New York State Defenders Justice Fund: NY Times: “Albany lawmakers must start upgrading the defender system.”

Monday, April 5, 2010

NY Times: “Albany lawmakers must start upgrading the defender system.”

The New York Times editorialized Sunday about the need to pass public defense reform in the 2010 budget! It notes that passage of legislation to create a “permanent commission headed by the chief judge to monitor defender services and develop statewide standards” would, with a small increase in funding, “represent progress in a bleak budget year.” Supporters of the Campaign have already been asked to contact state leaders in support of the legislation; follow-ups citing the Times – or a first-time contact by those who haven’t yet called, emailed, or written – will help keep the momentum going.

Hon. David A. Paterson
Governor of New York
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390
Email from the website.

Hon. John L. Sampson
New York State Senate Conference Leader
409 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
518-455-2788
Email address: sampson@senate.state.ny.us

Hon. Sheldon Silver
Speaker of the Assembly
LOB 932
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-3791
Email from the website

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The Right to Counsel is Fundamental to Justice

The Campaign for an Independent Public Defense Commission is working to fix New York State's broken system of public defense. We represent a coalition of over 200 community organizations and faith communities state-wide.

The Problem: Huge caseloads, poor training, and severe lack of resources for public defenders leave poor and working-class people with dismal representation in court. This leads to wrongful convictions, over-sentencing, and wasted tax-payer dollars. The New York Civil Liberties Union has filed a class-action lawsuit against the State for violation of defendants' right to counsel.

The Solution: Describing the system as "an on-going crisis," former New York Chief Judge Judith Kaye called in 2006 for a politically independent public defense commission to administer these services statewide and ensure the rights of the accused are protected. Kaye's successor, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippmann, agrees with her recommendations, and dozens of prominent legislators, newspaper editorial boards and columnists, former judges, and concerned citizens have spoken out publicly in support of the Commission.

Action: Please contact the State leaders below and tell them, "It's time to fix New York's system of public defense. Please pass The Public Defense Act of 2009 -- S.6002/A.8793 -- this session!"

State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver: (518) 455-3791
Governor David Paterson: (518) 474-8390
Your local State Senator and Assemblyperson

Click here for their mailing and email addresses. Please write to them, and use your own stories and words to describe why public defense reform is so important to you. Please include a direct request that the leader do everything in their power to create the Independent Public Defense Commission this session.

Thank you for taking action. Together we're going to win this fight, and take a major step toward equal justice for all in New York State.

For more information, visit www.newyorkjusticefund.org.