Senator Hassell-Thompson to Hold Public Hearing Regarding No-Fault Divorce and Matrimonial Law Reform

Considering major reforms to New York’s matrimonial laws, Senate Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson and Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson will hear testimony from leaders of New York’s Matrimonial Bar, State and local  Bar Associations, leading advocates for victims of domestic violence and the public regarding:

·         No-fault divorce

·         The treatment of martial assets including the examination of post-martial income guidelines

·         The award of interim counsel fees to non-moneyed spouses in matrimonial matters 

Who:       Senate Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson, Chair, Judiciary Committee

Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Chairwoman, Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee and Chairwoman, Majority Task Force on Domestic Violence

     Senator Liz Krueger, Vice-chair of the Finance Committee

     Senator Diane Savino, Chair of Civil Service and Pensions Committee 

Partial List of Speakers:

                 Hon. Alan Scheinkman, Administrative Judge of the 9^th Judicial District

                 Hon. Sondra Miller, Chair of 2007 Miller Commission

Annette Hasapidis, Esq., Co-chair Legislative Committee of the Women’s Bar      Association of the State of New York

Ronnie Gouz Esq., Chair of the Family Law section of the New York State Bar Association

Catherine Douglass, Esq., Executive Director of InMotion and co-founder of Lawyers   Committee Against Domestic Violence

Ellen Schell, Esq., Legal Director, Legal Director, of The Legal Project of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association

Professor Andrew Schepard, Director for the Center for Children, Families and the Law at Hofstra University

Ronnie Gouz Esq., Chair of the Family Law section of the New York State Bar Association 

When:     Thursday, May 6, 2010

                 1:00  P.M.– 5:00 P.M. 

Where:    250 Broadway       

                 Senate Hearing Room, 19^th Floor

                 Manhattan 

This hearing can be viewed live at www.livestream.com/NYSenate_Judiciary.