Melville “De” Miller, Jr. Justice Series
The Melville “De” Miller, Jr. Justice Series, named in honor of LSNJ’s co-founder and former president, is open to the public and intended to raise awareness of important social, legal, and economic justice issues. These free events feature guest lecturers and members of the community who speak on topics of appeal to both lawyers and non-lawyers. Continuing credits are offered for lawyers. For information on sponsoring an upcoming Justice Series event, email [email protected]. View Justice Series webinars below.
The opinions and ideas expressed by the invited speakers, panelists, and community members are broadcast to inform and educate, to expand thought and stimulate discussion, and may not necessarily represent the position or views of LSNJ. Nothing contained herein is meant by LSNJ to attempt to influence government decision-making, enacting, changing, or removing legislation, rules, or other covered government actions, nor is meant to encourage others to contact government officials with that position.
Reproductive Rights and Health—A Melville “De” Miller, Jr. Justice Series Webinar (December 15, 2025)
Panelists Aarin Williams from NJDCR, Jeanne LoCicero of ACLU-NJ, Jasmine Winters of Cherry Hill Women’s Center, and Roslyn Rogers Collins of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey discuss recent developments and critical issues in reproductive rights, policy advocacy, and health implications from key perspectives in the field. Moderated by LSNJ Senior Vice President Akil Roper.
Constitutional Law Year-In-Review—A Melville “De” Miller, Jr. Justice Series Webinar (May 19, 2025)
Join Legal Services of New Jersey, distinguished Professor Ronald K. Chen of Rutgers Law School, and panelists Deputy Solicitor General Michael Zuckerman and ACLU-NJ Director of Appellate Advocacy Ezra Rosenberg for a discussion of recent State and Federal Supreme Court cases impacting people’s rights in New Jersey under the State and Federal Constitution.
AI and Access to Justice in New Jersey—A Melville “De” Miller, Jr. Justice Series Webinar (December 9, 2024)
Moderated by Akil Roper with panelists Laks Kattalai and Jessica Lewis Kelly, Esq. of the New Jersey Judiciary Administrative Office of the Courts; Jennifer Sellitti, Esq., New Jersey Office of the Public Defender; Trish Perlmutter, Esq., associate director for Policy, Outreach, and Community Relations with the NJDCR; and Abdul Rehman Khan, Esq., with the Seton Hall University School of Law Center for Social Justice.
Issues Impacting the Latinx/Hispanic Community—A Melville “De” Miller, Jr. Justice Series Webinar (December 13, 2023)
Sponsored by Verizon and moderated by LSNJ board member Carlos Bollar, partner at Archer and Grenier and president of the Hispanic National Bar Association. Panelists included Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz; Peter Rosario, president and CEO of La Casa De Don Pedro; Anna Maria Tejada, partner with Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr; and Felipe Chavana, executive director of Essex Newark Legal Services.
AAPI in New Jersey—A Melville “De” Miller, Jr. Justice Series Webinar (May 31, 2023)
Sponsored by Verizon, Inc., and moderated by Jhanice V. Domingo, Esq., Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C.; with panelists Rose Cuison-Villazor, Interim Dean, Rutgers Law School; Fannie Chan Jarvis, AAPI Liasion, NJDCR; Maria P. Vallejo, Partner, Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo, PC and former director, APALA-NJ; and Dr. Ying Lu, E Pluribus Unum Project, NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.
Environmental Justice in New Jersey—A Melville “De” Miller, Jr. Justice Series Webinar
Moderated by Akil Roper with panelists Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, NJ Legislative District #15; Olga D. Pomar, South Jersey Legal Services; Melissa Miles, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance; and Dr. Nicky Sheats, Center for the Urban Environment at Kean University.
Discrimination and Bias in New Jersey—A Melville “De” Miller, Jr. Justice Series Webinar (June 15, 2022)
Moderated by Akil Roper with panelists Aarin Williams, Interim Chief of Strategic Initiatives and Enforcement, New Jersey Division on Civil Rights; Reginald Johnson, agent for the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and president of the Metuchen-Edison Branch of the NAACP; and Shivi Prasad, Director of LSNJ’s Poverty Research.
Reparations Now—A Melville “De” Miller, Jr. Justice Series Webinar (September 13, 2021)
Moderated by Akil Roper with panelists Ryan P. Haygood, President and CEO, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice; Crystal Crawford, Executive Director, Western Center on Law and Poverty; Kamilah Moore, Chair, California Reparations Task Force, and Kenya Tyson, Executive Director, The Black Massacre Project and Professor/Assistant Provost of Academic Affairs and University Curriculum, The New School.
Supporting and Preserving Families Webinar Series, Part II (August 12, 2021)
"Substance Use in the Child Welfare System," held on August 12, 2021, was the second in LSNJ's webinar series Supporting and Preserving Families. Over 100 attorneys, judges, social workers, and other child welfare professionals attended and heard from panelists Tricia Stephens, LCSW-R, PhD, Elizabeth Brico, and Alexandra Travis. Jey Rajaraman, Chief Counsel of LSNJ's Family Representation Project (FRP), moderated the panel.
Supporting and Preserving Families Webinar Series, Part I (February 23, 2021)
"Reimagining the Foster Parent System," featuring the LSNJ film, "A Partnership of Hope: One Family's Story," was the first in LSNJ's webinar series Supporting and Preserving Families. Presenters included Jody Rogers, birth parent mentor, and Robyn Robbins, foster parent mentor, from the Birth and Foster Parent Program; Diana, a member of LSNJ's Reunified Youth Foster Forum; Dr. Susan Esquilin, child welfare expert, and Jey Rajaraman, former Chief Counsel of the Family Representation Project (later renamed Family Stability and Preservation project).