Protesters on Monday evening took over an event in Manhattan featuring Acting Chief Judge Anthony Cannataro of the New York Court of Appeals, pressuring him to halt thousands of eviction cases they say are moving forward illegally against city tenants who don't have counsel.

"You can uphold the law. Will you commit to stopping all eviction cases?" one woman shouted at Cannataro, standing up suddenly among rows of attorneys seated inside the 35th floor offices of Foley & Lardner on Park Avenue.