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In 2008, the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) created a permanent Task Force on Wrongful Convictions. The task force examined 53 cases where a defendant was wrongfully convicted of a crime but later exonerated. In a report issued last year, it concluded that wrongful convictions resulted from multiple factors including identification procedures, government practices, mishandling of forensic evidence, defense practices, the use of false confessions and the improper use of jailhouse informants. Based upon the findings and recommendations of the Task Force on Wrongful Convictions, the NYSBA earlier this month unveiled new legislation that would amend the Criminal Procedure Law in order to address the growing problem of wrongful convictions. Erroneous witnessident

The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) had its annual meeting in New York City this week. For the past number of years the meeting has featured a Presidential Summit at which the Bar President chooses hot topics of the day for a distinguished panel to discuss. This years topics were wrongful convictions and attorneys use of social media, which centered mostly upon issues of privacy and the internet. I was fortunate this year to be able to attend the Presidential Summit for the first time, and it was well worth the time (I shouldnt say it was well worth the price of admission because attendance was complimentary to meeting registrants). Social media was the first topic discussed. Most surprising was that in the context of using social media and the internet in general, the normally dry topic of ethics becomes not only somewhat interesting, but also something that if ignored can lead to some real headaches. For example, although using Facebook and Twitter can

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