A front page New York Times story on the criminal justice system in New York City highlighted the firm’s pro bono efforts working with Bronx Defenders in trying to bring to trial 54 misdemeanor marijuana possession cases stemming from the City’s stop-and-frisk program.
Cleary Gottlieb partnered with the Bronx Defenders to represent 54 “fighter” clients to contest their charges as a way of highlighting the unconstitutional “stop-and-frisks” leading to their arrests. The article examines how backlogs in the Bronx court systems are preventing stop-and-frisk victims from obtaining a speedy trial, making admitting guilt a quicker and more favorable choice for victims than fighting for a trial to prove their innocence.
To view the full article, please click here.