Advancing diversity in the legal world: NYSBA’s panel explores the path forward with Justice Cheryl Chambers

In the weeks following the U.S. Supreme Court’s groundbreaking ruling on race-conscious admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina, the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) convened a group of legal luminaries to address the question on everyone’s minds: How do we advance diversity in the face of this decision?

NYSBA’s webinar, entitled “U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Affirmative Action & Its Impact on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Law”, sought to shed light on the reverberating implications of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the context of higher education, the business realm, judicial proceedings, and society at large.

From Vincent Chang’s legal expertise to Kapil Longani’s insights on the use of race in student experiences, and from Caren Ulrich Stacy’s concerns about silent progress to Nihla F. Sikkander’s employment legal insights, the panel brought together a spectrum of thought and understanding.

Yet, among this assembly of minds, Associate Justice Cheryl Chambers of the Appellate Division, Second Department, held a singular vantage point. With a storied career in the Appellate Division, Chambers’ insights draw from a rich tapestry of experiences, making her perspective especially vital in these transformative times.

“Nothing in the decision suggests that advancing the goal of diversity is off the table. That’s a point we must emphasize vehemently,” Chambers stated, addressing the gathering. Her remarks highlighted the nuances in the ruling that continue to allow students to discuss the profound effects of race on their lives, a vital component in the quest for diverse representation in all spheres.

When Chambers turned her gaze to the judiciary, her perspective as an Appellate…