Public defender to be honored by state Bar Association
When Tim Donaher succeeded Edward Nowak as Monroe County public defender in 2007, he took over an organization that had earned a reputation for quality representation despite a lack of resources. Nowak was a tough act to follow, so simply maintaining the status quo, with few changes, would be understandable, Donaher’s colleagues wrote in a […]
New appeals moot court program started
Attorneys handling criminal appeals for indigent defendants can now get help from experienced lawyers to prepare their arguments with the new Seventh Judicial District Indigent Criminal Appeals Moot Court Program developed by Monroe County Public Defender Tim Donaher. “The goal of the program is to try to take significant Fourth Department or Court of Appeals […]
Criminal justice reform ideas get mixed response
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s latest criminal justice reform proposals got mixed reviews from the local legal community. As part of a series of regional State of the State speeches in which he has outlined proposals on several far-ranging issues, Cuomo on Monday called for reforms to the way bail is set, getting cases to trial sooner, […]
Cuomo veto leaves indigent defense community wondering
The two main players in the local publicly funded defense community are disappointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s veto of a bill that would have shifted the cost of such work from the county to the state. “We think that counties simply aren’t in the position to dedicate the resources necessary to improve indigent defense,” Monroe […]
Public Defender caseload trending down, funding for 24-hour arraignment coverage uncertain
The most significant news in the Monroe County Public Defender’s 2015 annual report is the implementation of a program to provide around-the-clock representation to indigent clients in all courts. But it’s unclear whether the new New York state budget, due to be approved by April 1, will continue the funding needed to continue what is […]
Lawmaker wants simpler Miranda warnings for youths
A state lawmaker from Queens wants police in New York to use a new set of simplified Miranda warnings with suspects under 18. The commonly-used Miranda warnings now used by police are written at a 10th-grade reading level, said state Senator Michael Gianaris, the bill’s sponsor. “The new language is basically the same meaning, but […]
Bills call for NY to take over cost of indigent legal services
A bill in the New York State Legislature that could shift millions of dollars in costs for legal services to the poor from counties to the state is picking up steam. Currently, the state provides about 20 percent of the funding in most counties. If adopted, the state would take over 100 percent of the […]
Case Digests
- Fourth Department – Negligent performance: Rosenthal v. Syracuse University, et al.
- Second Circuit – Visual Artists Rights Act: Kerson v. Vermont Law School Inc.
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Former foreclosure referee: Opinion 22-157
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – College honorarium: Opinion 22-156
- Second Circuit – Reasonable accommodation: Tafolla v. Heilig
- Fourth Department – Labor Law: Primisch v. Peroxychem LLC
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Judicial candidacy: Opinion 22-155
- Fourth Department – Defamation: Lavine v. Glavin
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Law clerk: Opinion 22-154
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Review of another judge’s actions: Opinion 22-153
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Charitable contributions: Opinion 22-150
- Second Circuit – Class action settlement: Moses v. The New York Times Company
Law News
- Appeals court upholds conviction
- Federal lawsuit reinstated against jail officer over strip search, delayed release
- Hyzon to pay $25M penalty to settle alleged fraud charges by SEC
- NY appeals court reinstates lawsuit over contract to remove snow
- Fourth Department affirms $400K judgment in contract dispute
- Fourth Department affirms decision in NY property dispute
- Greenlight Networks selects Buffalo-based attorney as general counsel
- Barclay Damon hires attorney Matt Smith