Albany Law Faculty Share Expertise with New York Judiciary Through Statewide Judicial Institute Programs
Four Albany Law School faculty members were invited to share their expertise with judges from across New York this summer through two of the state's premier judicial education programs hosted by the New York State Judicial Institute.
Professors Patrick M. Connors, Vincent Martin Bonventre, Ray Brescia, and Michael Hutter participated as presenters and panelists during the Institute's annual seminars for appellate and trial judges. The programs bring together members of the judiciary to examine emerging legal issues, significant developments in the law, and evolving challenges facing New York's courts.
At the 2026 Appellate Judges Seminar in Glens Falls, Professor Connors presented Appellate Issues in New York Practice: Significant Case Law and Legislative Developments, exploring recent developments in New York civil procedure, appellate case law, and legislative changes affecting courts throughout the state.
Professor Bonventre presented Supreme Court Developments and the Practical Realities of Constitutional Interpretation, examining recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, constitutional interpretation, and the practical impact of evolving judicial methodologies on appellate review and constitutional litigation.
During the Judicial Institute's seminar for trial judges, Professor Brescia joined retired New York Court of Appeals Judge Albert M. Rosenblatt and fellow panelists for The Roles of the Rule of Law and an Independent Judiciary in the Declaration of Independence. The discussion explored how the Declaration of Independence shaped America's commitment to the rule of law and an independent judiciary, while examining the courts' continuing role in protecting constitutional governance, individual rights, and public confidence in the justice system.
Professor Hutter participated in the panel Authenticating Video Evidence: Lessons from Matter of M.S., which examined the growing challenges posed by artificial intelligence and digitally altered media. Using the recent Matter of M.S. decision as a framework, the panel discussed evidentiary standards for authenticating video evidence, the implications of deepfakes and AI-generated content in litigation, and the tools available to judges to safeguard the integrity of judicial proceedings.
The invitation for four Albany Law faculty members to contribute to these statewide programs reflects the school's recognized expertise across a broad range of legal disciplines. Through their scholarship, teaching, and engagement with the bench and bar, Albany Law faculty continue to help shape conversations around the legal issues facing courts today while supporting the continued education of New York's judiciary.
