King David on Trial at Congregation Kol Ami

U.S. District Court Naomi Reice Buchwald will step away from her usual courtroom in the Southern District of New York to preside over a trial – “The People v. The King,” at Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains on Friday, May 4, 2012 at 8 p.m.

The sanctuary of Kol Ami will become a live courtroom as the biblical King David is prosecuted for rape and murder. Three verdicts will be issued: a vote of the congregation by ballot, the verdict of a six person multi-generational jury, and a verdict to be issued by the Honorable Naomi Reice Buchwald, Federal District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York. The trial is preceded by study (lawyers can separately register for CLE ethics credit), as all prepare for an incredible night.

The trial of the Biblical King David for the rape of Bathsheba and the murder of her husband 3,000 years ago will be a highlight of Synaplex, a series of monthly Friday night events that explore the Jewish experience. “People think the Bible is too holy to wrestle with, but Jews have always wrestled with the text of the Torah,” said Rabbi Shira Milgrom of Congregation Kol Ami. “Sometimes it can be hard to reconcile our beliefs with the texts, so we jump into the ring and wrestle with them.” The Synaplex trial is very much in that tradition, she noted.

Until her appointment, Judge Buchwald had served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of New York since 1980 and was Chief Magistrate Judge from January 18, 1994 until January 19, 1996. She received a B.A. degree cum laude from Brandeis University in 1965 and an LL.B. degree cum laude from Columbia University School of Law in 1968. Following graduation from Columbia, Judge Buchwald joined the firm of Marshall, Bratter, Greene, Allison & Tucker where she worked as a litigation associate with partner (and Kol Ami member) Charles H. Miller. In 1973 she was appointed an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York. From 1976 to 1979, she served as Deputy Chief of the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office. In 1979, she was appointed Chief of the Civil Division. Judge Buchwald is the proud mother of David Buchwald, a member of Kol Ami, and a member of the White Plains Common Council.

Defending King David will be Michael P. Zweig, litigation partner at Loeb & Loeb, and Julie B. Ehrlich, a litigation associate at Cuti Hecker Wang. The prosecution team includes Scott D. Musoff, litigation partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meager & Flom, and Jay K. Musoff, a litigation partner at Loeb & Loeb. The witnesses (as King David; Bathsheba; Joab, David’s Commander; Nathan, the prophet; expert witness, court clerk and the King’s messenger, respectively) will be Daniel Lobatto, a Tax Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hank Rouda , Senior Counsel for H&M, Paul Schwarz, a retired Scarsdale Middle School teacher and summer-camp administrator, Rabbi Nadia Gold, the Junior Youth Group/Madrichim Coordinator at Kol Ami, Larry Heuer, Professor of Psychology at Columbia University, Carolyn Lederman Barotz, a Pediatric Ophthalmologist practicing in Purchase, NY; Stamford, CT, and at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in NYC and Edward Nerenberg, who has been a Kol Ami member for 38 years, trustee for the past four years, and “Man of the year” recipient.

A 1.5 hour New York Continuing Legal Education Credit (including .5 ethics credit) will be offered for all interested attorneys. For more information or to make a dinner reservation, please call Janet Hershey at 949-4717 ext. 115.