Thompson appoints attorneys to review contested convictions
Kings County District Attorney Kenneth P. Thompson on Friday announced the appointment of three attorneys to assist in evaluating the cases involving allegations of unlawful convictions. The three attorneys, Bernard W. Nussbaum, Jennifer G. Rodgers and Gary S. Villanueva, will consult with the Conviction Review Unit (“CRU”), which has recently been expanded and reorganized.
Thompson said, “I wish to thank these distinguished members of the bar for volunteering their services in this pursuit of justice. Their combined experience and uncompromising integrity will prove invaluable in my office’s efforts to meticulously examine available evidence in order to right wrongs or confirm convictions. My ultimate goal is to ensure that the people of Brooklyn have faith in the fairness of our criminal justice system.”
The panel will meet on an as-needed basis with the District Attorney’s Office and review findings of individual cases that have been investigated by the CRU. They will advise on a range of issues, including whether a conviction should stand, needs additional review or should possibly be overturned.