May 23, 2011
STATE BAR RECOGNIZES CRIMINAL JUSTICE
ACHIEVEMENT
ALBANY – The New York State Bar Association Criminal Justice
Section presented its Awards for Outstanding Achievement to five
individuals for their contributions in the criminal justice field.
Award categories and recipients are:
Outstanding Contribution to Legislation: Attorney General Eric
Schneiderman and John P. Amodeo of Albany (Office of the Attorney
General). Attorney General Schneiderman and Amodeo were honored for
their successful efforts to reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws. As a state
senator, Schneiderman was the chief sponsor of the reform legislation.
Amodeo previously served as chief counsel to the New York State
Sentencing Reform Commission.
Outstanding Contribution for Public Information: Brendan Lyons of
Halfmoon, senior writer for the Albany Times Union. During his 23 years
of reporting, Lyons’ work has sparked FBI probes, state
legislative hearings, grand jury investigations and government shakeups.
Notable articles included his coverage of former Senate Majority Leader
Joseph Bruno’s trial.
David S. Michaels Memorial Award for Courageous Efforts in Promoting
Integrity of the Criminal Justice System: Vincent Briccetti, U.S.
District Judge for the Southern District of New York. While awaiting
Senate confirmation of his judgeship, Briccetti put aside political
pressure to represent unpopular and troublesome clients. Briccetti was
sworn in as U.S. district court judge on April 21, 2011.
Outstanding Appellate Practitioner: Susan Salomon of the Center for
Appellate Litigation in New York City. Salomon is being honored for her
decades of work as an appellate litigator, notably on death penalty
cases. She is currently a senior litigation specialist at the Center for
Appellate Litigation.
Criminal Justice Section Awards Committee Chair Norman P. Effman of
Buffalo (executive director, Attica Legal Aid) presented the 2011 awards
on May 14th during the section’s spring meeting in Saratoga
Springs, NY.
The 77,000-member New York State Bar Association is the largest
voluntary state bar association in the nation. It was founded in
1876.
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