Latrice Walker Receives Service of Justice Award

NYSDA Recognizes Assemblymember's Commitment to Due Process and More

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Assemblymember Latrice M. Walker received the Jonathan E. Gradess Service of Justice Award from the New York State Defenders Association (NYSDA) on Monday, July 28th

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (08/01/2025) (readMedia)-- Assemblymember Latrice M. Walker (D-Brooklyn) received the Jonathan E. Gradess Service of Justice Award from the New York State Defenders Association (NYSDA) on Monday, July 28th. Presented during NYSDA's 58th Annual Meeting and Conference, the award "recognized Walker's zealous commitment to the rule of law, due process, and the right to effective assistance of counsel for those who appear in criminal and family courts around New York State," said NYSDA Executive Director Susan C. Bryant.

Walker's dedication to fairness for people facing criminal charges shone most recently in her steadfast defense of legislative reforms regarding discovery that "took off the blindfold." Discovery is the mechanism that provides defense lawyers with information from the prosecution needed to properly represent clients facing criminal charges; effective discovery is vital to justice. During the debate on the 2025 budget bill that included changes to the discovery law, Walker offered thoughtful analysis of those changes, highlighted various provisions that were not amended, and emphasized the continuing obligations of prosecutors to disclose evidence to the defense in a timely manner.

Walker's analysis also touched on another 2019 reform in which she was instrumental-changes to bail laws that had kept people without financial means locked up, unable to assist in their defense and subjected to the horrors of pretrial incarceration. Walker's ongoing commitment to keeping those reforms in place led her to a three-week hunger strike in 2023.

Walker has also addressed the horrors of incarceration in New York's prison system, most recently demonstrated by the beating deaths of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi. She has sponsored or supported important passed or pending bills to move the State's policies from draconian, continuing punishment to prevention and rehabilitation. Such bills include the Youth Justice and Opportunities Act, Clean Slate, and the Second Look Act. Walker supports parole justice. And her commitment to fairness extends beyond the criminal system.

"Latrice Walker is a leader in protecting families from unnecessary separation and trauma due to the family regulatory system," said NYSDA's Family Court Staff Attorney, Kimberly Bode. "For example, Assemblymember Walker has sponsored a bill to ensure that parents are informed of their legal rights before investigations by the agencies that can result in removal of their children," Bode added. Family and criminal defenders alike warmly applauded Walker's remarks during the awards presentation.

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.

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.