The Bronx Defenders Joins Advocates and Lawmakers in Condemning the Activation of Secure Communities Program in New York
May 15, 2012 The Bronx Defenders Joins Advocates and Federal and State Lawmakers in Condemning the Activation of Secure Communities Program in New York The Bronx Defenders re-affirmed today its long-standing opposition to the activation of the Secure Communities program in New York. Under Secure Communities, individuals may be deported as a result of any…
Robin spoke at the Washington Defenders Association 2012 Defender Conference
Robin Steinberg delivered the keynote address and also spoke to managers about the vision and definition of public defense on Friday, April 27, 2012 in Winthrop, Washington. For more information here.
The Bronx Defenders Marijuana Arrest Project announces preliminary review of data reflecting ongoing and systemic constitutional and evidentiary problems in marijuana arrests by NYPD
The Bronx Defenders Marijuana Arrest Project April 2, 2012 Preliminary Data Review Fact Sheet Over the course of the past seven months, the Marijuana Arrest Project (MAP) at The Bronx Defenders systematically interviewed over 500 clients arrested for low-level marijuana possession between May and October 2011 from every NYPD precinct and command in the Bronx….
Class Action Lawsuit Filed by The Bronx Defenders, NYCLU, and LatinoJustice PRLDEF Challenges Abusive NYPD Patrols of Private Apartment Buildings
On March 28, 2012, with NYCLU and LatinoJustice PRLDEF, we announced a class action lawsuit to challenge NYPD’s enforcement of Operation Clean Halls, a disturbing extension of the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk program into private apartment buildings. From NYCLU: Class Action Lawsuit Challenges NYPD Patrols of Private Apartment Buildings March 28, 2012 — The NYPD’s enforcement of…
The Bronx Defenders Legal Director Marika Meis successfully argues in New York Court of Appeals that courts must set alternatives to cash bail
The New York Court of Appeals today ruled in favor of Bronx Defenders client, Sean McManus, in a decision that will have widespread impact on the state criminal court system, particularly for the indigent. The decision recognizes that the statutory bail scheme in New York was created to provide flexible bail alternatives for those accused of crimes…
Michael Oppenheimer and Justine Olderman spoke at CUNY Law School symposium “Incarcerated Until Proven Guilty”
On February 23, 2012 at the CUNY School of Law, the CUNY Law Review hosted a panel on the bail system in New York. Michael Oppenheimer moderated the panel, entitled “Incarcerated Until Proven Guilty,” which included two sitting judges, as well as Justine Olderman. See event here
New York City to Pay $15 Million in Damages for Illegal Loitering Charges
PRESS RELEASE New York City to Pay $15 Million in Damages for Illegal Loitering Charges February 7, 2012 Yesterday a federal court in Manhattan approved a class action settlement requiring New York City to pay $15 Million Dollars to approximately 22,000 New Yorkers who were illegally charged by the New York City Police Department under…
Kate Rubin and David Miranda spoke at the NYC Department of Probation
Kate Rubin, Director of Policy & Community Development, and David Miranda, Attorney in the Civil Action Practice, spoke at the NYC Department of Probation’s First Annual Professional Development Day about helping clients understand and navigate civil legal barriers on January 24, 2012.
2012 Holistic Defense for Public Defender Offices: Technical Assistance Opportunity
The Center for Holistic Defense The 2012 Holistic Defense for Public Defender Offices Technical Assistance Project Request for Proposals The Center for Holistic Defense, a project of The Bronx Defenders, is pleased to announce the release of its third annual Technical Assistance Project Request For Proposals, seeking applications from public defender offices across the country,…
YOU’RE INVITED: East Harlem Stand Up! A Town Hall on discriminatory policing on January 17th
East Harlem Stand Up! A Town Hall on discriminatory policing Speak Out against Stop & Frisk and discriminatory policing! Learn More about the solutions! Join your community! Thursday, January 17th, 6:30 to 8:30pm Taino Towers in the Crystal Room 240 E 123rd Street. (4/5/6 to 125th Street) Program to include: * Address by Council Member…
McGregor Smyth spoke at the 2011 Symposium “Sentencing Law: Rhetoric
On October 29, McGregor Smyth, Managing Attorney of our Civil Action Practice, spoke about the civil consequences of conviction at the 2011 Symposium “Sentencing Law: Rhetoric & Reality” at University of Pennsylvania Law School. For more information: http://www.pennumbra.com/symposia/
Robin spoke on a panel at the Innovations in Criminal Justice Summit in Chicago
Robin Steinberg spoke on a panel on Systemic Reform at the Innovations in Criminal Justice Summit in Chicago on Wednesday, September 28, 2011. For more information please click here.
McGregor Smyth trained more than 200 public defenders at South Carolina Public Defender Association Annual Conference
On September 27, McGregor Smyth, Managing Attorney of our Civil Action Practice, trained more than 200 public defenders at the South Carolina Public Defender Association Annual Conference on how to use the Supreme Court’s decision in Padilla v. Kentucky to get better results for clients. For more information: http://www.sccid.sc.gov/userfiles/PD-Conference-2011/2011-Agenda-Final—9-14-11.pdf
Robin spoke at the Center for Court Innovation’s roundtable on Community
Robin Steinberg spoke at Increasing Public Confidence: A Roundtable on Community Justice held at the Center for Court Innovation’s office in NYC on August 10, 2011. For more information please click here.
The Bronx Defenders was awarded a grant from OCA
The Bronx Defenders was awarded a grant from the Oversight Board for Judiciary Civil Legal Services Funds in New York. This 2011-2012 grant comes from the $12.5 million that the OCA is distributing to 56 civil legal service providers. For more information please read the New York Law Journal article.
Robin spoke on a panel at The National Criminal Justice Association’s 2011
Robin Steinberg spoke on a panel at The National Criminal Justice Association’s 2011 National Forum in Jersey City, NJ, on Tuesday, August 2, where The Bronx Defenders was showcased as an innovation in criminal justice. For more information please go to The National Criminal Justice Association website.
Robin and McGregor spoke at the 2011 Community-Oriented Defender Conference at NYU’s Brennan Center for Justice
Robin Steinberg and McGregor Smyth spoke at the 2011 Community-Oriented Defender Conference on July 22 at NYU’s Brennan Center for Justice. Their session was titled Confronting the Leadership Challenge for Public Defenders Created by Padilla v. Kentucky. For more information, highlights and video clips, please click here.
The Bronx Defenders is the 2011 Hodson Award Winner
At the American Bar Association 2011 Annual Meeting on August 4-9 in Toronto, Bronx Defenders Executive Director Robin Steinberg will accept the 2011 Hodson Award. The Hodson Award named in honor of the distinguished public service career of the late Major General Kenneth J. Hodson, a former Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army, and…
Article on Padilla published in the Howard Law Journal by McGregor Smyth
Article published in the Howard Law Journal by McGregor Smyth, Managing Attorney of the Civil Action Practice and Director of Reentry Net, examines the practical effect of Padilla for criminal defense attorneys currently working with clients on pending cases. The article uses the legal reasoning of Padilla to outline a structure for approaching the daunting…
The Bronx Defenders’ Summer Kick Off and Happy Hour on Tuesday, June 21!
Join The Bronx Defenders’ Young Professionals Committee on Tuesday, June 21, from 7-9PM at The Wharf Bar & Grill in Manhattan for a discussion on the NYPD’s controversial Stop & Frisk policing strategy. At the Wharf, you will meet like-minded individuals, talk to Bronx Defenders staff about the real life implications of Stop & Frisk…
Robin, McGregor, and Jennifer presented at the “Padilla and the Future of the Defense Function conference at Cordozo Law
Robin Steinberg, Executive Director, McGregor Smyth, Managing Attorney of the Civil Action Practice, and Jennifer Friedman, Supervising Immigration Attorney in the Civil Action Practice, presented at the “Padilla and the Future of the Defense Function” conference at the Jacob Burns Ethics Center in the Practice of Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law on June 20-21,…
Robin spoke at 2011 Conference on Clinical Legal Education
Robin spoke at 2011 Conference on Clinical Legal Education that took place in Seattle, WA on June 13-17, 2011. For more information please click here.
The Center for Holistic Defense Announces Technical Assistance Winners
Bronx, New York—May 16, 2011—The Center for Holistic Defense (“The Center”), a project of The Bronx Defenders, in collaboration with The Center for Court Innovation, is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of The Holistic Defense for Public Defender Offices Technical Assistance Project. 2011 Participants of The Holistic Defense Technical Assistance Project Harris County Courts—Texas…
Robin spoke at WNYC’s Greene Space on a panel discussing Stop and Frisk
Robin Steinberg spoke at WNYC’s Greene Space on a panel discussing Stop and Frisk. This panel, a part of The NEXT New York Conversation, discussed both sides of the controversial police strategy and how this procedure affects New Yorkers. “Even as violent crime rates in New York have dropped dramatically in the past 15 years,…
Robin spoke to the Colorado Public Defenders at The University of Denver
Robin Steinberg, our Executive Director, spoke to the Colorado Public Defenders and Defense Bar at The University of Denver. The training was titled: “Better Serving our Clients: Holistic and Client Centered Representation.” Robin spoke in two sessions: “Holistic Representation: The Bronx Defenders Model” and “How Do I Make This Happen? Resources and Parameters”.