The office of New York City’s mayor has recently proposed the use of institutional providers to handle conflict cases, a move that could sharply limit the Assigned Counsel Plan, a group of attorneys who are appointed to represent indigent criminal defendants. Speaking from a legal as well as a practical perspective, informed by my own experience as a former member of the plan, as well as my work as a Criminal Court judge over the past five years, I believe this proposal to be a terrible mistake.
As many already know, the Legal Aid Society is the primary provider of criminal defense for the indigent in New York City. I have had the pleasure of observing their attorneys perform their services in a dedicated, conscientious and exemplary manner. At all times, these lawyers consistently embody the high standards and commitment to quality representation of the impoverished which has earned their organization its well-deserved, fine reputation.
