Archive for November 12, 2007
New features
Nov 12th
I’ve just upgraded to WordPress 2.3.1 and I’m starting to explore with their new “tags” feature and a few related plugins. At the end of every post, you’ll see two sets of “tags”. The first is links to “tags” on this site, which leads to the related posts entry at the end of each post (Is that helpful? Does it get in the way?). The second set of “tags” are technorati tags.
I have also disabled the “quoter” plugin. It started acting all weird and stuff.
If something is broken, let me know and I’ll try to fix it.
Enforcing the right to effective assistance of counsel
Nov 12th
The big news of the weekend thus far, for me at least, has been the announcement by the NYCLU that it is filing suit in New York, alleging Constitutional violations by the State for its failure to provide adequate resources to public defenders.
From the press release:
“Every day, in courtrooms throughout the state, New Yorkers are denied justice simply because they are poor. Justice should not depend on your ZIP code or the size of your wallet,” said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the NYCLU. “We filed this lawsuit today as a last resort, in response to the constitutional deficiencies identified by a commission appointed by Chief Judge Kaye to evaluate our public defense system, and the failure of lawmakers to compel the state to repair what is clearly a broken and unjust system.”
The class action lawsuit charges that a lack of adequate funding, oversight and statewide standards is denying New Yorkers accused of crimes their lawful right to competent, qualified and timely representation at all stages of the justice process, a violation of the U.S. Constitution, the state constitution and the laws of New York.
It is extremely annoying that it has to come to this. New York could have, at the very least, learned from Connecticut. It was a CCLU and ACLU lawsuit in Connecticut – Rivera v. Rowland – that forced the legislature to increase funding by millions and double the number of positions in the system. The settlement of that lawsuit led to a wholesale revamping of the public defender’s system in CT, with better pay, more positions, more training, lower caseloads. This was in 1999. Now, almost 8 years later, New York is facing the same crisis.
It is great, on the other hand, because this will undoubtedly force New York to take action. New York is one of only 6 states remaining that have no statewide responsibility or oversight mechanism for public defense and remains among a minority of states, including Alabama and Mississippi, that have failed to join the movement toward full state funding.
Make no mistake: this is not a panacea. Caseloads will still be high, public defenders will still be understaffed, berated and maligned. However, they will be in a better position to fight those charges and the charges brought by the State against indigent defendants.
For more, read the ABA’s report entitled “Gideon’s Broken Promise” and The Spangenberg Group‘s report to NY’s Indigent Defense Commission.
Monday morning jumpstart
Nov 12th
Veteran’s Day edition!
- Governor Rell is opposed to the $260million proposal to build new prisons, which was covered here.
- This NYT piece considers whether suspension of parole is an Ex-Post Facto violation. Norm covers the CT angle, while Scott has the New York perspective.
- Indignant Indigent has a great post on why it is ineffective not to raise claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. He goes through a pretty compelling list of reasons. As if it should even be a question.
- What do you carry during trial? Bennett has a long list.
- Prof. Berman points to a five part report in the Dallas Morning News about Texas being soft on murderers (imagine that!).
- Maggie takes a break from Nichols posting and wonders about the propriety of levity in the courtroom.
- Miss Tyrios tells us of unusual sentencing in (
what the heck is Mass.’s nickname?) the Bay state (who knew!) where a judge imposed banishment. - Legal Blog Watch notes the support in the blawgosphere for the lawyers in Pakistan, but asks if we would represent Musharraf.
- Here‘s an interesting piece in the Village Voice by a public defender whose client chose to fight against NYPD’s crackdown on “trespassing”.
- NYCLU will file a “landmark lawsuit” today, alleging failings in indigent defense.
- Widow of Michael Richard (executed by Texas due to Judge Keller’s questionable actions) filed suit in federal court.
That should do it for now! As usual, leave a link in the comments if there’s something interesting you want to share.
Image license info here


recent comments