Statement from Brooklyn Chief Assistant District Attorney Eric Gonzalez
Statement from Brooklyn Chief Assistant District Attorney Eric Gonzalez
“It is with deep regret and tremendous sadness that I announce the passing of DA Ken Thompson. He was a
giant among those seeking to reform the criminal justice system and we are all privileged to have worked
under his transformative leadership these past three years.
In that short period, he transformed the Office into a model urban prosecutor’s office, with a mandate to do
justice and treat everyone and every case fairly and with utmost integrity. Among his many initiatives, he
created a model for correcting wrongful convictions, instituted a marijuana policy that would later be
replicated citywide and started a summons forgiveness program that would also be instituted in several other
jurisdictions. Our sincere prayers are with his wife, children and loved ones. May he rest in peace, knowing
that he has made Brooklyn and New York City a better place.
The executive team and I are committed to leading the Office and carrying out DA Thompson’s vision and
initiatives.”
AABANY extends our deepest condolences to Ken Thompson’s family and friends. We are saddened by the loss of Kings County District Attorney Ken Thompson. He was a great man who touched many lives and he will be missed.
Vinoo Varghese in NYLJ: Lawyer Claims D.A. Subpoena Could Impact Defense Counsel
Vinoo Varghese in NYLJ: Lawyer Claims D.A. Subpoena Could Impact Defense Counsel
Update from Vinoo Varghese on further developments in connection with his being subpoenaed recently as a defense attorney in a pending matter: The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NYSACDL) and the Legal Aid Society (LAS), as amicus curiae, are seeking a declaratory judgment that the act of subpoenaing a defense attorney during the pendency of an open case is per se wrong. These groups have opposed the sealing of this matter on First Amendment grounds.
Here is a quote from the article and LAS amicus brief:
“It is hard to imagine a grand jury summons with a more chilling effect on the unique constitutional role of defense counsel and on every attorney who performs it,” wrote Steven Wasserman, a staff attorney at Legal Aid.
Click on the link in the title to read the full article.
Immigration and Nationality Law Committee Meeting: April 23, 2013
On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, the Immigration and Nationality Law Committee organized a committee meeting and was honored to have as its featured speaker Rosemary Yu, Co-Director of the Immigrant Affairs Program at the New York County District Attorney’s Office. Ms. Yu spoke about the important work of the Immigrant Affairs Program, which was established in 2007 to investigate and prosecute fraud committed against immigrants, and to educate the public about immigration fraud and related issues through fraud prevention workshops and seminars. Ms. Yu also discussed ways that attorneys can help identify and prevent immigration fraud – an especially relevant and timely topic in light of impending comprehensive immigration reform, which is expected to pass later this year.
If you are interested in learning more about the Immigrant Affairs Program of the New York County DA’s Office or want to get more information about the Immigration and Nationality Law Committee, contact co-chairs Rio Guerrero and Tsui Yee at immigration-chairs@aabany.org.
