Kings County Criminal Bar Association

KCCBA RESOLUTION, March 1, 2010

On March 1, 2010, an emergency meeting of the Officers, Directors and Past-Presidents of the Kings County Criminal Bar Association was held concerning the City of New York’s Request for Proposal regarding the provision of indigent defense services in 2011.  A quorum being had and upon full discussion and consideration of all the issues addressed,

The Kings County Criminal Bar Association has resolved to support any effort that will enlighten the public and our elected officials to recognize that the City of New York’s unilateral restructuring of indigent defense services will place further unnecessary burdens on our courts.  For many years the City has not shown enough concern for providing quality representation to indigent defendants, and has failed to be a meaningful partner in the shaping of reasoned criminal justice policy.  We once again support the creation of a state-wide commission that would seek to assure independence of the defense function from financial providers, and it is further resolved that

The Kings County Criminal Bar Association shall support the city-wide unification and organization of Assigned Counsel Plan providers in an effort to advocate for protecting and improving the currently constituted system of indigent defense.

BROOKLYN ACP ACTION COMMITTEE

Assigned Counsel Plan attorneys in Brooklyn have organized in an effort to protect their own interests and maintain an adequate level of quality representation for indigent defendants.  These efforts are being managed by a committee of six panel members who have demonstrated their own involvement in becoming informed and advocating on behalf of their colleagues in Brooklyn.  Committee members have also developed close contacts with the leaders of organized panel members and bar associations in other counties.  The Committee has established an advocacy fund and will, along with other counties, contribute to the financing of a unified city-wide strategy of lobbying and litigation.  Such funds will be maintained by Committee Treasurer Robert S. Gershon in an escrow account.  The Committee will disclose to all ACP Attorneys in Brooklyn specific details of how funds are expended and will keep everyone abreast of all developments in this effort.  The Committee seeks input and participation from anyone interested.

The Committee can be reached by email at: comm@bklynlawyers.org

The KCCBA supports this effort and implores attorneys to contribute to the advocacy fund.

As part of our support, the KCCBA has enabled our PayPal system to accept credit/debit card donations to the Committee's advocacy fund.  Please follow this simple process that will guide you to the PayPal site to complete the payment.  Or you can download and print the Submission Form to send in payment by check. 

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