Anna Arkin-Gallagher, Associate Director of the Civil Justice Practice, testified before The New York City Council Committee on Education regarding the DOE’s provision of special education services.

Brooklyn Defender Services launched five new French-language videos in the “We Have Rights” series, a national immigrant empowerment campaign to inform people of what to do when interacting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Alexandra Dougherty, Team Leader and Senior Staff Attorney in the Civil Justice Practice, testified before The New York City Council Committee on General Welfare regarding the administration of CityFHEPS.

A new proposal put forth by the Governor, drafted in collaboration with only prosecutors and law enforcement, would effectively repeal this law, bringing New York back to an era of coerced pleas, wrongful convictions, and pre-trial delays.

Alyssa Briody, Senior Staff Attorney in the Civil Rights and Law Reform Unit, testified before The New York City Council Committees on Contract and Criminal Justice regarding the city’s contracted jail services.

Ellen Pachnanda, Director of the Immigration Practice, presented before The New York City Council Committee on Immigration Oversight regarding Protection for Immigrant Communities.

Brooklyn Defenders issued the following statement in response to proposed changes to New York’s discovery statute released today in Governor Hochul’s State of the State.

Brooklyn Defenders joins exonerees, impacted New Yorkers, public defenders, advocates, and concerned citizens in launching the “Alliance to Protect Kalief’s Law”, a statewide coalition dedicated to preserving New York’s common-sense and successful discovery statute, also known as “Kalief’s Law.” Today’s announcement comes in response to comments made by elected officials and district attorneys on efforts this session to roll back the current statute.