New York Plans Permanent Task Force on Wrongful Convictions
The Chief Judge of New Yorks Court of Appeals, Hon. Jonathan Lippman, said on Law Day, May 1, 2009, that he would create a Justice Task Force to examine the causes of wrongful convictions and develop systemic remedies to minimize them and to make the states criminal justice system more effective. Importantly, the task force is permanent. Members of the task force are being selected by Judge Lippman and will include prosecutors, defense lawyers, scientists and lawmakers. They will have a broad mandate to examine police procedures, court rules and other issues involved in wrongful convictions. The task force will develop improvements in court procedures and rules, legislation, and training for attorneys, judges and police. New Yorks task force will not be limited to capital cases, nor will it confine itself to a single set of recommendations. The task force will collect data about wrongful convictions on a continuing basis and monitor the effectiveness of any poli