NEW YORK — Governor Eliot Spitzer has announced several appointments to the New York State Commission on Sentencing Reform.

The commission was established by Executive Order 10 to conduct a full review of the state’s sentencing structure and practices. Chaired by Denise O’Donnell, commissioner of the Division of Criminal Justice Services, the commission has 11 members. By virtue of their offices, the commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services and the chairs of the Board of Parole and the Crime Victims Board will also serve on the Commission. The governor is required to appoint three members independently, and four additional members based upon the recommendations of the four legislative leaders.

To date, the governor has appointed five people to the commission: Anthony Bergamo, Michael C. Green, Michael P. McDermott, Judge Juanita Bing Newton and Cyrus Vance, Jr.

Anthony Bergamo, Esq., is vice chairman of MB Real Estate, chief executive officer of Niagara Falls Redevelopment LLC, and managing director of the Milstein Hotel Group. He also serves as special counsel to the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State PBA Local 123, and the New York Organization of Narcotics Enforcers. From 1991 to 1996, Bergamo served as the Independent Fiduciary for the Southern District, Federal District Court, and president and chief operating officer of Custom Shop Shirtmaker from 1979 to 1991. He received his J.D. from New York Law School.

Michael C. Green is the district attorney in Monroe County. He was elected in 2003, after serving as an assistant district attorney for 17 years, including three years as the first deputy district attorney, responsible for homicide prosecutions. He has also served as the Capital Crimes Prosecutor in Monroe County, deputy chief of the Major Felony Bureau, chief of the DWI Bureau and trial attorney in the Major Felony Bureau.

Michael P. McDermott is of counsel to the Albany law firm of O’Connell and Aronowitz. He was chief assistant district attorney in the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. He was previously a partner at the Albany law firm of Bouck, Holloway, Kiernan and Casey. He has also served as chief assistant district attorney in the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office and assistant district attorney in the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. He graduated from Albany Law School of Union University, where he was editor of the Albany Law Review.

Judge Juanita Bing Newton has served as administrative judge of the Criminal Court of the City of New York since 2003 and as the New York State Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives since 1999.

She was an acting state Supreme Court Justice for eight years and was appointed to the position of Administrative Judge of New York County Supreme Court in 1995, becoming the first African American woman in New York State to hold this position. From 1995 to 2000, Judge Newton served on the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. She was previously executive director and general counsel of the New York State Sentencing Guidelines Committee. She graduated from Northwestern University and the Columbus School of Law of the Catholic University of America.

Cyrus Vance Jr. is currently a principal at the law firm of Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason, Anello & Bohrer, P.C. Originally from New York City, Vance co-founded a Seattle, Washington, litigation firm, McNaul Ebel Helgren & Vance. During this time he also served as an adjunct professor of law at Seattle University School of Law teaching trial advocacy. By gubernatorial appointment, he served on the Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission, advising the Governor and legislature on issues pertaining to state sentencing policies. He was also appointed as a Special Assistant Attorney General to represent the state in investigations and litigation. Prior to moving to Seattle, Mr. Vance was an assistant district attorney with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

Members of the Commission on Sentencing Reform will not receive salaries.

© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
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