Awards Recognize Public Defenders' Client-Centered Representation

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2024 NYSDA Award Honorees Kayla Hardesty (left), Mollie Dapolito (center), and Casey Rogers (right)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (07/25/2024) (readMedia)-- For resolutely pursuing the legal rights of one client, resulting in an ultimate benefit to many, Kayla Hardesty of the Cortland County Public Defender's Office received the Jonathan E. Gradess Service of Justice Award on July 22nd. Presented by the New York State Defenders Association (NYSDA) at its 57th Annual Meeting and Conference, the award celebrated Hardesty's work leading to a Court of Appeals decision that will help ensure proper enforcement of the discovery reforms enacted in 2019. Drew R. DuBrin, Bureau Chief, Appeals Bureau, Monroe County Public Defender's Office, on hearing of Hardesty's award, praised her fine work on People v Bay: "I believe I can speak for the entire public defender community and say that we are so very grateful."

NYSDA presented Casey E. Rogers, First Assistant Public Defender, Steuben County Public Defender's Office, with a 2024 Kevin M. Andersen Memorial Award. The nomination letter by Public Defender Shawn Sauro included a description of the many ways Rogers "has been instrumental in changing the culture and perception of public defense in Steuben County." As the "epitome of model trial advocacy," resulting in "hundreds of successful resolutions," Rogers has been "a role model and mentor to our up-and-coming attorneys and a leader in the office," Sauro wrote. Sauro-who accepted a NYSDA award last year on behalf of his office for working continuously to invoke and enforce discovery reform-also emphasized that Rogers treats every client "with the utmost dignity and respect" and embraces the office's holistic defense practice to the fullest. One young lawyer told Sauro, "I want to be the best...I want to be Casey Rogers."

Also receiving a 2024 Kevin M. Andersen Memorial Award was Mollie A. Dapolito, Assistant Public Defender, Ontario County Public Defender's Office. Support for her nomination included Assistant Public Defender Delton Caraway's observation that "Mollie works tirelessly for her clients, ... investigates every case and fights for her clients' rights both in and out of court, ... and is never afraid to speak up when her clients are being treated with anything less than the dignity they deserve." Nancy J. Farrell, who is now Director of NYSDA's Veterans Defense Program and previously worked at as an Assistant Public Defender in Ontario County, said that "Mollie is one of the most diligent, zealous, and compassionate defense attorneys I have ever worked with." Farrell added that Mollie is "an example of what it means to not skip corners, to work hard, to research, and to learn, in every case every time" and that Dapolito "readily shares her wisdom and knowledge with new and experienced attorneys ... in a respectful, nonjudgemental way."

NYSDA is a not-for-profit membership organization that provides support to lawyers and programs who provide legal representation to people who cannot afford to hire an attorney in criminal or certain family court matters. The Association receives State funding to provide training, publications, and other services to public defense attorneys. NYSDA's mission is to improve the quality and scope of publicly supported legal representation.

The Jonathan E. Gradess Service of Justice Award, named for NYSDA's founding Executive Director, recognizes individuals and organizations that have uniquely supported NYSDA and the defender community.

The Kevin M. Andersen Memorial Award is presented to an attorney who has been in practice less than fifteen years, who practices in public defense, and who exemplifies the sense of justice, determination, and compassion that were the hallmarks of its namesake, a lawyer at the Genesee County Public Defender's Office.