NEW YORK, NY – A New York City law firm that handles cases with the Manhattan district attorney’s office is representing the New York State District Attorneys Association at no cost in a lawsuit challenging legislation signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo creating a special commission to investigate prosecutorial misconduct.
According to a recent article from the Albany Times Union, legal work is being done pro bono by Walden Macht & Haran, a prominent Manhattan law firm.
Records indicate the firm, which handles criminal defense and other types of law, has had clients with cases before various district attorneys in the state.
Albany County District Attorney David Soares, who is president of the non-profit district attorneys association, said the organization’s members could have filed the lawsuit against Cuomo and legislative leaders, but they preferred the “unjaundiced eye” of an outside law firm do the work and leave the prosecutors free to focus on public matters.
Several district attorneys from across the state – including Chautauqua County’s Patrick Swanson – have publicly criticized the newly created Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct.
The 11-member panel would review complaints of misconduct by prosecutors and recommend any disciplinary action to Cuomo, who would have the power to remove a district attorney for cause.
The Attorney Generals Association and others say the panel is unconstitutional.
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