The Pace Women's Justice Center (PWJC) is proud to announce that its esteemed Executive Director, Cindy Kanusher, Esq., has been selected for inclusion on City & StateÂ鶹´«Ã½™s inaugural "Trailblazers in Law" list. The Trailblazers in Law award spotlights attorneys, academics, public officials, and other influential figures who have made an impact in the legal field in New York.
With over 25 years of dedicated service to PWJC, Cindy Kanusher has demonstrated unwavering commitment and exceptional leadership in advocating for victims and survivors of abuse as well as providing representation to the underrepresented. Throughout her illustrious career, Cindy has been instrumental in shaping PWJC's mission and vision. During her tenure, PWJC has grown into a highly respected, multi-faceted legal services and training center serving over 3000 victims and survivors of interpersonal violence annually, providing invaluable legal assistance to those in need and tirelessly championing the cause of justice.
Shortly after becoming PWJCÂ鶹´«Ã½™s Executive Director, Cindy identified a need for a more flexible service model and developed the idea of a walk-in clinic that provides free, bilingual legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse, in a safe and non-threatening location. She was also integral in spearheading fundraising efforts to build a brand-new clinic and office space for PWJC, which allowed increased services. CindyÂ鶹´«Ã½™s leadership has empowered survivors to navigate the legal system with confidence and obtain the support they need to rebuild their lives. Cindy recently accepted the Visionary of Justice Award at Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Â鶹´«Ã½Â鶹´«Ã½™s 29th annual Law Leadership Awards Dinner.
The Pace WomenÂ鶹´«Ã½™s Justice Center (PWJC) is a self-funded nonprofit legal center located at Elisabeth Haub School of Law, under the 501(c)(3) status of Â鶹´«Ã½. Each year, PWJC provides free legal services to over 3,500 victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse, as well as conducts or participates in over 140 training and outreach events. Serving Westchester and Putnam Counties, PWJCÂ鶹´«Ã½™s mission is to pursue justice for victims and prevent abuse through quality legal services, community partnerships, education, and awareness. With an experienced staff and a team of dedicated volunteers, including attorneys, other professionals, and students, PWJC has built an effective, coordinated community response to interpersonal violence.
On Monday, February 10, 2025, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Â鶹´«Ã½ welcomed Professor Michael C. Dorf, Robert S. Stevens Professor of Law at Cornell Law School as the speaker for the 2025 Dyson Distinguished Lecture. His lecture was entitled: Â鶹´«Ã½œPlay in the Joints of the Religion Clauses and Law More Broadly.Â鶹´«Ã½
Elisabeth Haub School of Law Professor Bennett Gershman speaks with CBS News about the legal battle over NYCÂ鶹´«Ã½™s congestion pricing program, noting that a judge has already upheld the plan and that President Trump does not have the authority to overturn it.
Bennett Gershman, professor of law at Â鶹´«Ã½, told Newsweek: "Trump's Executive Order seeking to outlaw so called Birthright Citizenship is itself unlawful and will be easily struck down. "Mr. Trump may not like the constitutional rule. But however much he would like to, he does not have the power to flout the Constitution. He would need to get and the states to amend the constitution to implement his objective."