Upcoming program
To Be of Use: Honoring the Life & Legacy of W. Haywood Burns
Oct 21, 2026 · the 30th anniversary of Haywood Burns’ passing.
Featured event · October 21
To Be of Use: Honoring the Life & Legacy of Haywood Burns
As we mark the 30th anniversary of Haywood Burns’ passing, we will gather to recognize his life, legacy, and continuing relevance.
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Events & media archive
Past program
Good Trouble: Kristen Clarke in Conversation with Justin J. Pearson
April 16, 2026 · Closing program of the 2025–26 Burns Chair year.
Video
Good Trouble: Kristen Clarke in Conversation with Justin J. Pearson
Recorded April 16, 2026 · Watch on YouTube.
Past program
Democracy Under Siege: Kristen Clarke and Elie Mystal
February 2, 2026 · A discussion of Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America.
Video
Democracy Under Siege: Kristen Clarke and Elie Mystal
Recorded February 2, 2026 · Watch on YouTube.
Past program
Kristen Clarke in Conversation with Joy Reid
November 18, 2025 · Civil rights legacy, contemporary activism, and the role of journalism.
Video
Kristen Clarke in Conversation with Joy Reid
Recorded November 18, 2025 · Watch on YouTube.
Past program
Kristen Clarke Joins CUNY Law in Community & Conversation
September 15, 2025 · Student conversation and opening-day photo gallery.
Video
A Year in Review: Kristen Clarke
2025–26 Burns Chair recap · Watch on YouTube.
Past program
Rolling Back New York’s Excessive Sentencing
November 21, 2024 · James Forman Jr. in conversation on sentencing reform and second chances.
Video
Rolling Back New York’s Excessive Sentencing
Recorded November 21, 2024 · Watch on YouTube.
Past program
The Role of Public Defenders
October 21, 2024 · James Forman Jr. with Paul Butler, Raj Jayadev, and Heather Pinckney.
Video
The Role of Public Defenders
Recorded October 21, 2024 · Watch on YouTube.
Past program
Beyond Incarceration
September 30, 2024 · James Forman Jr. with R. Dwayne Betts and Cassandra Cean-Owens.
Video
Beyond Incarceration
Recorded September 30, 2024 · Watch on YouTube.
Past program
Lessons in Movement Lawyering from Local to Global
April 30, 2024 · Vince Warren’s final lecture as Burns Chair.
Video
Lessons in Movement Lawyering from Local to Global
Recorded April 30, 2024 · Watch on YouTube.
Past program
Resistance to Autocracy During the Trump Administration
April 1, 2024 · Book talk with Professor Richard Abel, 2007 Burns Chair.
Past program
The Revolution Will Not Be Litigated
October 26, 2023 · Vince Warren and contributors on people power and legal power.
Past program
Becoming Abolitionists
April 11, 2023 · Book talk with Vince Warren and Derecka Purnell.
Video
2023 Burns Chair Welcome: Vince Warren in Conversation with Janai Nelson
Recorded February 27, 2023 · Watch on YouTube.