March 23, 2011
The Law School’s
Center for Labor and Employment Law recently hosted a panel
program on “The Intersections of National Security, Public Safety
and Health, Immigration, and Labor and Employment Law.” The program
explored timely and important topics, including:
- The interplay of the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) and labor unions
- National security background checks on employees of U.S-based
corporations
- Discussions between unions and governmental officials in
response to terrorist threats
The program gained depth and real-world relevance from the
participation of a distinguished panel largely comprised of School
of Law alumni. “The diversity of the presenters is consistent with
mission of the Center for Labor and Employment Law,” said Dean
Michael A. Simons. “We established the Center to bring together
practitioners, policy makers, academics and students for
conversation and dialogue about important issues of our time.” The
panel included:
Michael Balboni ’84
Principal
Navigators Global, LLC
The Honorable Joseph F. Bianco
United States District Judge
Eastern District of New York
Paul Butler ’89
Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Member, Council on Foreign Relations
Reaz H. Jafri ’91
Partner
Abrams Fensterman
Charles McKenna ’86
Director
New Jersey State Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness
James M. Sherry ‘87C, ‘91L
Acting Director
New York State Office of Homeland Security
Mary G. Waldron ‘86
Attorney-Advisor
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Transportation Security Administration
After welcome remarks by Professor
David L. Gregory, Moderator Robert P. Schwartz, President of
the St. John’s Federalist Society, commenced the panel. Judge
Bianco overviewed the federal government’s multifaceted approach to
thwarting terrorism through military, law enforcement and local
responses. Paul Butler commented on some of the issues of
federalism implicated by the overarching national structure.
Turning the discussion to the private sector, Raez H. Jafri
discussed corporate immigration and background checks for
employees.
For the program’s final segment, panelists Charles McKenna and
James M. Sherry examined local responses to terrorism, such as the
development of state homeland apparatuses and the balancing of
preparedness and civil rights. Highlighting common threads in the
panel discussion, Michael Balboni closed the panel program with
remarks on the “generational challenge” we are now facing. Mary G.
Waldron then launched an intense and contemplative question and
answer session, which covered issues ranging from TSA Security
Checkpoints to the overall future of our national security.
Even with an ice storm raging outside, the event was very well
attended and received. The gathering of Law School community
members and prominent alumni included the Honorable Raymond Dearie
’69, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of New York, and the Honorable Kathleen Tomlinson
’87, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New
York. A true collaborative initiative, the program was co-sponsored
by the New
York University School of Law Center for Labor and Employment
Law and Cornell
University ILR School Labor and Employment Law Program in
affinity with the Law School's
Hugh L. Carey Center for Dispute Resolution; Center for
International and Comparative Law; Labor Relations and Employment
Law Society; and the St. John’s Federalist Society.
The Center for Labor and Employment Law at St. John’s School of Law
is a forum where students, practitioners and scholars come together
to explore the practice and theory of labor and employment law.
Central to the Center’s mission and offerings is the importance,
and sanctity, of doing good work in the world. For more information
on the Center, please visit our website at or contact us at
clel@stjohns.edu.