June 02, 2010
The
Law School’s Center for Labor and
Employment Law held its inaugural reception at St. John’s
Manhattan campus on June 2, 2010. Attended by more than 125 Law
School graduates and friends, the spirited evening marked the 75th
anniversary of the National Labor Relations Act. It also anchored
NYU Law’s 63rd Annual Conference on Labor, a prestigious event held
on June 3-4, 2010 and co-sponsored by St. John’s School of
Law and Cornell University’s ILR School.
Photo Gallery
Expressly recognizing and commending the strong bond between the
Law School and the National Labor Relations Board, in her keynote
address, NLRB Chairman
Wilma B. Liebman said: “I am so completely impressed, learning
about this fine school and its remarkable commitment to labor
and employment law, its inspirational professors, and its committed
students.” Citing the hard work and dedication of David L. Gregory, the
Center’s Executive Director and the Law School’s Dorothy Day
Professor of Law, Chairman Liebman also recognized St. John’s
students and alumni for advancing the practice of labor law and
contributing to enlightened labor-management relations. Gene Orza
’73, Counsel to the Major League Baseball Players Association,
recounted, in his introductory remarks, that he met Wilma Liebman
more than thirty years ago on her first day of work as a lawyer
with the NLRB in Washington, D.C.
Over the years, dozens of St. John’s law graduates have worked at
the NLRB, including event attendees Eugene Orza ’73, Karen P.
Fernbach ’77, James M. Darby ’84 and Rebecca Leaf ’10. And in the
last decade, the Law School has hosted talks delivered by two of
Chairman Liebman’s predecessors, William Gould and Peter J.
Hurtgen. “This is a great and fruitful collaboration for the Law
School and our students,” said Professor Gregory. “We have a
wonderful synergy with the Cornell ILR School and with NYU Law
School, one that is sure to grow as we all move forward with our
major conferences in the coming academic year. I believe in
collaboration for excellence, both internally with my colleagues
here this evening, including Professors Joseph, Movsesian, Kirgis,
and Greenberg and externally with Professor Sam Estreicher.”
Rounding out the evening was the award of scholarships to
several law students, including the conferral of the Dorothy Day
Scholarship on Ralph Carter. As an incoming student, he is the
first in the evening section to receive the Dorothy Day
Scholarship since it was established in 1997. Professor Gregory
announced the other major labor and employment law scholarships,
the individual recipients, and the benefactors. Five new
scholarships have been initiated in 2010, thanks to alumni
generosity and fundraising initiatives coordinated with the
administration. Professor Gregory thanked Bob Nobile ’84 as the
generous and anonymous donor whose significant gifts over the years
were indispensable to the success of the St. John’s programs.
Mr. Carter, who graduated with honors from St. Joseph's
College earlier in the day on June 2, was called upon by
Professor Gregory to say a few words. Professor Gregory closed the
program by heralding Mr. Carter as the most recent example of
achievement and dedication in the long line of distinguished St.
John’s labor and employment lawyers.