NYS Defenders Association Recognized

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NYSDA Staff

ALBANY, NY (06/14/2013)(readMedia)-- The New York State Defenders Association (NYSDA) today received the 2013 Outstanding Achievements in Promoting Standards of Excellence in Mandated Representation Award. "Mandated representation," commonly called public defense, refers to providing a lawyer at government expense to people who cannot afford to hire one.

The award, given by the New York State Bar Association Committee to Ensure Quality of Mandated Representation, recognizes NYSDA for its engagement "in innovative efforts to improve the overall quality of mandated representation." It also honors NYSDA's work to promote "steps by the legislative, executive and judiciary to ensure the provision of high quality mandated representation."

"NYSDA is a long-term, integral part of efforts to ensure there is justice in New York's justice system," said New York Assembly Member and Codes Committee Chair Joseph R. Lentol when informed of the award. "Their day-to-day work helping lawyers and programs that struggle, with limited State assistance, to provide public defense services also provides mandate relief to counties," he added. New York State delegates to counties its responsibility to provide legal representation in criminal cases and some family law proceedings.

Furthermore, Lentol noted, "NYSDA's assistance to and advocacy before me and my colleagues in the Legislature is a vital factor in continuing much needed public defense reform efforts." Deficiencies in the system have been repeatedly noted in government reports, bar association and legislative proposals, and currently in a lawsuit against the State and five counties scheduled for trial in October.

Assembly Member Helene E. Weinstein, Chair of the Judiciary Committee, also applauded the award, saying, "I value both the expertise and the passion for justice that NYSDA brings to public defense issues facing our State."

William J. Leahy, Director of the Indigent Legal Services Office, said, "I am thrilled that NYSDA's many achievements and on-going work is being recognized. NYSDA's decades-long contributions in setting standards and providing high quality training and support are richly deserving of this public acclaim." Leahy's office came into being only two years ago under a statute passed in 2010 as part of efforts to fix New York's public defense system. He has remarked, even prior to the award, on the importance of NYSDA's services to public defense providers and to government agencies including his own. Without NYSDA and its Public Defense Backup Center, Leahy stated last February, his office could not succeed and New York State could not "meet its Constitutional obligation to provide competent counsel to those who cannot afford to pay for it."

"I appreciate this recognition of NYSDA's abiding commitment to bring about quality representation for every public defense client in New York State," NYSDA's Executive Director, Jonathan E. Gradess, observed. "We view the award not as a static emblem of our past achievements but as a sign of the continuing commitment of both NYSDA and the State Bar to improving public defense," he said, "and look forward to working with the Committee and others to achieve our mutual goal."

Gradess and much of the NYSDA staff were on hand for presentation of the award at a luncheon during a continuing legal education event aimed specifically at public defense lawyers.