State Bar President David M. Schraver Responds to Decision to Delay Disclosure of Pro Bono Reports

Related Media

NYSBA President David M. Schraver

ALBANY, NY (09/12/2013)(readMedia)-- New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman and Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti today issued a statement announcing that the Administrative Board of the Courts has decided to defer until April 2015 the public disclosure of information regarding the pro bono hours and financial contributions of attorneys registered to practice in New York.

In response, New York State Bar Association President David M. Schraver of Rochester (Nixon Peabody) has issued the following statement:

"We appreciate that Chief Judge Lippman brought our members' concerns to the Administrative Board of the Courts. The board has agreed to defer public disclosure of pro bono service and financial contributions, which attorneys now must report when they reregister every two years.

"Mandatory reporting of hours and mandatory reporting of contributions are matters of serious concern. We continue to believe that mandatory reporting is not an appropriate approach for encouraging lawyers to assist in the delivery of pro bono legal services for the poor.

"We look forward to continuing dialogue on this issue, which is of significant importance to the Association's membership."

-30-