March 24, 2010

Public Defender System Case Subject of Profile in The New York Times

Full PDF

On Sunday, March 21, The New York Times published a full-length feature article entitled "The Right to Counsel: Woman Becomes a Test Case," on the case of Paul, Weiss pro bono client Kimberly Hurell-Harring. The article describes the original case in great detail, as well as the subsequent disbarring of the public defender involved. The article also recounts Ms. Hurell-Harring's successful appeal of her conviction, in which she was represented by Paul, Weiss. As a result of that appeal, the Third Department vacated her original felony conviction on the ground that the act for which she was charged did not constitute a crime. Ms. Hurell-Harring is serving as the lead plaintiff in Hurell-Harring v. State of New York, a class action lawsuit brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union that challenges New York's public defender system for failing to provide adequate representation. The Paul, Weiss team representing Ms. Hurell-Harring in the underlying criminal action included litigation partners Andrew Ehrlich and Robbie Kaplan and associates Saki Bee and Michael Berger.