The 12th annual Attorney General Robert Abrams Public Service Lecture at New York University School of Law will be delivered by New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram on Monday, September 8, 2008.
The event, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., will be held at NYU School of Law, 40 Washington Square South (between Macdougal and Sullivan Streets) in Greenberg Lounge, Vanderbilt Hall. Subways: A, B, C, D, E, F, V (West 4th Street). A reception immediately follows. NYU School of Law and the Root-Tilden-Kern Scholarship Program are sponsoring the lecture.
Each year, a prominent public figure who has performed exemplary public service addresses the students, faculty, alumni, and friends of NYU School of Law. This series provides an opportunity to focus on the significance of having all or a portion of ones career dedicated to public service, and how that public service can positively impact societys dynamically changing legal, governmental, and social policies. Previous speakers have included U.S. Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado, U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin, and The Honorable Rosemary S. Pooler, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
A 1996 graduate of NYU School of Law, Milgram has devoted her career to public service. She has served as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan and rose to become the U.S. Department of Justices lead federal prosecutor for human trafficking crimes. She received the U.S. Department of Justice Special Commendation for Outstanding Service in December 2004 and the Directors Award in September 2006.
Milgram, who became New Jerseys attorney general in June 2007, serves as the states chief law enforcement officer and heads the 9,400-person Department of Law and Public Safety, which is responsible for protecting the safety, security, and quality of life of New Jersey residents. She also oversees the states criminal justice system, the Division of State Police, and defends the state against lawsuits.
As attorney general, Milgram has spearheaded investigations into public corruption, Internet safety, mortgage fraud, college student loans, and consumer rights. She has pursued both criminal and civil investigations in policing the Internet and created the first reporting mechanism in the nation for the users of social networking sites to report instances of online abuse and cyber bullying. She has testified before the Environmental Protection Agency for tougher enforcement of clean air laws and launched an affirmative litigation section in the Division of Law to aggressively pursue legal action to protect the public in New Jersey. She is in charge of implementing the governors anti-crime strategy aimed at street gangs and gun violence, successfully advocating tougher penalties for the illegal possession of weapons, and coordinating crime prevention programs to help at-risk youth.
Robert Abrams, a 1963 graduate of NYU School of Law, served in various governmental positions for 28 years, establishing a remarkable public service record. He has made significant contributions to the well-being of our city, state, and nation. His courageous efforts improved the lives of individual citizens, as well as strengthened and advanced our legal and social institutions. The founder of this lecture series and former attorney general of New York, he is currently a partner in Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLPs litigation and real estate practices.
This event is open to the public, and RSVP is not required.