2d Cir. Pro Bono Counsel Plan: Apply Now
2d Cir. Pro Bono Counsel Plan: Apply Now
The Criminal Justice Act/Pro Bono Committee is accepting applications for the Second Circuit’s Pro Bono Panel. The deadline is Friday, May 1, 2015. Please refer to the Court’s official announcement at http://bit.ly/2ndcprobonopnl The Plan for the Appointment of Pro Bono Counsel and the application form are available via the link above. We encourage all members and
friends of AABANY to apply for this important pro bono opportunity.
PRESS RELEASE: Accepting Applications for Second Circuit’s Pro Bono Panel
Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse
40 Centre Street
New York, New York 10007
ROBERT A. KATZMANN
CHIEF JUDGE
CATHERINE O’HAGAN WOLFE SALLY PRITCHARD
CLERK OF COURT DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF LEGAL AFFAIRS
March 3, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Criminal Justice Act/Pro Bono Committee is accepting applications for the Second Circuit’s Pro Bono Panel. The deadline is Friday, May 2, 2014.
Pro Bono Panel members will, at the Court’s invitation or on an appellant’s motion for appointment of counsel, represent pro se litigants in civil appeals that present issues of first impression, complex issues of law or fact, or raise potentially meritorious claims warranting further briefing and oral argument. Pro bono representation will be provided to litigants who would otherwise be unable to pay for counsel and are ineligible for the appointment of counsel pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act.
Cases in which pro bono counsel will be appointed cover a broad range of legal issues. A significant percentage of the cases are prisoner civil rights appeals; others may involve labor and employment, discrimination, social security, immigration and tax law.
Applicants must be admitted to and members in good standing of the Bar of the Second Circuit, or have an application pending before this Court, and have at least three years of appellate experience. Pro Bono Panel members will serve for a term not to exceed three years.
Pro Bono Panel Members who were appointed by the Court in 2011 for a three-year term must submit a new application if they wish to remain on the Panel. A completed application package contains a resume, a written application (available on the Court’s website at http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov) and three writing samples, preferably appellate briefs on which the applicant was the primary author. These materials must be submitted to Sally Pritchard, Director of Legal Affairs, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 40 Foley Square, New York, NY 10007, by Friday, May 2, 2014.
EASTERN AND SOUTHERN DISTRICTS ADOPT REVISIONS TO JOINT LOCAL CIVIL RULE 54.1, REQUEST COMMENT BY APRIL 5
The United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York have adopted revisions to Local Civil Rule 54.1. The revisions are available at https://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/ or www.nysd.uscourts.gov; they are also attached to this e-mail.
Prior to the revised rules taking effect, the public is invited to comment. Comments are to be submitted in writing on or at the close of business on Friday, April 5, 2013 to either:
District Court Executive
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
500 Pearl Street, Room 820
New York, NY 10007-1312
or
Douglas C. Palmer
Clerk of Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
225 Cadman Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11201
The revisions will become effective upon approval by the Second Circuit Judicial Council.
Vinoo Varghese Authors Amici Brief Quoted in NYT
Vinoo Varghese Authors Amici Brief Quoted in NYT
Board member Vinoo Varghese, principal at Varghese & Associates PC, submitted a brief for amici curiae National Legal Aid & Defenders Association (NLADA) and the Bronx Defenders in the case of United States v. Rajaratnam, pending in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The brief was quoted in the October 23 New York Times article, “Appeal in Insider Trading Case Centers on Wiretap.”
A group of defense lawyers said that upholding the use of wiretaps in this case would “eviscerate the integrity of the criminal justice system.”
To read the article, click on the title. To read the brief, go to http://bit.ly/rajaratnam_vpv.
Great work, Vinoo! Congrats!


