The Documents Corner

November 19, 2007

2007 Annual Report of the New York State Commission on Judical Conduct

The 2007 Annual Report of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct was released last Thursday. In his article in the November 19, 2007 New York Law Journal Daniel Wise writes that the Commission ” opened more investigations in 2006 [the year covered by the Annual Reporrt] and had more matters pending against judges than at any time in its 29 year history…”.

INTRODUCTION TO THE 2007 ANNUAL REPORT

The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct is the independent agency designated by the State Constitution to review complaints of misconduct against judges of the State Unified Court System, which includes approximately 3,400 judges and justices.

November 9, 2007

United States v. Bernard Kerik

by David Badertscher

Ex-NYPD Commissioner Indicted on Corruption, Tax Charges

UNITED STATES V. BERNARD KERIK

“(U.S. Dist. Ct., S.D.N.Y., Nov. 9, 2007) – Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik was indicted by a federal grand jury on a variety of corruption charges relating to his former position under ex-NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, as well as personal tax evasion charges and failure to pay social security and employment taxes for his children’s nanny”

November 9, 2007

Correspondence Related to the Nomination of Michael Mukasey for U.S. Attorney General

by David Badertscher

The links below are to primary source documents from members of the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. Senate to Judge Mukasey requesting clarification of his views. Documents included are from our subscription to GalleryWatch at http://www.gallerywatch.com

10/24/2007 Letter to Attorney General Nominee Michael Mukasey from Senate Judiciary Committe. (PDF 56 KB)

Letter Requests Further Clarification of the Nominee’s Position on Several Key Issues Including FISA, Interrogation Tactics and Signing Statements

October 25, 2007

Selected U.S. Federal Documents – Blackwater

by David Badertscher

The following are some recent letters, memoranda and other correspondence in regard to the contractor, Blackwater:

Letter to Blackwater CEO Erik Prince from House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman (PDF 360 KB)

Letter Requests Further Information on Blackwater’s No-Bid Contracts, Additional Incidents Involving Their Personnel in Iraq, and Payments Made to the Families of Iraqis Killed by Blackwater

October 18, 2007

Lessons Learned: New York Leads in the Number of Wrongful Convictions But Lags in Policy Reforms That Can Prevent Them

by David Badertscher

A Report of the Innocence Project. Benjamin Cordozo Law School of Yeshiva University, October 18, 2007:

“New York State Not Doing Enough to Prevent Wrongful Convictions, Report Says …exonerated through DNA evidence. The report…director of the Innocence Project, a legal clinic…frequently used for DNA analysis. But in…evidence stored in DNA and fingerprint…not comment on the Innocence Project report until it…” New York Times October 18, 2007

See Innocence Project Report Here