Tensions flare as public defender strike heads into second week

Tensions flare as public defender strike heads into second week

As the city’s public defender strike entered its second week, both sides of the picket line pointed the finger at one another for refusing to compromise on deals that would bring around 500 attorneys and legal staff back to work.

Read More

Former Queens Defenders boss, ex-husband head to prison for fraud that ‘destroyed’ the nonprofit

Former Queens Defenders boss, ex-husband head to prison for fraud that ‘destroyed’ the nonprofit

The former executive director of Queens Defenders and her ex-husband were sentenced to prison on Tuesday after siphoning off over $656,000 from the nonprofit, “effectively destroying" the organization that once represented tens of thousands of low-income clients facing criminal charges in the World’s Borough.

Read More

Brooklyn Defender Services strike ends after tentative labor deal reached

Brooklyn Defender Services strike ends after tentative labor deal reached

The threat of a mass citywide public defender strike wreaking havoc on the city’s courthouses appeared to be averted on Tuesday after striking attorneys reached a deal on a new labor contract with the city’s second-largest public defender group.

Read More

Case volume continues to challenge Queens Criminal Court, top judge says

Case volume continues to challenge Queens Criminal Court, top judge says

Despite a boost in funding and resources for the state’s court system, Queens Criminal Court’s Supervising Judge Edwin Novillo says that large case volumes continue to be the greatest challenge for the court, and that more resources for additional judges, trial parts and technology capabilities are needed to efficiently process cases.

Read More

Attorneys at second-largest public defense org in city authorize strike

Attorneys at second-largest public defense org in city authorize strike

Unionized attorneys at the second-largest public defender organization in the city voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike this week, increasing the risk of hundreds of lawyers and support staff walking off the job and hampering criminal courts in Queens and Brooklyn.

Read More