named programs · 1 · from sources
What they call their work
Amicus Brief Program
Files amicus curiae briefs in appellate and Supreme Court cases to advocate for constitutional criminal justice principles, including due process, right to counsel, and limits on prosecutorial power.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy 2 activities
- Files amicus briefs in significant legal casesFiles amicus briefs in trial and appellate courts on major legal issues affecting criminal defense, including challenges to executive overreach, sentencing disparities, compassionate release rights, and constitutional protections such as the Confrontation Clause and limits on forfeiture.
- Submits advocacy materials to legal policy bodiesSubmits formal comments, proposed amendments, and letters to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, rules committees, and other legal policy bodies to influence sentencing guidelines and procedural rules.
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Legal Professional Development & Networking 1 activity
- Hosts biennial retreat for legal professionalsOrganizes a biennial weekend retreat that brings together defense lawyers, prosecutors, judges, and other legal professionals to discuss issues of concern to the criminal defense bar.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Hosts informal luncheons to foster judicial collegialityFacilitates informal luncheons for members and invited judges to build relationships and promote collegiality within the legal community.
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Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
- Maintains organizational leadership structureOperates with a formal leadership structure composed of elected officers and a board of members to govern the organization.
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Membership Program Administration 1 activity
- Manages formal membership structure and review processEstablishes rigorous membership criteria requiring at least 10 years of legal practice, substantial criminal defense experience, good standing in court, and nomination by a current member, with applications reviewed through a formal process including reference checks and a Board of Directors vote.
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Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
- Organizes panel programs on criminal defense topicsConducts panel programs for members and non-members focused on current and significant topics in criminal defense practice and law.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Presents annual Norman Ostrow AwardRecognizes outstanding contributions to the defense of liberty and preservation of individual rights by presenting the Norman Ostrow Award annually to a defense lawyer.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Operates liaison committees with federal and state prosecutorsMaintains three Liaison Committees that meet periodically with U.S. Attorneys and the District Attorney for New York County to discuss issues of mutual concern and improve professional dialogue.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$77K
Contributions & grants——
Program service revenue$77K100%
Investment income$100%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$66K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$429K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$429K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +11.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 9
- CESAR DE CASTRO — DIRECTOR
- JAMES J BENJAMIN JR — DIRECTOR
- JONATHAN S ABERNETHY — DIRECTOR
- JULIA GATTO — DIRECTOR
- KATHLEEN E CASSIDY — DIRECTOR
- LISA A CAHILL — DIRECTOR
- RANDALL JACKSON — DIRECTOR
- SAMIDH GUHA — DIRECTOR
- TORREY YOUNG — DIRECTOR
relationships · 6
Who they work with
- District Attorney for New York County Partner — Liaison Committee meets periodically to discuss issues of mutual concern
- Jillian Berman Partner — Chair of the Membership Committee responsible for receiving and processing membership nominations and applications.
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Partner — Co-filed an amicus brief in USA v. Calvin Weaver regarding the commencement of Terry frisks and racial profiling.
- New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Partner — Co-filed an amicus brief in USA v. Calvin Weaver regarding the commencement of Terry frisks and racial profiling.
- United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Partner — Liaison Committee meets periodically to discuss issues of mutual concern
- United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Partner — Liaison Committee meets periodically to discuss issues of mutual concern
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Amicus Curiae Advocacy for Legal Reformmethodology: amicus_curiae_advocacyBy filing amicus briefs in significant cases, the organization influences judicial reasoning and shapes legal precedents, because direct engagement in appellate litigation allows defense perspectives to inform court decisions that have broad systemic impact.
- Policy and Procedural Rule Advocacymethodology: policy_advocacyBy submitting formal input to policy bodies like the Sentencing Commission and rules committees, the organization shapes sentencing guidelines and procedural rules, because institutional advocacy within official rulemaking processes enables systemic reform beyond individual cases.
- Targeted Legal Theory Advocacymethodology: legal_theory_advocacyBy challenging expansive legal doctrines such as the "right-to-control" theory and advocating for narrow interpretations of "property" in fraud cases, the organization limits overreach in federal prosecutions, because constraining the scope of criminal statutes reduces unjust convictions based on vague or intangible theories of harm.