Pro Bono

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.

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 pro bono honor roll can be accessed via the following link: http://www.nynd.uscourts.gov/probono

The resources below are intended to assist attorneys in pro bono legal matters in the Northern District of New York.

Looking for the 2022 Pro Bono CLE Materials Packet? The course materials can be found here.

Pro Bono Training CLE

SAVE THE DATE: Pro Bono Training CLE 2023: 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 (10/4) and Syracuse (10/5). Limited seating is available. Register today for Albany or Syracuse.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

General
Cases of Interest
Excessive Force
Due Process
Medical Indifference
Religion
Retaliation
Deliberate Indifference for Safety & Failure to Protect

GENERAL

Communications with Client
- Retainer Letter (745394)
- Disengagement Letter (911959)
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
- Walker, III v. Briggs; Simonelli; and Kaczor (89-CV-1432 (GJD)) (854094)
Writ of Habeas Corpus Forms (Issued By Court)
Letter Requests
- Keith A. Silvera – Letter requesting certification of exhibits (854089)
- Keith A. Silvera – Letter requesting telephone conference (854091)
Pre-Trial Stipulations
- Silvera v. Burge, Withers, Chutty, Calescibetta, Spicer, and Pidlypchak (9:02-CV-882-NAM-GJD)) (854096)
Motions In Limine
Voir Dire – Plaintiff
Voir Dire – Defendant
Judgment
- Selton v. Mitchell, Rizzo, Woodard, Smith (9:2004-CV-00989(LEK/RFT)) (750558)

CASES OF INTEREST

Whitfield v. O’Connell (Second Circuit Summary on Deliberate Indifference to Medical Needs)

EXCESSIVE FORCE

Jury Charges (Plaintiff)
- Selton v. Mitchell; Rizzo; Woodard; and Smith (9:04-CV-0989(LEK/RFT)) (692648)
Jury Charges (Defense)
- Selton v. Mitchell; Rizzo; Woodard; and Smith (9:04-CV-0989(LEK/RFT)) (692303) (904613)
Jury Charges (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)) (985183)
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)) (985185)
- Selton v. Mitchell; Rizzo; Woodard; and Smith (9:04-CV-0989(LEK/RFT)) (904606)
Trial Briefs (Plaintiff)
- Selton v. Mitchell; Rizzo; Woodard; and Smith (9:04-CV-0989(LEK/RFT)) (692645)
Trial Briefs (Defense)
- Selton v. Mitchell; Rizzo; Woodard; and Smith (9:04-CV-0989(LEK/RFT)) (904614)/li>

DUE PROCESS

Jury Charges (Plaintiff)
Jury Charges (Defense)
Jury Charges (Used By Court)
- Brodie v. Mann, Freer, and Selsky (9:95-CV-1537(FJS/DEP)) (985186)
Jury Verdict Sheet (Used By Court)
Trial Briefs (Plaintiff)
- Walker, III v. City of Utica, et al. (89-CV-1432 (GJD)) (854101)
Trial Briefs (Defense)

MEDICAL INDIFFERENCE

Jury Charges (Plaintiff)
- Thompson v. Burge; Goord; and Cayne (02-CV-394) (880282)
- Brito v. Hollins; Burge; Moss; Ahsan; and Driscoll (9:02-CV-1410 (FJS/RFT)) (904627)
Jury Charges (Defense)
- Thompson v. Burge; Goord; and Cayne (02-CV-394) (904620)
- Brito v. Hollins; Burge; Moss; Ahsan; and Driscoll (9:02-CV-1410 (FJS/RFT)) (904621)
Jury Charges (Used By Court)
- Brito v. Hollins; Burge; Moss; Ahsan; and Driscoll (9:02-CV-1410 (FJS/RFT)) (985199)
Jury Verdict Sheet (Used By Court)
- Thompson v. Burge; Goord; and Cayne (02-CV-394) (904618)
- Brito v. Hollins; Burge; Moss; Ahsan; and Driscoll (9:02-CV-1410 (FJS/RFT)) (985200)
Trial Briefs (Plaintiff)
- Thompson v. Burge; Goord; and Cayne (02-CV-394) (880279)
Trial Briefs (Defense)
- Brito v. Hollins; Burge; Moss; Ahsan; and Driscoll (9:02-CV-1410 (FJS/RFT)) (904625)

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)
- Rosales v. Quinn, Giannotta, Pfleuger, Martens, and Calhoun (9:03-CV-601-LES/RFT) (854099)
- Vaughn v. Nichols; Goord; Prosser; Abbis; Batista; and Selsky (9:02-CV-1512-LES/GJD) (854098)
Jury Charges (Defense)
Jury Charges (Used By Court)
- Brito v. Hollins; Burge; Moss; Ahsan; and Driscoll (9:02-CV-1410 (FJS/RFT)) (985201)
Jury Verdict Sheet (Plaintiff)
- Silvera v. Burge, Withers, Chutty, Calescibetta, Spicer, and Pidlypchak (9:02-CV-882-GLS-GJD) (854084)
Jury Verdict Sheet (Used By Court)
- Brito v. Hollins; Burge; Moss; Ahsan; and Driscoll (9:02-CV-1410 (FJS/RFT)) (985203)
- Vaughn v. Nichols; Goord; Prosser; Abbis; Batista; and Selsky (9:02-CV-1512-LES/GJD) (985241)
Trial Briefs (Plaintiff)
- Vaughn v. Nichols, Goord, Prosser, Abbis, Batista, and Selsky (9:02-CV-1512-LES/GJD) (854106)
- Rosales v. Quinn, Giannotta, Pfleuger, Martens, and Calhoun (9:03-CV-601-LES/RFT) (854102)
Trial Briefs (Defense)
- Rosales v. Quinn, Giannotta, Pfleuger, Martens, and Calhoun (9:03-CV-601-LES/RFT) (985236)
- Vaughn v. Nichols; Goord; Prosser; Abbis; Batista; and Selsky (9:02-CV-1512-LES/GJD) (985243)

DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE FOR SAFETY & FAILURE TO PROTECT