The Federal Bar Council is a specialty bar association with a focus on the Federal Courts of the Second Circuit. The Federal Bar Council began in 1928 as a chapter of a national association of attorneys employed by the federal government. Because the national organization refused to admit African Americans, including Francis P. Giles, an Assistant United States Attorney from the Eastern District of New York, and a number of Assistants from the Southern District of New York, the group broke with the national organization. It was created as a separate organization, the Federal Bar Association of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, by act of the New York State Legislature, signed into law by then Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, effective April 1, 1932. Today, the Council is a vibrant organization with over 3,000 members and numerous active committees. the Council is an Accredited Provider of Continuing Legal Education programs in New York State. Members enjoy free CLE as one of the many benefits of membership. In addition to providing over 35 CLE programs annually, the Council hosts an annual Judges Luncheon, the Law Day Dinner and Thanksgiving Luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria, the annual Winter Bench & Bar Conference, the annual Fall Bench & Bar Retreat, and numerous other meetings and events.