is murder day at the SJC. It can be quite a grisly
day."
One audience member asked why there's been so little guidance
from the SJC on noncompete issues.
"I know full well how little guidance there is on noncompetes,"
Gants said, noting that it was one of the reasons the Business
Litigation Session was created. "We're not running from noncompete
cases, but in general, they just don't get (to the SJC)."
Were you unable to attend this MBA conference? Purchase the
program recording here and watch the MBA presentation from the
comfort of your home or office.
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Fifth Annual Public Law
Conference
Mark A. Reilly, chief legal counsel to Gov. Deval
Patrick, highlighted the Fifth Annual Public Law Conference on June
16 at the MBA's Boston headquarters. Reilly's keynote address
presented the packed conference with an overview of his duties,
including the office's role in the judicial nomination process.
Reilly, who first met Patrick when the governor was one of his
professors at Boston College Law School, said his job is to be a
facilitator. Reilly said his office helps draft and review, makes
recommendations on which side of an issue the governor should
stand, supports the administration's priorities and oversees the
process of selecting judicial candidates.
In addition to Reilly's remarks, the conference featured the
latest developments in public law. Attendees heard from
representatives from the Division of Open Government, Office of the
Attorney General, the state Operational Service Division, the
Public Records Division, and the Office of the Secretary of State.
The conference was co-sponsored by the City Solicitors & Town
Counsel Association of Massachusetts.
Right: Gov. Deval Patrick's Chief Legal Counsel Mark A.
Reilly delivers the keynote address at Public Law Conference on
June 16. Photo by Jennifer Rosinski.
Were you unable to attend this MBA conference? Purchase the
program recording here and watch the MBA presentation from the
comfort of your home or office.
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Affordable Health Care Act
reforms top 2011 Health Law Conference discussion
2011 Health Law Conference
Keynote Speaker John E. McDonough capped off the June 22 conference
with an overview of the Affordable Care Act, a bill signed by
President Barack Obama in March 2010, which is set to provide new
health care rights and benefits for Americans. McDonough,
a professor of Public Health Practice and the director of
the Center for Public Health Leadership at Harvard School of Public
Health, began his review of the Affordable Care Act by polling
conference attendees on both their understanding of the act's
reforms and whether or not they were pleased the act had
passed.
"I look at the affordable care act [when trying to explain it]
as a statue unto itself," said McDonough, who broke the act into 10
titles and explained how reforms within each title will impact the
healthcare system and Americans. "[The Affordable Health Care Act]
is huge in what it attempts to do."
Health Law Conference attendees also took part in a Health Law
Career Panel and lively discussions on Accountable Car
Organizations and issues of access, confidentiality and privilege
with Medical Peer Review.
Right: Health Law Keynote Speaker John E. McDonough, D.P.H.,
M.P.A., professor of Public Health Practice and director, Center
for Public Health Leadership at Harvard School of Public Health,
outlines Affordable Care Act reforms. Photo by Kelsey
Sadoff.
Were you unable to attend this MBA conference? Purchase the
program recording here and watch the MBA presentation from the
comfort of your home or office.