BDS | Memo of Support - Appeal Waiver Bills

Memo of Support - Appeal Waiver Bills

Memos

Sentencing and Mandatory Minimums

April 15, 2022

Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) strongly supports A5687/S1280 (Cruz/Bailey), prohibiting appeal waivers for excessive sentences, and A5688/S1281 (Cruz/Bailey), prohibiting appeal waivers for suppression hearings. Waivers of appeal allow convictions to stand that are often predicated upon serious errors of law or instances of injustice that should be remedied. These waivers shield cases from review and impair a defendant’s right to seek appellate review.

View the full memo here.

Latest News

Brooklyn Defenders Urges All Stakeholders Be Included in Discovery Negotiations
Brooklyn Defenders issued a statement urging all stakeholders be included in discovery negotiations: “For decades, New York’s previous discovery statute was commonly known as the ‘Blindfold Law,’ as it allowed law enforcement to withhold evidence until the eve of trial, effectively ‘blindfolding’ people accused of crimes and their attorneys."
Press Releases
Discovery - Access to Evidence
April 17, 2025
Queens Eagle: "Dismissed Queens criminal case highlights discovery debate"
"The 2nd Department's recent decision, People v. Coley, is based on a due diligence standard, which is an objective way for courts to ensure that prosecutors are doing their jobs," said Yung-Mi Lee, the Director of Law and Appeals at Brooklyn Defender Services’ Criminal Defense Practice. “There is no flaw or loophole in the law that allowed for this dismissal. This case was not dismissed based on a ‘technicality.’”
In The News
Discovery - Access to Evidence
April 14, 2025
Brooklyn Defenders’ Statement on Legislation to Codify People v. Bay and Strengthen Discovery Law Practice and Due Process
Brooklyn Defenders issued a statement in response to the introduction of Senator Cordell Cleare’s legislation that will ensure compliance with the intent of New York’s discovery laws by codifying the Court of Appeals ruling, People v. Bay.
Press Releases
Discovery - Access to Evidence
April 11, 2025
Brooklyn Defenders Condemns Executive Order to Establish ICE Office at Rikers Island
Yesterday, the Mayor’s Office signed an executive order that would authorize Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) and other federal law enforcement agencies to establish an office on Rikers Island. Brooklyn Defenders issued a statement in response.
Press Releases
Immigration Consequences of Criminal Legal System Involvement
April 9, 2025
Brooklyn Defenders’ Statement on New York City Council’s Response to FY2026 Preliminary Budget
Brooklyn Defenders thanks the New York City Council and Speaker Adrienne Adams for recognizing the urgent need for investment in public defense and immigration legal services in their response to the Mayor’s preliminary budget.
Press Releases
April 2, 2025
Gothamist: Man Dies in Custody as NYPD Jails More New Yorkers for Low-Level Offenses
In response to the death of an individual who was in police custody after being accused of shoplifting Managing Director of the Criminal Defense Practice, Linda Hoff, criticized the NYPD's frequent practice of jailing New Yorkers rather than issuing appearance tickets, calling it a clear violation of the 2019 bail and discovery reforms intended to reduce unnecessary incarceration.
In The News
Bail & Pre-Trial Incarceration
March 28, 2025
Press Release: Brooklyn Defender Services to Assume Contract for Criminal Defense in Queens
Brooklyn Defender Services today announced that, upon the request of the New York City Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, Brooklyn Defender Services will be assuming the responsibilities of the criminal defense contract previously held by Queens Defenders.
Press Releases
March 26, 2025
Joint Statement from Legal Aid, Brooklyn Defenders on Death in NYPD Custody at Kings County Criminal Court
The Legal Aid Society and Brooklyn Defender Services issued a joint statement on the passing of a person who languished in New York City Police Department (NYPD) custody at Kings County Criminal Court.
Press Releases
Bail & Pre-Trial Incarceration
March 21, 2025
Brooklyn Defender Services’ Statement on the death of Sonia Reyes
Brooklyn Defenders issued a statement in response to the death of client Sonia Reyes while being incarcerated at Rikers Island for less than a month.
Press Releases
Bail & Pre-Trial Incarceration
March 20, 2025
New York City Council Passes Council Member Hanif’s Access to IDNYC Act
The City Council voted to pass Council Member Shahana Hanif’s Intro 216-A, the Access to IDNYC Act. The bill, developed in collaboration with advocates and direct-service organizations, will streamline processes to enhance the IDNYC program operations with key reforms. "We thank Council Member Hanif for her support of the Access to IDNYC Bill to help break down these barriers and ensure even more New Yorkers can have access to IDNYC” said Kathleen McKenna, Senior Policy Social Worker.
Press Releases
Benefits & the Social Safety Net
March 13, 2025

Memo of Support - Appeal Waiver Bills

Latest News

Brooklyn Defenders Urges All Stakeholders Be Included in Discovery Negotiations

Queens Eagle: "Dismissed Queens criminal case highlights discovery debate"

Brooklyn Defenders’ Statement on Legislation to Codify People v. Bay and Strengthen Discovery Law Practice and Due Process

Brooklyn Defenders Condemns Executive Order to Establish ICE Office at Rikers Island

Brooklyn Defenders’ Statement on New York City Council’s Response to FY2026 Preliminary Budget

Gothamist: Man Dies in Custody as NYPD Jails More New Yorkers for Low-Level Offenses

Press Release: Brooklyn Defender Services to Assume Contract for Criminal Defense in Queens

Joint Statement from Legal Aid, Brooklyn Defenders on Death in NYPD Custody at Kings County Criminal Court

Brooklyn Defender Services’ Statement on the death of Sonia Reyes

New York City Council Passes Council Member Hanif’s Access to IDNYC Act