Josefa Velasquez

January 10, 2018 | New York Law Journal

The head of the state Senate's Independent Democratic Conference has hired the firm of Loeb & Loeb to conduct an investigation into an allegation that he forcibly kissed a staff member in 2015.

By Josefa Velasquez |

3 minute read

January 10, 2018 | New York Law Journal

Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican who represents upstate New York, will be discussing U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' decision to rescind an Obama-era policy that generally kept federal enforcement from interfering with states' marijuana sales with her colleagues and “reviewing whether any legislative solution would be necessary,” a spokesman said.

By Josefa Velasquez |

4 minute read

January 09, 2018 | New York Law Journal

At a press conference in Albany on Tuesday morning, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan told reporters that his conference was not at all supportive of Cuomo's payroll tax idea, which the Democratic governor unveiled last week in his state address to legislators.

By Josefa Velasquez |

3 minute read

January 09, 2018 | New York Law Journal

Assemblywoman Pamela Harris, who was elected in 2015, faces an 11-count indictment on multiple fraud and obstruction-of-justice charges.

By Colby Hamilton | Josefa Velasquez |

6 minute read

January 08, 2018 | New York Law Journal

Legal experts queried by the New York Law Journal expressed skepticism about the likelihood of success for a proposed state lawsuit against the federal government over the recently enacted tax reform bill. The Governor has said he would soon propose a shift in state tax code.

By Josefa Velasquez |

6 minute read

January 05, 2018 | New York Law Journal

A spokeswoman for Atlanta-based credit reporting agency Equifax said the company would comply with a demand by Secretary of State Rossana Rosado for information on a July data breach that was made public in September. The demand was made under emergency regulations issued by New York state in December.

By Josefa Velasquez |

3 minute read

January 04, 2018 | New York Law Journal

New York lawmakers who helped craft the state's medical marijuana program, joined by marijuana industry and drug reform advocates, are calling on the U.S. Congress to enact legislation that would protect legal marijuana programs in the states that have them after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced plans to rescind Obama-era policy.

By Josefa Velasquez

4 minute read

January 04, 2018 | New York Law Journal

Federal courthouses in New York City and Long Island are closing Thursday due to snowfall and high winds. Other courts downstate are also closing.

By Josefa Velasquez |

3 minute read

January 03, 2018 | New York Law Journal

Among the governor's proposals are the elimination of money bail in some cases, reforms to the state's discovery statutes and proposals to move cases through the state court system faster.

By Colby Hamilton | Josefa Velasquez |

5 minute read

January 03, 2018 | New York Law Journal

During his 92-minute speech, Cuomo laid out an agenda that includes filing a lawsuit against the federal government over the recently enacted tax bill on grounds it violates constitutional principles, and against pharmaceutical companies in connection with the opioid epidemic.

By Josefa Velasquez |

4 minute read