Pro Bono
The Federal Court Bar Association remains committed to supporting our member attorneys who take on pro bono cases within the district. This page provides precedents and practice tips and is designed as a toolkit for attorneys and support staff handling pro bono cases in the Northern District of New York.
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK – FEDERAL CIVIL LOCAL RULE 83.2 Pro Bono Service (formerly L.R. 83.3)
Local Rule 83.2 requires all attorneys admitted to practice in the Northern District of New York – except attorneys employed by the government – to accept at least one (but no more than one) pro bono assignments per year on a rotating basis. Read the rule in its entirety here.
The typical assignment takes place after all discovery and dispositive deadlines have passed, and the case is about to proceed to trial. While these cases can be challenging, they provide attorneys with a unique and invaluable trial experience that often pays dividends in the future. Scroll down to see a Table of Contents and sample documents
Looking for the most recent Pro Bono CLE Materials Packet? The course materials from our last program can be found here:
Supplemental Training Materials (Representing LGBTQIA+ Clients in Federal Court)
Pro Bono Honor Roll
In 2015, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, under the guidance of then-Chief Judge Gary L. Sharpe, established a page dedicated to honoring those bar members who have provided pro bono service to Northern District litigants who were unable to afford legal representation. The Court’s past pro bono honor roll can be accessed on the Court’s website via the following link: http://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/probono

SAVE THE DATE: Pro Bono Training CLE 2025: Learn how to try a Civil Rights Case in Federal Court from soup to nuts. Moderated by Mike Sciotti, Esq. this program will provide the training all attorneys need to confidently handle a Pro Bono Case in Federal Court. This course will be offered in person in Albany (10/9) and Syracuse (10/16). Limited seating is available. Registration coming soon.
GENERAL
- Communications with Client
- Memorandum from Court concerning appointment (871726)
- Pro Bono Fund Voucher & Request for Reimbursement (871725)
- General Jury Charges
- Witness Lists
- Exhibit Lists
- Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law and Other Post Trial Documents
- Writ of Habeas Corpus Forms (Issued By Court)
- Letter Requests
- Pre-Trial Stipulations
- Motions In Limine
- Voir Dire – Plaintiff
- Rosales v. Quinn, Giannotta, Pfleuger, Martens, Calhoun, et al. (9:03-CV-601-LES/RFT)) (854110)
- Farrakhan v. Burge; Bradt; Gummerson; Wither; and Hewit (03-CV-0928 (NAM)(DRH)) (985182)
- Silvera v. Burge; Withers; Chutty; Calescibetta; Spicer; and Pidlypchak (9:02-CV-882-GLS-GJD)) (854113)
- Silvera v. Burge; Withers; Chutty; Calescibetta; Spicer; and Pidlypchak (9:02-CV-882-GLS-GJD)) (854117)
- Barnes v. Ricks (04-CV-0391 (LES/DEP)) (629323)
- Johnson v. Smith (03-CV-1050) (854123)
- Voir Dire – Defendant
- Judgment
EXCESSIVE FORCE
- Jury Charges (Plaintiff)
- Jury Charges (Defense)
- Jury Charges (Used By Court)
- Jury Verdict Sheet (Used By Court)
- Trial Briefs (Plaintiff)
- Trial Briefs (Defense)
DUE PROCESS
- Jury Charges (Plaintiff)
- Jury Charges (Defense)
- Jury Charges (Used By Court)
- Jury Verdict Sheet (Used By Court)
- Trial Briefs (Plaintiff)
- Trial Briefs (Defense)
MEDICAL INDIFFERENCE
- Jury Charges (Plaintiff)
- Jury Charges (Defense)
- Jury Charges (Used By Court)
- Jury Verdict Sheet (Used By Court)
- Trial Briefs (Plaintiff)
- Trial Briefs (Defense)
RELIGION
- Jury Charges (Plaintiff)
- Jury Charges (Defense)
- Jury Charges (Used By Court)
- Jury Verdict Sheet (Used By Court)
- Trial Briefs (Plaintiff)
- Trial Briefs (Defense)
RETALIATION
- Jury Charges (Plaintiff)
- Jury Charges (Defense)
- Jury Charges (Used By Court)
- Jury Verdict Sheet (Plaintiff)
- Jury Verdict Sheet (Used By Court)
- Trial Briefs (Plaintiff)
- Trial Briefs (Defense)
DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE FOR SAFETY & FAILURE TO PROTECT
- Jury Charges (Plaintiff)
- Jury Charges (Defense)
- Jury Charges (Used By Court)
- Jury Verdict Sheet (Used By Court)
- Heath v. Saddlemire, Foley, Reyes, Pilatich, Darling, Messina, Hotaling, Hodges, Supina, Stroud, Angerami, Chewens, Chase, and Palmer (9:96-CV-1998 (FJS/RFT)) (985208)
- Farrakhan v. Burge, Bradt, Gummerson, Wither and Hewit (03-CV-0928 (NAM/DRH)) (985209)
- Barnes v. Ricks (04-CV-0391 (LES/DEP)) (657271)
- Trial Briefs (Plaintiff)
- Trial Briefs (Defense)