Our first public forum examined proposals to record custodial interrogations in felony cases as a tool in preventing wrongful convictions. Wednesday's forum will focus on the possible benefits of creating an independent Innocence Commission to review all DNA exoneration cases in New York State and determine necessary policy changes to prevent wrongful convictions. The forum will also examine recent efforts by the New York State Bar Association to create such a commission. We will be hearing from the Innocence Project, the President and members of the New York State Bar Association, individuals who were convicted of crimes of which they were later exonerated, and the defense community. Notably, we will also be hearing testimony by Long Island’s Marty Tankleff, whose indictment was lifted yesterday after a special investigation by the Attorney General’s office. This will be the first time that Marty himself will be speaking publicly about the case.
WHO: State Senators Eric Schneiderman, Bill Perkins and Velmanette Montgomery, Assemblymember Michael Gianaris and other state legislators
Testimonies by:
9:30 AM Alan Newton, Exoneree
10:15 AM Bernice Leber, President of the New York State Bar Association, and Barry Kamins, Chair of the NYS Bar Association’s Innocence Commission 11:00 AM Martin Tankleff, Exoneree
12:00 PM Steve Saloom, Policy Director at Cardozo Law School’s Innocence Project
12:45PM Jonathan Gradess, Executive Director of the New York State Defenders Association WHAT: Public Forum on Preventing Wrongful Convictions in New York State: Systematic Reforms to Convict the Guilty and Protect the Innocent
WHEN: Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center 3940 Broadway (at 165th Street) New York City
(A, C, or 1 trains to 168th Street, facility and subway stop are wheelchair accessible)Testimony will be by invitation only, but this event is open to the public.
All witnesses and legislators, including Mr. Tankleff, will be available for interviews.
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