LONGTIME ATTORNEYS FREEDMAN AND JONES RECEIVE ATTORNEY PROFESSIONALISM AWARDS FROM STATE BAR

ALBANY, NY (01/27/2017)(readMedia)-- Maryann Saccomando Freedman, a former president of the State Bar Association, and E. Stewart Jones Jr., a Troy-based criminal defense attorney, have been honored with the 2017 Attorney Professionalism Awards by the Committee on Attorney Professionalism of the State Bar Association.

Freedman and Jones received their awards on January 26 during the Association's House of Delegates dinner in New York City. The award recognizes members who display the highest standards of professionalism, commitment to promoting respect for the legal system, outstanding ethical conduct, competence, good judgment, integrity and civility.

"The Committee was blessed to have two stellar nominees among an exceptional field," said committee Chair Lillian M. Moy, who is executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York (Albany). "For the first time, the Committee voted to recognize two who stood out above the others."

Freedman of Buffalo served as assistant attorney general for New York State and as a matrimonial referee in the State Supreme Court. She is currently of counsel with the law firm of Cohen & Lombardo.

Moy described Freedman as "a trail-blazing bar leader and eminent member of the Buffalo legal community" with a record of service to the community that is "long standing and exceptional."

Freedman holds the distinction of having been the first woman president of the New York State Bar Association and the Erie County Bar Association. She also was the first woman president of The New York Bar Foundation. She is a member of the House of Delegates of the State Bar Association and is a former delegate to the American Bar Association.

Jones of Troy (E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy) is a longtime criminal defense and civil trial lawyer. He is a frequent speaker on his areas of legal expertise including at continuing legal education programs and law school seminars. He has authored numerous articles and chapters in a wide variety of trial advocacy books.

"His exemplary conduct as a trial attorney, ably and successfully representing clients in need across a broad range of cases, coupled with his remarkable service and support to the leading charitable organizations in the Capital District, is unparalleled," said Moy.

A staunch advocate of the advancement of legal services for the indigent, Jones actively supports the programs of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York. Jones has also been a trustee or director of 10 public entities including the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and Albany Law School.

The 72,000-member New York State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. It was founded in 1876.

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