Smooth Moves 2025: AI and Diversity Bias CLE Panel and Smooth Moves 2025 & Hon. George Bundy Smith Pioneer Award Ceremony, honoring and celebrating New York Court of Appeals Judge, the Honorable Michael J. Garcia.

CLE Program: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Reception & Award Ceremony: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

CLE Program: AI and Diversity Bias

This year’s esteemed panel of Chris Everdell (Cohen & Gresser LLP); Sylvie Levine (Federal Defenders of New York), Eddie Nesser (Paxton.AI); and Ivie Serioux (Littler LLP) will explore and discuss the legal and practical implications of the use of artificial intelligence tools and the potential for diversity bias.


Award & Reception Ceremony

The Commercial & Federal Litigation Section of the New York State Bar Association will bestow The Honorable George Bundy Smith Pioneer Award (the “Pioneer Award”) to the Hon. Michael J. Garcia of the New York Court of Appeals. Judge Garcia exemplifies Judge Bundy Smith’s commitment to justice, public service, and community.

Early in his career, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Judith S. Kaye on the New York Court of Appeals. Judge Garcia then served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1992 to 2001. For his work in a number of high-profile terrorism investigations and trials, he received two Attorney General Awards for Exceptional Service and for Distinguished Service. In 2001, Judge Garcia became Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement in the Bureau of Industry and Security, and in December 2002, he became Acting Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service at the United States Department of Justice. In that role, he led the transition of the agency into the United States Department of Homeland Security. From March 2003 to August 2005, Judge Garcia served as Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to his appointment to the Court of Appeals in 2016, from 2005 to 2008, Judge Garcia was the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and then worked in private practice at major law firm.

For more information, and to register, please click here.