New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NYSACDL)

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New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NYSACDL)

NYSACDL is dedicated to protecting the rights of criminal defendants through a strong, unified, and well-trained criminal defense bar.

NYSACDL's goals are to serve as a leader and partner in advancing humane criminal justice policy and legislation, promote the rights of criminal defendants, and to advocate for individual and systematic accountability. We strive to develop a broad, inclusive, and vibrant membership, and to provide our members with a forum to exchange ideas and information, provide quality continuing legal education and to defend our members and honor their achievements.

03/18/2026

Today, March 18th, NYSACDL celebrates 'Public Defense Day' which marks the 62nd anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Gideon v. Wainwright establishing a right to counsel in criminal cases in State courts. From that case, and in the decades since, an entire network of public defenders and assigned counsel have grown to take on the important responsibility of providing excellent criminal defense representation to those whose rights rely on a defense that doesn’t depend on economic ability.

"From the very beginning, our state and national constitutions and laws have laid great emphasis on procedural and substantive safeguards designed to assure fair trials before impartial tribunals in which every defendant stands equal before the law. This noble ideal cannot be realized if the poor man charged with crime has to face his accusers without a lawyer to assist him." (Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 US 335).

Thanks to all indigent defense counsel, both Public Defenders and 18-b panelists, for the abundant efforts you make in delivering the highest quality representation regardless of the ability of your clients to pay.

NYSACDL recognizes the Public Defenders among us and celebrates the significant work they do to uphold our constitutional rights and safeguards.

02/19/2026

Cross to Kill 2026 Is Here!

https://bit.ly/NYSACDL032726

02/03/2026

NYSACDL Condemns the Unprecedented Use of Force and Overreach of Federal Officials’ Actions in American Cities

https://bit.ly/NYSACDL2326

In the wake of the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti by ICE agents, the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NYSACDL) strongly condemns the unprecedented use of force and federal overreach in Minneapolis and other American cities. We stand strong with those who believe in our Constitution. We stand strong with those who demand accountability and protest government actions that violate our Country’s long-standing values and principles. Indiscriminate targeting of minorities, demonizing lawful protestors and excessive use of force destabilizes our entire Country. We object to these actions which undermine the rule of law.

We call on the federal government to immediately cease all federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis. We call for a fully transparent and independent investigation of the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. We call on local, state and national elected officials to condemn the unlawful actions of the federal government. We ask them to cease communicating patent untruths regarding federal agents’ actions. NYSACDL stands with those who would seek to uphold the bedrock Constitutional principles upon which this Country was built. To do otherwise only emboldens tyranny.

01/27/2026

When the snow looked overwhelming we quickly shifted our 2026 Defender Budget Advocacy Day to a day full of virtual meetings. We are off and running with Chief Defenders Association of New York - CDANY and New York State Defenders Association - NYSDA on Zoom for the day!

01/14/2026

Checked into - can anyone help this guy out??

T-21 hours until Annual Dinner Time!

01/01/2026

As we welcome the New Year, the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers extends our sincere gratitude to our members, colleagues, and supporters for your continued dedication to justice and the rule of law.

We are thrilled to announce that 2100 of you joined us as members in 2025! Your support helps us continue our work protecting constitutional rights, ensuring fairness in the courts, and giving voice to those most in need of zealous representation. Your commitment exemplifies the highest ideals of our profession.

Thank you for standing with NYSACDL and for the vital work you do every day. We wish you and your families a healthy, peaceful, and successful New Year.

12/31/2025

NYSACDL is proud to announce that the recipient of its 2026 Justice Through the Arts Award is Public Works, the groundbreaking civic artistic program of The Public Theater.

The Justice Through the Arts Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose creative endeavors illuminate, challenge, and transform the pursuit of criminal and social justice.

Public Works embodies the spirit of this award through its visionary commitment to building community and expanding access to the arts for all New Yorkers. Working in partnership with community organizations across all five boroughs, Public Works invites thousands of people each year to participate in classes, storytelling, and the creation of large-scale, participatory theater. By blurring the line between professional artists and community members, Public Works redefines what it means for art to be of, by, and for the people.

Through year-round programs - ranging from teaching-artist-led classes to community choirs, monthly potlucks, and the powerful Public Stories initiative - Public Works creates spaces where participants reflect on the world as it is and imagine new possibilities for what it might become. Each year’s culminating production brings together artists and community members alike in extraordinary theatrical collaborations that celebrate the shared humanity at the heart of justice. In honoring Public Works, NYSACDL celebrates the organization’s belief that art is not merely a reflection of society, but a force for equity, empathy, and transformation.

The 2026 Justice Through the Arts Award will be presented at NYSACDL’s Annual Dinner, where members of Public Works and The Public Theater will be recognized for their profound contributions to community, creativity, and justice.

12/22/2025

NYSACDL Annual Dinner Awardee Spotlight!
Tickets & Sponsorships Still Available for January 14th!
www.nysacdl.org

Gideon Champions of Justice - Amanda Jack & Kalle Condliffe

NYSACDL is proud to honor Amanda Jack & Kalle Condliffe with the Gideon Champion of Justice Award for their relentless advocacy and leadership in the fight to protect Kalief’s Law and to preserve the hard-won discovery and speedy trial reforms that safeguard the right to a fair process for all New Yorkers.

Together, they have been a driving force behind the defense community’s efforts to prevent significant rollbacks to the 2020 discovery reforms - reforms that were the product of decades of advocacy and the tireless work of defenders, impacted communities, and justice reform leaders across the state. In the face of immense political pressure, they marshaled data, expertise, and the collective voice of the defense community to ensure that the promise of Kalief’s Law remained intact. Their steadfast work has protected the constitutional rights of countless individuals who might otherwise have languished in jail or faced prosecution without access to critical evidence.

Through their partnership, Amanda & Kalle exemplify the spirit of the Gideon Champion of Justice Award: fearless, principled advocacy in defense of the right to counsel, the presumption of innocence, and the pursuit of justice for all. Their work has fortified the foundation of New York’s criminal legal system and stands as a testament to what defenders can achieve when they fight together for systemic change.

12/18/2025

Dinner Awardee Spotlight - David Schopp
Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc.
Lifetime Achievement Award

Show Your Support Today! Purchase Sponsorships and Tickets online at https://bit.ly/NYSACDL011426.

NYSACDL's Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual whose career has been defined by exceptional dedication to the constitutional rights of the accused and the highest standards of criminal defense advocacy. This award recognizes an attorney whose lifelong commitment to justice, integrity, and professional excellence has made a profound and lasting impact on the practice of criminal law. Recent recipients include: Andrew Kossover, Ben Ostrer, Seymour James, Jr., and Jonathan Gradess.

David C. Schopp has dedicated more than three decades to advancing equal access to justice through his work with the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, where he has served as Executive Director since March 2000. He first joined the Bureau’s Appeals Unit in 1985, returning in 1989 after a brief period in private practice. His leadership journey began with his appointment as Chief Attorney of the Attorneys for Children Unit in 1999, marking the start of a tenure defined by steady growth, innovation, and a deep commitment to client centered representation.

Under his direction, the Bureau has expanded from 53 employees to more than 170 while broadening its practice areas and embracing a holistic model of representation, particularly within the Criminal Defense and Civil Legal Services Units. A proud alumnus of the University at Buffalo, where he earned both his B.A. in English and his J.D., David has received the UB Law Alumni Award for Commitment to Public Service and the Distinguished Alumnus Award for his lifelong contributions to the legal community.

Beyond Legal Aid, David has been a respected leader in defender advocacy at both the state and national levels, serving as Past President of the Chief Defenders Association of New York and on the Boards of the New York State Defenders Association and the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Mandated Representation. Guided by the principle that every action must be rooted in what clients need and can achieve, he envisions a bright future for Legal Aid, marked by continued growth, strong leadership, and the unwavering pursuit of justice for all.

Show Your Support Today!

Address

355 West 16 Street
New York, NY
10011

Website

http://www.NYSACDL.org/

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