NYCLA Announces Publication of the First Edition of New York County Criminal Courts Manual

NYCLA Announces Publication of the First Edition of New York County Criminal Courts Manual

August 10, 2010 – New York, NY – The New York County Lawyers’ Association (NYCLA) announces the publication of the first edition of its New York County Criminal Courts Manual, a valuable tool for attorneys practicing criminal law in Manhattan, produced by members of NYCLA’s Criminal Justice Section. Among the topics covered by the 140-page Manual are: the structure of the Criminal Court, commencement of action, arraignment practices in Criminal and Supreme Courts, plea and sentencing issues, pre-trial hearings, a step-by-step guide to Criminal Court trials and post-judgment issues. The Manual also contains comprehensive directories of judicial and non-judicial personnel. Proceeds from sales of the Manual, which costs $50 for NYCLA members and $100 for nonmembers, will help underwrite the annual Public Service Fellowship Essay Contest run by the Criminal Justice Section. This contest awards at least a $2,000 stipend to one newly admitted prosecutor and one newly admitted institutional defense attorney who has at least $30,000 in educational debt.

The drafting of the first chapters began two years ago under the leadership of former Criminal Justice Section Chair Hon. Michael J. Yavinsky, and was completed with the help of many members of the Section under Co-Chairs Keith Schmidt and Rhonda Tomlinson. Former Section Chair Susan J. Walsh offered leadership and dedication to the completion of this project. Hon. Fern Fisher, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge, New York City Courts, and Justin Barry, counsel to Judge Fisher, provided statistical data for the Criminal Court of the City of New York. In addition, Barry Clarke, chief clerk, New York County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, and Michael DiMaggio, deputy chief clerk, Supreme Court, Criminal Term, New York County, made corrections and notations.

The New York County Lawyers’ Association (www.nycla.org) was founded in 1908 as the first major bar association in the country that admitted members without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual identity. Since its inception, it has pioneered some of the most far-reaching and tangible reforms in American jurisprudence and has continuously played an active role in legal developments and public policy.