…meanwhile, in Albany… Kevin Stadelmaier, Legislative Chair
I
n April 2019, after years of diligent efforts and extraordinary advocacy from stakeholders all across the state, NYSACDL and the criminal defense community as a whole celebrated landmark changes in NYS bail and discovery legislation. This legislation, widely regarded as the most progressive step toward rectifying the significant inequities built into the NYS criminal justice system, both substantially reduced the number of persons subject to pre-trial incarceration while at the same time lifted the barriers to early and fulsome discovery in virtually all criminal cases in NYS. However, while the criminal defense community celebrated, “pro-rollback” lawmakers from both parties as well as law enforcement immediately began a campaign to undo the hard fought reforms. Throughout the late spring and summer, as we prepared the logistical underpinnings of taking on the new reforms, the opposition was already working hard to make revision of the reforms their signature issue of the next legislative/election cycle.
Kevin Stadelmaier is Chief Attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Buffalo, and Chair of the NYSACDL Legislative Committee.
The NYSACDL Legislative and Lobbying Committee (“NYSACDL L&L Committee”) met in late August to formulate their priorities for the 2020 legislative session. Obviously looking to build on the momentum of the previous year’s victories, we sought to focus on things other than bail and discovery changes. Among the other issues on our agenda for 2020 were: Repeal of Civil Rights Law 50-a. Long regarded as among the most damaging statutes in the NY, Continued on next page
Atticus | Volume 32 Number 2 | Spring 2020 | New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
9
