On Monday April 11, former Eastern District of New York Judge John Gleeson, a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton, delivered the Leslie H. Arps Memorial Lecture at the New York City Bar Association.

His topic was "Racial Disparities and Second Looks in Federal Sentencing: A Window Into Dysfunction, and a Path Out Of It." Gleeson described his work on sentencing reform, including how his sentencing in 1996 of Francois Holloway—who opted for a trial over a plea—to 57 years in prison due to mandatory sentencing requirements "kept me up at night," and how it led him to persuade prosecutors to vacate part of the conviction and free Mr. Holloway.

The Leslie H. Arps Memorial Lectures are made possible by the generosity of the firm of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates. Past speakers have included United State Supreme Court justices Lewis F. Powell, Jr., Sandra Day O'Connor and Elena Kagan.

Pictured from left to right are: Kevin Haynes, another person released after 27 years through Judge Gleeson's work; Hon. John Gleeson; and Scott Musoff, partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Chair of the City Bar's Committee on the Leslie H. Arps Lectures.