We write in our individual capacities and not as the representatives of any of the organizations to which we belong. It was with great consternation that we found ourselves reading Paging Matrimonial Lawyers: Have You Read the 'Dobbs' Decision? by Alan Feigenbaum in the Oct. 6, 2022 issue of the New York Law Journal. This was the result of the author's unfortunate failure to acknowledge the significant steps and efforts being made by the matrimonial and family law bar groups of which he is a member. Many of these actions preceded the publication of his article and are ongoing as this letter is being written. Suffice it to say that as a member of one of those organizations (i.e., a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers) and a committee member of another (i.e., the Committee on Legislation for the Family Law Section of the New York State Bar Association), Mr. Feigenbaum cannot claim ignorance of the work that has been and continues to be done in response to Dobbs. At a minimum, in his efforts to criticize the organized bar, he had an obligation to ascertain exactly what was being done by the very organizations to which he belongs before leveling baseless claims of inaction and unfounded criticisms at them.

As the public's response and reaction has made quite clear, the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, is one which creates polarization on a national, as well as state and local levels. That being said, before a group (whether it be a county bar association, state bar association or national organization) takes a position, the gamut of its member's views, thought, sensitivity, time, and careful consideration of the plethora of disparate views is required. In addition, as Mr. Feigenbaum certainly knows from his own experience in the leadership processes, these organizations have procedures and protocols that must be adhered to before positions are publicized on controversial issues such as this one.