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New YorkState Defenders Association (NYSDA)
Awards and Achievements
Throughout its history, NYSDA has accomplished much in its efforts to improve New York's public defense system and the quality of representation. What follows are some of the many examples of state and local governments and organizations benefiting from or recognizing the work and achievements of the Association and its staff.
Web Site Awards, Reviews and Honorable Mentions_________
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) presents to NYSDA Immigrant Defense Project attorney Manny Vargas its Jack Wasserman Memorial Award (2007).
The New York State Judicial Commission on Minorities endorses NYSDA's Defender Institute Basic Trial Skills Program for its efforts in "enhancing the competence and racial sensitivity of public defenders and hopes that it will become a model for similar programs across the state and nation." ( Report of the New YorkState Judicial Commission on Minorities ) (1991).
Center for Digital Government awards NYSDA Project Manager for the Public Defense Case Management System the Best of New York 2006 Leadership Award for Demonstrated Excellence in IT Operations, Support and Service (2006)
New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NYSACDL) presents NYSDA Executive Director Jonathan Gradess with the Gideon Award in recognition of his work to improve New York public defense. (2002)
New York State Bar Association Criminal Justice Section presents to NYSDA Immigrant Defense Project Director Manny Vargas its Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Delivery of Defense Services in New York State. (2002)
NYSACDL presents to NYSDA Immigrant Defense Project Director Manny Vargas its Presidential Commendation. (2002)
New York Attorney General presents NYSDA Immigrant Defense Project Director Manny Vargas with the Award for Distinguished Public Service in the Legal Profession. (2002)
NYSACDL presents to Backup Center Staff Attorney Stephanie Batcheller a special President's Commendation for her work on amici briefs filed on behalf of NYSDA, NACDL and others. (2002)
NYSDA publishes The Insider's Guide: Criminal Justice Resources on the Web 2002 along with a companion CD-ROM.
NYSDA files the first hypertext CD-ROM Brief in the New York State Court of Appeals: "[I]n the case of People v. Stokes, the New York State Defenders Association made history when it became the first litigant to file electronically." Court of Appeals Gets First E-Brief, New York Law Journal, August 1, 2000
NYSDA successfully installs and upgrades its Public Defense Case Management System in nearly a dozen public defender offices statewide. (2000)
NYSDA reinvents its web page to deliver more information, on more levels, with greater speed. The new design reflects NYSDA's goal of presenting the latest criminal defense news, court decisions and legislation, while also adding substantive content from its vast collection of reports, training materials and publications. (1999)
1999-2000 Golden Web Awards
The Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy presents to NYSDA's Executive Director its Distinguished Public Service Award for his Outstanding Contributions to Public Service. (1999)
The New York State Continuing Legal Education Board certifies NYSDA as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education in the state of New York. (1998)
The Open Society Institute awards NYSDA a grant to create a Criminal Defense Immigration Project to provide support to defense lawyers who seek assistance with immigration-related issues. (1997)
The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct praises NYSDA's work on eligibility practices stating: "[T]he New York State Defenders Association published an outstanding major study on the practice in each of New York's 62 counties vis-a-vis assigned counsel. * * * The varying practices across the state with respect to assigned counsel require more serious attention of the type paid by the New York State Defenders Association in its 1994 report." (1995)
The New York State Legislature designates, by statute, NYSDA to recommend to the Governor a member of the New York State's Commission on Forensic Science (Executive Law ยง 995-a [g]). (1994)
The NYSDA Backup Center assists the Appellate Division, Fourth Department in developing a uniform assigned counsel appellate voucher. (1994)
NYSDA's Backup Center Managing Attorney is designated to serve on New York's Criminal Justice Records Improvement Data Quality Task Force . (1993)
NYSDA is awarded a contract from the Division of Criminal Justice Services for the design and development of a public defense case management system. (1993)
An Albany Times Union editorial calls for full funding of the Defenders Association. (Times Union 3/19/93 p. A-10). (1993)
After evaluating NYSDA's Defender Institute Basic Trial Skills Program, theNational Legal Aid and Defender Association uses it as a model for its national training program for public defense lawyers. (1993)
NYSDA has been an invitee and an active participant in the Governor's Law Enforcement Conference since its inception. (1982 - present)
The Onondaga County Bar Association Assigned Counsel Program enters into a sole-source contract with NYSDA to provide continuing legal education training to members of its assigned counsel panel. (1992-93)
The New York Bar Foundation awards NYSDA funding to support the client-centered training curriculum of its Defender Institute Basic Trial Skills Program. (1992)
The Criminal Justice Section of the New York State Bar Association recognizes NYSDA's Executive Director for his outstanding work in the delivery of defense services. (1991)
The New York State Judicial Commission on Minorities endorses NYSDA's Defender Institute Basic Trial Skills Program for its efforts in "enhancing the competence and racial sensitivity of public defenders and hopes that it will become a model for similar programs across the state and nation." ( Report of the New YorkState Judicial Commission on Minorities ) (1991).
New York State Division of Budgetrequests NYSDA's assistance in studying cost-saving measures in the Indigent Parolee Representation Program. (1991)
The New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers recognizes NYSDA for its outstanding contribution to the improvement of criminal defense practice. (1990)
The New York State Legislature directs that the Law Revision Commission shall consult with NYSDA in regard to the Commission's study of the CPL and Correction Law's impact on mentally retarded defendants (L. 1990, c. 737). (1990)
NYSDA is requested to provide technical assistance to and serve on the Advisory Board of the Neighborhood Defender Service , a pilot program highlighted in the 1990 Governor's State of the State message.
The New York State Legislature requests NYSDA to present testimony concerning the proposed Code of Evidence. (1990)
TheCriminal Justice Section of the New York State Bar Association presents to the NYSDA Defender Institute its award for "Outstanding Contribution to Criminal Law Education." (1989)
NYSDA is designated as a "liaison" organization to assist the Governor's Task Force in studying laws relating to rape and sexual assault. (1989)
The Governor adopts and cites in his Message to the Legislature NYSDA's initiative to reduce criminal case appellate backlog and delay. (1989)
The United States General Accounting Office consults with NYSDA on the cost of the death penalty. (1989)
The Clinton County Board of Supervisors requests NYSDA to study and make more cost-effective its delivery of public defense services (Public Defense Service in Clinton County: An Assessment of the Assigned Counsel Program). (1986)
NYSDA files with the Chief Administrative Judge of the Office of Court Administration a memorandum detailing problems with the State's public defense system. (1986)
Public defender offices in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine request thatNYSDA co-sponsor the Northeastern Regional Training for public defense providers. (1986)
TheOffice of Court Administrationinvites NYSDAto train village and town justices on assigned counsel eligibility practices at its annual training program for magistrates. (1986)
Ontario County contracts with the Backup Center to undertake a comprehensive study of that county's assigned counsel program (see Public Defense Services in Ontario County: An Assessment of the Assigned Counsel Program ). (1985)
The Criminal Justice Section of the New York State Bar Association recognizes NYSDA's President for his "Outstanding Contribution to the Delivery of Defense Services." (1985)
Schenectady County contracts with the BackupCenter to undertake a comprehensive study of that county's assigned counsel program (Public Defense Service in Schenectady County: An Assessment of the Assigned Counsel Program). (1984)
Governor's Counsel Office requests NYSDA to provide comment on legislative measures affecting criminal law and procedure and public defense services. (1981-present)
The United States Supreme Court, the New York Court of Appeals, and the Appellate Division have granted NYSDA amicus curiae status in numerous significant criminal cases.
NYSDA is regularly asked by national, state and local bar associations and law schools to train or lecture on a variety of criminal and public defense issues.
NYSDA is routinely requested by New York State Senate and Assembly legislative committees and subcommittees to present testimony and written analysis on matters of criminal law and public defense services.
National, state and local criminal defense bar organizations frequently request permission to reprint materials and articles from NYSDA training programs and publications.
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