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April 29, 2011
STATE BAR ASSOCIATION URGES ACTION ON
PRIORITIES: ETHICS, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND WRONGFUL CONVICTION
New York State Bar Association President Stephen P. Younger calls on
the state lawmakers to enact sweeping reform of state and local
government ethics laws, legalize same-sex marriage and ensure that
individuals are not wrongfully convicted of crimes.
In a letter sent to members of the Legislature on the eve of their
return to Albany Monday, Younger wrote the three issues "are of vital
importance to the Association and to the people of New York
State.”
The House of Delegates, the governing body of the State Bar, has
approved comprehensive recommendations on ethics reform, same sex
marriage and wrongful convictions.
On ethics reform, Younger wrote in his April 26 letter, “All
those who serve in or seek to serve in public office should promote and
enhance the public’s trust and confidence in government by
adhering to the highest ethical standards.” (NYSBA's PDF report is
available here: http://www.nysba.org/EthicsRpt
)
His letter points to ways that the state's marriage law discriminates
against gays and lesbians. “Under current state law, there
are significant differences in the legal treatment of marital
relationships and committed same-sex relationships in a wide range of
matters such as property rights, financial support, responsibilities to
children, health care, social security, long-term care, domestic
violence, access to the court system, and other issues.” (Link to
PDF report: http://www.nysba.org/LGBT)
Wrongful convictions, Younger wrote legislators, “cast serious
doubt on a fundamental assumption of our criminal justice
system—i.e., that the innocent are protected. With each
reported wrongfully convicted and imprisoned individual, it becomes
clearer that steps must be taken to lessen the likelihood of wrongful
convictions.” (Link to PDF report: http://www.nysba.org/WrongfulConvictionsRpt)
The complete text of Younger’s letter to the Legislature is
available at http://www.nysba.org/Lettertolegislature (PDF).
The 77,000-member New York State Association is the largest voluntary
bar association in the nation. It was founded in
1876.
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