U.S. Supreme Court Review and Preview (22 Oct 2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

U.S. Supreme Court Review and Preview

October 22, 2026

12:00-1:15 p.m. via Zoom

The Cumberland Bar Association is pleased to welcome back ACLU of Maine Legal Director Carol Garvan and Chief Counsel Zach Heiden for a review of the momentous 2025 term of the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as a preview of what we might expect from the 2026 term, which begins October 5. After a brief review of the role of the U.S. Supreme Court, Carol and Zach will provide context for some of the key decisions handed down during the Court’s most recent Term, including discussions of birthright citizenship, privacy, and voting rights. The focus of the program will then turn to the Court’s new term, when the Court will hear cases addressing some of our most fundamental civil rights and civil liberties, including immigration, government accountability, and sex discrimination.

Speakers: Carol Garvan, Esq., and Zach Heiden, Esq., ACLU of Maine

Carol Garvan, Esq.

Carol Garvan is the legal director at the ACLU of Maine. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College and her Juris Doctor from UC Berkeley School of Law. During law school, she served as supervising editor for the California Law Review and editor of the Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice. She then clerked for Judge Kermit Lipez of the First Circuit for the United States Court of Appeals and Justice Mark Simons of the California Court of Appeal.

Zach Heiden, Esq.

Zach Heiden is chief counsel and director of program and strategy at the ACLU of Maine. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College in 1995, his Master of Arts in Modern Irish and British Literature from the University of Florida in 1998, and his Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School in 2002. Following law school, Zach clerked for the Honorable Susan Calkins on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. He is the author of Fences and Neighbors, 17 Law and Literature 225 (2005) and Too Low a Price: Waiver and the Right to Counsel, 62 Maine L. Rev. 488 (2010).

This program has been approved for one hour of general CLE credit. Registrants will receive the Zoom login credentials one day before the program.

Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Clients in a Changing Landscape (19 Nov 2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Clients

in a Changing Landscape

H & D Credit

November 19, 2025

12:00-1:15 pm

Via Zoom

Gender identity has become a prominent and evolving topic of discussion, underscoring the need for legal professionals to stay informed and equipped to support transgender and gender diverse clients and colleagues. This seminar, which qualifies for 1 hour of H/D credit, is designed to provide attorneys with up-to-date insights and knowledge on the complexities surrounding gender identity and its legal implications. It will begin with an overview of what gender identity is and why it holds such immense significance for many individuals, both young and old. It will be refreshed from prior years to give an update on changes at the state and federal level and recent court decisions. Finally, it will discuss practical ways for attorneys to support transgender clients and colleagues in their practice.

Speaker: Parke Burmeister, Esq. Casco Bay Law

Parke is the founder of Casco Bay Law. He first created Casco Bay Law in 2014 with a vision for providing excellent, client-centered legal services in a boutique setting in downtown Portland.

Parke’s legal practice is primarily centered on trusts and estates, probate matters, and working with small businesses. His focus includes comprehensive estate planning, wills and trusts, special needs planning, guardianships, conservatorships and other protective arrangements, estate administration, probate litigation, and business matters.

In 2020, Parke drafted the chapter on guardianships and conservatorships for the 1st Edition 2020 “A Practical Guide to Probate in Maine.” In October 2020, Parke presented on the SECURE Act for the SCORE Maine 2020 Tax Practitioner Institute. Parke has also completed mediation training through the Harvard Mediation Program at Harvard Law School, and, in 2014 and 2015, served as a volunteer mediator at the Brookline District Court in Massachusetts.

Parke is a graduate of Colby College and the University of Maine School of Law.

This CLE has been approved for one hour of H & D CLE credit. Zoom credentials will be sent to registrants one day before the program.

Cumberland Bar Association upcoming events

U.S. Supreme Court Review and Preview (22 Oct 2026)

Supporting Transgender and Gender Diverse Clients in a Changing Landscape (19 Nov 2026)