Law360: NY Courts Urge Federal Judge To Stay Out Of Reopening Plan
“The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, Legal Aid Society, New York County Defender Services, Neighborhood Service of Harlem, and Queens Defenders say the state courts’ decision was “rushed” and has led to “chaotic” implementation of policies that violate federal civil rights protections including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. While Judge Carter denied…
Silive: Public defenders denied in bid to halt in-person court appearances — for now
“By converting our request for temporary relief into a swift hearing on a more-permanent injunction, the order recognizes that the Criminal Court created an urgent problem when it suddenly decided to haul people in for needless appearances at great risk to the health and well-being of the public,” said Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, managing director of…
News12 The Bronx: Public defenders, legal aides rally against reopening of courts, say it puts people at risk
“The New York City defenders were outside the Brooklyn Supreme Court saying the opening of the courts still put people at risk. They say a majority of the people this affects are people of color, with many of the legal workers being Black and Latino, but also a majority of their clients are minorities as…
The Crime Report: U.S. Legal System Accused of Abetting Racism
“Fixing the flaws in the U.S. legal system “will take a lot more than prosecutors,” Wesley Caines, chief of staff at The Bronx Defenders, told a webinar convened to discuss innovative prosecutorial responses to violence Thursday. “Maybe it’s time for a constitutional convention,” he said.” Read the full article here
The Chief Leader: Public Defenders, Court-Officers Union Seek Delay in Courts’ Reopenings
“In this way, the Plan discriminates against people with disabilities who need sufficient notice to seek and receive accommodations or modifications prior to an appearance in order to obtain equal access to the court,” according to the lawsuit. In its filing, The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender…
New York Law Journal: Federal Judge Denies Defenders’ Bid for Temporary Order to Pause New York City’s In-Person Court Proceedings
“U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter Jr. of the Southern District of New York on Friday denied the temporary restraining order requested by a group of New York City public defender organizations who say the planned expansion of in-person state court proceedings discriminates against persons with disabilities.” Read the full article here
Rise Magazine: ‘I Was Scared for Anyone to Know I Was Pregnant’ – How to Protect Against Removal at Birth
“Parents can be charged with so-called “derivative neglect” of a newborn if a previous child entered foster care. Here, Emma Ketteringham, managing director of The Bronx Defenders’ Family Defense Project, explains how pregnant parents can get support and protect their rights.” Read the full Q & A here
ABA Journal: New York City public defenders file suit to halt in-person court appearances
“The suit was filed by the Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, the Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem and Queens Defenders. The defendant is the New York State Office of Court Administration. Office of Court Administration spokesperson Lucian Chalfen told the Queens Daily Eagle that public defender groups…
New York Daily News: Lawyers for indigent challenge ‘rushed and unnecessary’ reopening of NYC criminal courts for in-person hearings
Read the full article here
New York Law Journal: New York City Defenders Sue Court Administrators Alleging Reopening Is Causing Bias Against Disabled
“Public defender organizations launched a lawsuit Tuesday against The New York state court system, saying a criminal court plan to start in-person appearances discriminates against people with disabilities.” Read the full article here
Queens Daily Eagle: Public defenders sue state to stop in-person criminal proceedings during COVID crisis
“Until Monday, arraignments, case conferences and other criminal court proceedings were handled remotely, with defendants appearing by video conference since March. The plaintiffs include The Legal Aid Society, Queens Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem and New York county Defender Service. The organizations, which represent low-income defendants in criminal…
The New York Times: N.Y.P.D. Says It Used Restraint During Protests. Here’s What the Videos Show.
“A civil rights lawyer with the legal aid group the Bronx Defenders, Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, said she saw violations of constitutional rights in nearly all the videos, including the rights to free speech and due process. “The primary question is whether the force is reasonable, but you have to remember, if they’re not arresting someone,…
Law360: NYC Tenant Bar, Judge Clash Over Looming In-Person Trials
“Jared Trujillo, president of ALAA, added Monday that he will not send his members to court until there has been a “meaningful” meeting between the court’s public health experts and outside experts hired by the unions. Hundreds of attorneys could potentially withhold their labor citywide, according to Trujillo, depending when other boroughs move to resume…
Law360: Legal Aid Sues To Stop Criminal Courts Reopening In NYC
“The suit comes on the eve of a scheduled July 15 reopening of criminal courts in the city. OCA announced its plans in an administrative order last week, according to the complaint, which was filed in New York federal court. Legal Aid and the other groups — which include Brooklyn Defender Services, the Bronx Defenders, New…
Queens Daily Eagle: NYC public defenders threaten to sue state to stop in-person criminal proceedings
“The timing of this order will prevent people with disabilities — our offices’ clients and their attorneys — from requesting and receiving the reasonable accommodations they need to safely attend and participate in court proceedings and do so without fear of incarceration if they assert those needs and rights,” they write. Public defenders with disabilities…
The Riverdale Press: Amid protests, budget cuts, crime rises in 5-0
“But that’s an unfair claim, said Eli Northrup, criminal defense policy counsel at the Bronx Defenders, a public defender nonprofit. “If anything, bail reform in the last month has been rolled back,” Northrup said. “I don’t think there’s any evidence that bail reform has anything to do with this. If you look, crime is actually…
Politico: Protesters unable to retrieve property seized during mass arrests, lawyers say
“The attorneys’ group says NYPD property seizures have been a problem for years — made worse by the coronavirus pandemic and resulting shutdowns, and further exacerbated by the chaos surrounding the protests. “The police have an incredible responsibility for safeguarding and accounting for people’s property. It’s a constitutional right that you can’t be deprived of…
Legal Services Staff Association: Multi-Union Legal Services Statement In Opposition to the Reopening of Housing Court
“We are unionized legal services unions and workers who represent tenants in New York City’s housing courts. Today, people of all walks of life are participating in a righteous uprising that demands an end to state-sanctioned violence against Black lives. In conjunction with this uprising, communities are renewing their demands for programs and policies that…
CityBizList: NYC Public Defenders Call on New York Court System to Delay Opening of Courts for Safety of Staff and Clients
“The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender Services, Queens Defenders, and the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem issued a letter to New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks requesting that the Court continue remote appearances and abandon its proposal to recommence in-person appearances until…
New York Law Journal: Public Defenders Call on NY Courts to Reconsider In-Person Appearances During Reopening Process
“A group of public defender organizations in New York City objected Thursday to the planned return of in-person court proceedings for nonemergency matters, which was announced Tuesday by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks. In the letter, The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, the Bronx Defenders, the New York County Defender Services, the Queens Defenders…
BronxNet: Stronger Together Running Protest
“Local running crews assemble at Poe Park in the Bronx for a Stronger Together running protest to motivate the community to help impact positive change and rally for social justice. Nova Church of Bronx Sole, running activist Power Malu, and the community of runners support one another, engage in dialogue and meet The Bronx Defenders,…
Gothamist: What The New Rollbacks To Bail Reform Mean In New York
“Someone who commits a felony while on probation or parole can no longer be released automatically. The same goes for someone with at least two prior felony convictions who is arrested for a new felony. Scott Levy, chief policy counsel for Bronx Defenders, said that’s overly punitive. “What this really does is penalize and punish…
WNYC: What the New Rollbacks to Bail Reform Mean in New York
“Just six months ago, New York state eliminated cash bail for almost all offenses except violent felonies. But there was an immediate backlash after the NYPD claimed the crime rate was going up. There were also constant media reports about cases in which people were re-arrested after being released without bail, notably one involving a woman who punched Orthodox Jewish…
ABC News: Blacks account for nearly half of all NYC arrests 6 years after end of stop-and-frisk: NYPD data
“There are other just as nefarious, just as racially-biased practices that have filled the void. Unless you’re really going to start at the roots of the problem, you’re going to end up in the same place,” said Ann Mathews, managing director of the criminal defense practice for The Bronx Defenders, a city public defenders office….
ConnectRadio.FM: Blacks comprise nearly half of all NYC arrests despite reforms: NYPD data
“While the good news is that if arrests are down by roughly half in New York, then that means that only half as many African Americans are being arrested as well as for other racial groups, too.”But Ann Mathews of The Bronx Defenders said that while she welcomes police reform efforts, “what is clear is…