1 [ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS ABOUT MORE THAN GUNS.

WE'LL LOOK AT NEW YORK STATE'S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.

JCOPE, THE JOINT COMMISSION ON PUBLIC ETHICS, IS GONE.

WE'LL TALK WITH ONE OF THE NEW YORK LAW SCHOOL DEANS TASKED WITH VETTING ITS REPLACEMENT, AND WE'LL DIG INTO THIS WEEK'S NEWS WITH MARINA VILLENUEVE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND JIMMY VIELKIND KIND OF "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."

I'M CASEY SEILER AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW."

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M CASE CASEY SEILER, EDITOR AND CHIEF OF THE TIMES UNION, IN FOR DAN CLARK.

IN THE SUMMER OF 2021, NEW YORK BECAME THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO DECLARE GUN VIOLENCE A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

ALONG WITH THAT DECLARATION CAME THE CREATION OF A STATE OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION HOUSED UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

SINCE THEN, GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL'S 2023 STATE BUDGET ALLOCATED $227 MILLION TO FUND A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

AFTER THE TRAGIC MASS SHOOTING IN BUFFALO AND THE SUPREME COURT'S OVERTURNING OF NEW 2 YORK'S LAW LIMITING GUNS IN PUBLIC PLACES, ACCESS TO GUNS WHATS BEEN A HOT TOPIC FOR POLICYMAKERS AND IN NEWS HEADLINES, BUT THIS WEEK, WE SHIFT THE FOCUS BACK TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECTS OF REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE IN NEW YORK STATE.

TAKE A LOOK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THIS STREET, 6th AND GLENN, IS SIGNIFICANT TO ME BECAUSE, NUMBER ONE, I'M FROM THESE STREETS AND 2020 JUNE, MY SON GOT SHOT RIGHT HERE ON THESE STREETS.

SIX BULLETS, BUT HE SURVIVED IT.

MY NAME IS VERONICA ROUNTREE.

EVERYONE CALLS ME MAMA LOVE.

OKAY.

I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

AND I AM THE FOUNDER OF MOTHERS TO SONS, MOTHER TALK TO YOUR SONS ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE.

FOR THE MOST PART, US MOTHERS, WE KNOW WHAT OUR KIDS ARE DOIN'.

SO WE NEED TO TALK TO OUR SONS ABOUT THESE GUNS TO SAVE THEIR LIVES.

WE'VE GOT TO SAVE OURSELVES AND OUR KIDS.

>> FOR VERONICA ROUNTREE, AKA MAMA LOVE, IN TRY, NEW YORK, THE PREVALENCE OF GUN VIOLENCE ISN'T ONLY ABOUT GUNS.

SHE SEES A CONNECTION BETWEEN A RISE IN GUN VIOLENCE AND A DECLINE IN RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR HER COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT THEY GOT GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS DRUG INFESTATION, HIGH IN CRIME, LACK OF EDUCATION, LACK OF RESOURCES.

THERE'S NOTHING FOR OUR CHILDREN TO DO.

3 THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO.

WE HAVE THE BOYS CLUB.

THAT'S ALL WE GOT.

IT'S A 16-YEAR-OLD DEATH.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO REACH OUT TO HIS MOM, BUT I UNDERSTAND THEY GOT THE THREE GUYS OUT OF VIRGINIA.

SO JUSTICE WILL GET SERVED FOR THIS KID'S HORRIBLE MURDER.

SO THIS IS WHAT-- THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.

THIS IS ON EVERY BLOCK.

EVERYWHERE YOU GO IN OUR LITTLE CITY, WE AIN'T GONNA HAVE NO KIDS LEFT.

>> IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING THAT VIOLENCE BE SEEN AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AND NOT SIMPLY A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

NEW YORK STATE IS TAKING A SIMILAR POSITION WHERE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION STILL INVOLVES LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT EXPANDS FAR BEYOND THAT.

>> WE REALIZE THAT GUN VIOLENCE AFFECTS KIND OF A WHOLE COMMUNITY AND THAT IT'S TRAUMATIC THAT THE TRAUMA SPREADS.

SO VICTIMS AND FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES THAT IT TAKES A WHILE TO RECOVER.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE GUN VIOLENCE BEING A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT IT'S ABOUT HOW DO WE USE THESE PROGRAMS, RIGHT THAT WE CALL VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAMS, LIKE SNUG, HOW DO WE USE THEM TO MAKE 4 COMMUNITIES WHOLE.

>> IN NEW YORK'S 2023 BUDGET, GOVERNOR HOCHUL ADVOCATED $227 MILLION TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

THE FUNDING IS DIVIDED BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS.

HOCHUL'S EFFORTS FOLLOW DECLARATIONS MADE IN 2021 BY THE NEW YORK STATE EXECUTIVE BRANCH THAT GUN VIOLENCE BE CONSIDERED A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

IN FACT, VIOLENT GUN DEATHS INCREASED BY 80% BETWEEN 2019 AND 2020 AND REMAINED ELEVATED IN 2021.

>> PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS.

THEY LOST THEIR SAFETY NET.

THEY LOST THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEMS WHERE THEY COULDN'T GO GET SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT OR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

PEOPLE FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS IN UNPRECEDENTED WAYS DURING THIS PANDEMIC, AND WE NEED TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT AND REALIZE THAT IS NOT AN EXCUSE TO HARM ANOTHER HUMAN BEING, BUT IT'S ALSO WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT WE NEED TO HELP THEM HEAL.

>> YOU KNOW, WE KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE WERE AT AN ALL-TIME LOW IN CRIME.

NOT JUST IN NEW YORK, RIGHT, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IN THE PROCESS, WE'VE LEARNED A LOT.

WE'VE LEARNED HOW TO BRING EVERYONE TO THE TABLE.

WE'VE LEARNED HOW TO BRING 5 LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY FOLKS TO THE TABLE.

WE'VE LEARNED HOW TO TREAT EVERYONE LIKE HUMAN BEINGS, AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT THE RESULTS OF ALL THAT LEARNING BACK TO WORK.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET THE GUNS OFF THE STREETS.

YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THIS COMMUNITY.

THESE KIDS ARE DOOMED.

THESE KIDS ARE GONNA DIE AND SAY THAT'S A LIE.

WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.

THAT'S THE WORD OF THE DAY, SOLUTIONS.

WE JUST GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TALK TO OUR SONS.

THE MAIN THING THAT WE REALLY NEED IS FOR SO MANY KIDS THAT SOMETHING FOR THEM TO DO.

FOOD, CLOTHING AND SHELTER, MENTAL HEALTH, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THIS MOTHER-TO-SON ORGANIZATION AND BE ABLE TO PULL PEOPLE IN AND GIVE THEM JOBS.

IT'S A FIGHT.

IT'S A FIGHT THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY STAY IN.

WE JUST PRAY.

WE JUST PRAY FOR PEACE WORLDWIDE, WORLDWIDE PEACE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> NEW YORK'S POSITION ON GUN VIOLENCE AND ACCESS TO GUNS CONTINUES TO EVOLVE.

ON JULY 1st, GOVERNOR HOCHUL INTRODUCED NEW GUN LEGISLATION TO REPLACE THE LAW OVERTURNED BY THE SUPREME COURT.

THAT LAW, WHICH LIMITS THE POSSESSION OF FIREARMS IN SO-CALL 6 SENSITIVE PLACES, IS ALREADY BEING CHALLENGED IN COURT.

BUT NOW TO THIS WEEK'S NEWS WHERE I'M HAPPY TO BE JOINED AT THE REPORTERS' ROUNDTABLE BY MARINA VILLENUEVE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND JIMMY VIELKIND KIND OF "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DEPARTURE OF CHIEF JUDGE JANET DEFIORE, AFTER 6 1/2 YEARS IN OFFICE, FORMER WESTCHESTER COUNTY PROSECUTOR, FORMER CHAIRWOMAN OF THE AFOREMENTIONED JOINT COMMISSION ON PUBLIC ETHICS, APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR CUOMO AT THE END OF 2015, TOOK OFFICE AT THE BEGINNING OF 2016 AND IN A SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT, LEAVING AT THE END OF AUGUST.

>> I THINK THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF REASONS THAT PLAYED INTO OUR DEPARTURE, ACCORDING TO MY REPORTING.

ONE IS THAT SHE HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR A COURT CONSOLIDATION PLAN TO TAKE NEW YORK'S 11 TRIAL COURT PARTS AND BASICALLY CONSOLIDATE THEM INTO TWO, A SUPREME COURT AND SOME SORT OF LOWER COURT, AND THAT REALLY FAILED TO GAIN TRACTION THIS YEAR DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SAID SHE PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO AND IT WAS ESSENTIALLY SORT OF FLOATING IN THE WATER.

NOT DEAD, BUT CERTAINLY NOT STEAMING ALONG.

HER, OF COURSE, BIGGEST RABBI WAS FORMER 7 GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO, WHO APPOINTED HER IN 2016, WHEN SHE WAS THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BUT SHE REALLY SOURED HER RELATIONSHIP WITH LEGISLATORS, MANY OF THEM SAID, WHEN SHE RULED IN APRIL ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LINES.

DEFIORE, FOR YEARS, IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER, RULED THAT THE LINES VIOLATED AN ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL JERRYMANDERING PROVISION, BUT THE LEGISLATURE COULD NOT BE TRUSTED TO TAKE ANOTHER CRACK AT THIS PROCESS, THAT IT SHOULD BE REMANDED TO A LOWER COURT WHO APPOINTED A SPECIAL MASTER TO DRAW THE MAPS.

SO SHE HAD A MACRO PROBLEM, IN TERMS OF HER POLITICAL SUPPORT.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" AND OTHER OUTLETS REPORTED THAT SHE WAS THE SUBJECT OF A JUDICIAL CONDUCT COMMISSION PROBE AT THE TIME OF HER RESIGNATION.

ACCORDING TO PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER THAT MY COLLEAGUE, KIEREN REMI AND I SPOKE WITH, THE COMMISSION VOTED IN JUNE TO ISSUE A FORMAL WRITTEN COMMITTEE AGAINST JUDGE DEFIORE RELATED TO A LETTER SHE SEPTEMBER TO A DISCIPLINARY HEARING OFFICER WHO WAS WEIGHING A DISCIPLINARY CHARGE AGAINST THE COURT OFFICER'S UNION, A GUY NAMED DENNIS CORK.

SO DEFIORE AND CORK HAD SORT OF A LONG-RUNNING SPAT, AND THE LETTER HAD SOME VERY STARK LANGUAGE WHEREIN JUDGE DEFIORE ESSENTIALLY URGED 8 THE HEARING OFFICER TO THROW THE BOOK AT CORK.

>> VERY THUMB-ON-SCALE LANGUAGE WITHOUT A DOUBT.

>> IT WAS NOT SUBTLE, WE SHALL SAY.

>> YEAH.

OKAY.

SO JANET DEFIORE IS HEADED OUT THE DOOR.

THIS SETS UP, OF COURSE, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO PUT HER OWN STAMP ON THE COURT IN A PRETTY BIG WAY.

CHIEF JUDGES DON'T COME ALONG EVERY YEAR, CERTAINLY, THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME FOR SERVICE IS ABOUT FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS, I GUESS, WITH THE EXCEPTION BEING JUDITH KAY WHO SERVED FOR MUCH LONGER, MORE THAN A DECADE.

SO MARINA, THIS SETS UP A CLASSIC SORT OF PROGRESSIVE VERSUS CENTRIST OPTION FOR THE GOVERNOR S THAT RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

AT THIS POINT, AFTER GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S NEW NOMINATION, SHE'LL HAVE BEEN-- SHE'LL HAVE PICKED TWO OUT OF SEVEN OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT OF APPEALS WITH FIVE BEING APPOINTED BY CUOMO.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THAT ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE COURTS LOOK LIKE UNDER DEFIORE.

WE SEE THE NUMBER OF CRIMINAL APPEALS DROP DRAMATICALLY.

SO WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF CALLS FROM CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM GROUPS AND LEGAL AID GROUPS FOR THE GOVERNOR TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PICK A PUBLIC DEFENDER OR SOMEONE FROM AN UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUND TO REALLY TRY TO TILT THE 9 COURT IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, BUT OBVIOUSLY, THE GOVERNOR IS RUNNING TO FOR A FOURTH TERM.

SO SHE'S GOING TO BE FACING PRESSURE AS WELL TO PERHAPS GO MORE MODERATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE'S GETTING SO MUCH CRITICISM FROM REPUBLICANS AND MORE MODERATE MEMBERS OF HER PARTY OVER CRIME RATES IN THE STATE.

>> HER NOMINEE WILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE STATE SENATE, WHICH MEANS THAT IT'S QUITE LIKELY THAT WE'LL GET ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY SESSION WHERE THEY'LL COME BACK AND HAVE TO QUESTION AND THEN VOTE ON THAT NOMINEE, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS IS THERE'S, FIRST, A COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL NOMINATION THAT WILL HEAR AND VET VARIOUS CANDIDATES AND THEN PRESENTS THE GOVERNOR WITH A LIST OF PEOPLE FROM WHICH SHE WILL MAKE HER SELECTION.

HISTORICALLY, THESE SENATE CONFIRMATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN PARTICULARLY CONTENTIOUS.

THERE WERE SEVERAL NO VOTES OVER THE APPOINTMENT IN 2021 OF FORMER NASSAU COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY MADELINE SINGAS.

THAT WAS, OF COURSE, ANDREW CUOMO'S PICK FOR A SEAT ON THE COURT OF APPEALS THAT HE DID WHILE HE WAS UNDER SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE AND DURING THE PERIOD IN WHICH HIS-- HIS GUBERNATORIAL TENURE WAS COMING UNDER LOTS OF STRESS BECAUSE OF THE INVESTIGATIONS OF HIS 10 HANDLING IN THE PANDEMIC AS WELL AS HIS GRAPPLING WITH ACCUSATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

SO WE HEARD SOME DISSENT IN THE STATE SENATE THEN FROM SOME OF THE MORE PROGRESSIVE MEMBERS.

I THINK IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THERE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT DISSENT AND ALSO WHETHER GOVERNOR HOCHUL WILL BE MINDFUL OF THAT WHEN SHE MAKES HER SELECTION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S MOVE ON TO THE TOPIC OF GUNS AND ONGOING BLOWBACK TO THE LEGISLATION RECENTLY PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR.

CARL PALADINO, THE SINGULAR, I THINK WOULD BE THE MOST-- THE LOWEST LEVEL ADJECTIVE I CAN PICK-- CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE OUT OF WESTERN NEW YORK WHO'S LOCKED IN A PRIMARY BATTLE WITH NICK LANGWORTHY, THE CHAIR OF THE STATE PARTY, HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS GOING TO BRING SUIT AGAINST ASPECTS OF THE NEW GUN LAW, CORRECT?

>> RIGHT.

IT'S A FEDERAL LAWSUIT.

AND IT'S TAKING AIM SPECIFICALLY AT PART OF THE LAW THAT WILL SAY FOR A BUSINESS, ANY BUSINESS THAT WANTS TO ALLOW CONCEAL CARRY WILL HAVE TO PUT UP A SIGN ESSENTIALLY SAYING GUNS ARE WELCOME HERE, AND HE'S SAYING THAT'S GOING TO FAR AND INFRINGING ON SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS BY REQUIRING BUSINESSES TO DO SO.

THE GOVERNOR, FOR HER PART, HAS SAID THAT SHE'S CONFIDENT THIS WILL HOLD UP IN COURT.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH 11 EXPERTS FROM GUN CONTROL GROUPS LIKE GIFFORD'S AND BRADY, AND THEY POINTED TO THERE BEING LEGAL PRECEDENT FOR THIS PERHAPS BASED ON JUST LOOKING AT BASIC PROPERTY RIGHTS AND SOME LOCALITIES NATIONWIDE, THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS SAYING THAT YOU HAVE TO LIKE ALERT A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING GUNS ON THE PROPERTY.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

>> MEANWHILE, CARL PALADINO,-- IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS THERE'S ANOTHER ONE OF THESE.

THIS TIME OUT, IT WAS REPORTED THAT HE HAS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER, SOMEBODY CONVICTED ALMOST A DECADE AGO, OF POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, WHO IS SERVING NOT ONLY IN HIS PRIVATE BUSINESS INTERESTS BUT ALSO AS IS I BELIEVE ASSISTANT TREASURER ON HIS CAMPAIGN WHICH IS, I BELIEVE WHAT WE CALL AN UNFORCED ERROR IN POLITICS.

>> YEAH.

THE PALLADINO CAMPAIGN SAID THIS PERSON JUST APPEARED ON A DOCUMENT AND IS NOT FORMALLY AFFILIATED WITH THE CAMPAIGN.

IT'S UNCLEAR.

IT SEEMS THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IN QUESTION HAD GRANTED MONEY TO PALLADINO'S POLITICAL EFFORTS, AS YOU NOTED, WORKED FOR ELLICOTT DEVELOPMENT, THE COMPANY THAT HE FOUNDED, AND THAT IS NOW MANAGED AND RUN BY HIS SON.

YOU KNOW THIS IS A NASTY CAMPAIGN THAT CARL 12 PALADINO FINDS HIMSELF IN.

NICK LANGWORTHY, WHO IS THE PRINCIPAL OPPONENT IN THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR THIS CONGRESSIONAL SEAT THAT HAD BEEN HELD BY CHRIS JACOBS, HE'S SHARP, AND SO THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY BARE-KNUCKLED.

WHAT IS AN OPEN QUESTION FOR ME IS WHETHER ANY OF THIS IS GOING TO RESONATE WITH THE GOP ELECTORATE AND WHETHER IT'S GOING TO MATTER.

CARL PALADINO, CASEY, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CARL PALADINO FOR LONG OVER A DECADE AT THIS POINT.

>> ABOUT 13 YEARS NOW.

>> IT SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE TO ANY VIEWER OR ANY VOTER THAT CARL PALADINO HAS SOME ROUGH EDGES.

CARL PALADINO IS NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT.

THAT CARL PALADINO HAS SOME SORT OF PUSHING THE ENVELOPE ASSOCIATIONS AND STATEMENTS THAT HE MAKES AND VOTERS HAVE-- TO USE THE MARKET TERM, THEY PRICED THAT IN.

THAT IS PART OF HIS APPEAL.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT TO WHICH THIS KIND OF REVELATION OR OTHER REVELATIONS THAT WILL COME OUT, OF COURSE, IN THE COURSE OF A VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN ARE GOING TO IMPACT HIM.

I ALSO HAVE NO IDEA WHO IS GOING TO VOTE IN AN AUGUST SPECIAL ELECTION FOR CONGRESS.

SO-- >> VERY FEW PEOPLE I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

THANKS VERY MUCH TO MARINA 13 VILLENUEVE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND JIMMY VIELKIND KIND WITH "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

IN JANUARY, GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO REPLACE THE JOINT COMMISSION ON PUBLIC ETHICS AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING JCOPE HAD FAILED TO LIVE UP TO ITS MANDATE.

JCOPE'S REPLACEMENT CAME INTO BEING ON JULY 8th AS THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS AND LOBBYING IN GOVERNMENT.

IN ORDER TO ENSURE INDEPENDENCE, APPOINTEES TO THE NEW COMMISSION ON ETHICS, WILL BE VETTED BY A TEAM OF 15 DEANS FROM NEW YORK'S ACCREDITED LAW SCHOOLS.

DAVID LOMBARDO, FROM THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, SPOKE TO DEAN ANTHONY CROWELL, WHO IS CHARGED WITH THE GROUP CHARGED WITH MANAGING THE VETTING PROCESS.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THE SHOW, DEAN CROWELL.

>> THANKS VERY MUCH, DAVID.

IT'S GOOD TO JOIN YOU.

>> SO YOU'RE ONE OF FIFTEEN LAW SCHOOL DEANS RESPONSIBLE FOR VETTING THE 11-MEMBER COMMISSION THAT IS GOING TO BE OUR NEW INTERNAL STATE WATCH DOG.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO JUDGE THE NOMINEES THAT COME FROM THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS?

>> SO I'D LIKE TO SORT OF 14 DESCRIBE THE PROCESS AS ONE NOT OF JUDGMENT BUT ONE OF A SOUND REVIEW THAT LOOKS AT A COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF THE CANDIDATE IN LIGHT OF THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT THEY POSSESS AND THE NEEDS OF THE STATE IN TERMS OF AN ETHICS COMMISSIONER, WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO NAVIGATE A RANGE OF FUNCTIONS AND TO UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES OF AN INCREDIBLY DIVERSE PUBLIC WORKFORCE.

SO WE WILL-- WE WILL CERTAINLY GIVE A CAREFUL REVIEW, BUT THE FIRST ONE OF THAT REVIEW WILL BE A VERY, VERY RIGOROUS PRE-NOMINATION PROCESS THAT WE WILL HAVE PUT IN PLACE.

PUTTING A LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO WILL NOMINATE THESE CANDIDATES TO REALLY LOOK DEEPLY INTO THEIR BACKGROUNDS, TO UNDERSTAND THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND TO MAKE A DETERMINATION THAT IS INFORMED INCLUDING BY PUBLIC INPUT BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY GIVE US THE FORMAL NOMINATION TO REVIEW IN FULL.

SO THERE'S SEVERAL LAYERS TO THE PROCESS AND WE WILL CERTAINLY MAKE SURE THAT THE PROCEDURES WE'VE ESTABLISHED ARE FOLLOWED, AND THEN WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO GET APPOINTED POSSESS THE REQUISITE QUALIFICATIONS AND HAVE THE REQUISITE ABILITIES TO PERFORM WELL IN THEIR ROLE AS A STATE ETHICS COMMISSIONER.

>> WHAT ARE THOSE ABILITIES THAT THE NOMINEES SHOULD CONTAIN?

15 >> SURE.

WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE'RE GOING TO ENSURE THAT THE NOMINEES ARE UNDISPUTED IN HONESTY, INTEGRITY, AND CHARACTER.

WE CERTAINLY WANT IT LOOK FOR THE PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE CANDIDATES TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE CONDUCTED THEMSELVES WITH THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS AND THAT THEY'RE LIVED EXPERIENCE ALLOWS THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES THAT ARE NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE AS A MEMBER OF THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION.

IN ADDITION, WE WANT TO SEE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE A DEMONSTRATED ABILITY TO BE IMPARTIAL AND FAIR, INDEPENDENT, EVEN-HANDED AND WHO CAN DECIDE MATTERS BASED SOLELY ON THE LAW AND FACTS THAT ARE PRESENTED AND NOT ON POLITICS.

>> ARE THERE ANY DISQUALIFYING FACTORS FOR POTENTIAL CANDIDATES?

FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE WORKED FOR OR WORKED CLOSELY WITH SOMEONE WHO IS GETTING NOMINATED AND SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE UNDER THE SCRUTINY OF THIS NEW WATCH DOG, WOULD THEY BE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED?

>> THAT WOULD NOT BE AN AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION, BUT WE WANT TO CERTAINLY KNOW THAT AND WE'D WANT TO TALK TO THE CANDIDATE.

SO ONCE THE-- ONCE THE PRE-NOMINATION PROCESS HAS CONCLUDED AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO MAKE THE APPOINTMENTS HAVE DECIDED 16 WHO THEY'RE GOING TO FORMALLY SUBMIT TO US FOR REVIEW, WE WILL THEN START NOT ONLY REVIEW THE RECORD THAT THEY MADE THAT DECISION ON, BUT WE WILL CONDUCT OUR OWN INTERVIEWS OF THOSE CANDIDATES AS WELL AND THOSE INTERVIEWS WILL WORK TO UNDERSTAND THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE WITH THOSE WHO APPOINTED THEM, BUT ALSO THEIR ABILITY TO BE INDEPENDENT.

THOSE WHO MAY HAVE PRIOR STATE SERVICE, EVEN WORKING WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS, MAY HAVE A PERSPECTIVE THAT IS VALUABLE BUT WE DO WANT TO UNDERSTAND THEIR ABILITY TO USE INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT AND TO BE FAIR AND EVEN-HANDED AND NOT BE POLITICAL IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING DETERMINATIONS CONSISTENT WITH THE STATE ETHICS LAWS.

>> IDEALLY, BECAUSE YOU'VE LAID OUT THE CRITERIA, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HONESTY, INTEGRITY, THE NOMINATING BODIES ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT WHEN CHOOSING WHO THEY WANT TO SERVE ON THIS COMMISSION, AND THEORETICALLY, THERE WON'T BE ANY PROBLEMS WITH ANYONE THEY PUT UP.

BUT THEORETICALLY, THERE ALSO COULD BE SOME CANDIDATES WHO JUST COULDN'T DON'T PASS WHATEVER SMELL TEST THAT YOU AND YOUR FELLOW DEANS END UP IMPLEMENTING.

SO IF THERE ARE CANDIDATES THAT YOU DEEM AREN'T WORTHY, WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING?

DO YOU ESSENTIALLY SEND THEM BACK TO THE NOMINATOR AND SAY, NO 17 GOOD, TRY AGAIN?

>> SO THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW COMMITTEE, IN EFFECT, STANDS AS A BODY THAT IS UNDERTAKEN AN ADVICE AND CONSENT PROCESS.

AND WHAT WE WILL DO IS MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE NOMINEES SHOULD BE CONFIRMED FOR APPOINTMENT.

ULTIMATELY, THE ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO MAKES THE NOMINATION IS THE ONE WHO WILL APPOINT BUT WE'LL UNDERTAKE THIS CONFIRMATION PROCESS.

IF WE DETERMINE THAT THE CANDIDATE IS NOT FIT FOR SERVICE ON THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION, WE WILL SEND IT BACK TO THE NOMINATING ELECTED OFFICIAL AND ASK THEM TO RECONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS AND TO RESUBMIT SOMEONE ELSE.

>> I LIKE TALKING TO YOU.

I'M SURE YOUR STUDENTS THINK YOU'RE GREAT, BUT FOR EVERYONE ELSE IN NEW YORK WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO KNOW YOU OR KNOW THE OTHER LAW SCHOOL DEEPS WHO ARE MAKING UP THIS INDEPENDENT REVIEW COMMITTEE, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL TO THOSE NEW YORKER ABOUT WHY LAW SCHOOL DEANS MAKE FOR A GOOD VETTING BODY?

>> LAW SCHOOL DEANS, OBVIOUSLY, HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ROLE WITH THE PROFESSION.

WE'RE STEWARDS OF THE PROFESSION.

WE TRAIN NEW LAWYERS.

WE UNDERTAKE MANAGEMENT OF VERY SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMS OF LEGAL EDUCATION.

AN 18 EXTRAORDINARY NUMBER OF THE LAWYERS IN NEW YORK STATE HAVE COME THROUGH OUR LAW SCHOOLS, SO WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE REQUISITE, ETHICAL STANDARDS, PROFESSIONALISM, AND THE EXPECTATIONS OF THOSE WHO TRUST THOSE IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN OUR STATE.

DEANS MAKE A GOOD CHOICE.

WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN POTENTIALLY DO THIS JOB, BUT I THINK THAT WE-- WE DO HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING OF A HIGH ETHICAL STANDARD AND THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM, ACCOUNTABILITY, INDEPENDENCE, OBJECTIVITY, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE UP A-- A GOOD LAWYER, MAKE UP A SOUND JUDICIARY, AND MAKE FOR RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, AND SO THAT IS OUR FUNCTION AS STEWARDS OF THIS PROFESSION AND THOSE WHO PROTECT, PROMOTE, DEFEND THE RULE OF LAW.

>> FINALLY, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF YOUR WORK RIGHT NOW?

>> SURE.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A BACKGROUND IN PROCESS THAT IS UNDERWAY.

WHAT HAPPENS IS WE HAVE THE STATE POLICE, AS WELL AS INVESTIGATORS FROM THE STATE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES WHO ARE DOING BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS ON THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED FOR THEM BY THE DIFFERENT ELECTED OFFICIALS.

THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS INCLUDE THE GOVERNOR, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE COMPTROLLER AND THE MAJORITY 19 AND MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY, AND I WILL SAY THAT RIGHT NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE A GOOD NUMBER THAT ARE MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE BACKGROUNDING PROCESS.

I WOULD EXPECT AS OF TODAY, I WOULD EXPECT VERY SOON THAT WE WILL SEE SOME OF THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS PUBLISH THE NAMES OF THOSE THEY ARE CONTEMPLATING NOMINATING AND UPON THAT PUBLICATION WILL BE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, I EXPECT.

THE GOVERNMENT GROUPS TO MAKE COMMENTS, MEMBERS OF BAR ASSOCIATIONS AND CITIZENS AND OTHER CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS COMMENT ON THE REPUTATION AND THE STRENGTH OF THE CANDIDATES PRESENTED.

>> WELL, WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH ANTHONY CROWELL.

HE IS THE CHAIR OF THE STATE'S INDEPENDENT REVIEW COMMITTEE AND DEAN OF NEW YORK LAW SCHOOL.

ANTHONY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS SO MUCH, DAVID.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THE NEW ETHICS COMMISSION WILL LIVE UP TO ITS STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE, LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR, JCOPE, COMMITTEE APPOINTEES WILL STILL COME FROM THE HIGH-RANKING LAWMAKERS THAT THEY ARE TASKED WITH MONITORING.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE 20 WELL.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.

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