Founded in 1893, the New York Criminal & Civil Courts Bar Association has been accurately described in the Congressional Record as a "crusading bar association when others were straightlaced and never involved in controversy."
Beginning four decades ago when the Association caused the filing of anti-segregation petitions in Alabama courts and the "K.K.K." threatened to kill Robert Daru, then our Justice Committee counsel, to the freeing of a man who had spent 7 years in Sing Sing Prison for a forgery he did not commit, the Association and its membership has always been undaunted and courageous in exposing injustices in the American body politic.
Whether in the fight against injustice, protection of lawyers' economic status, maintenance of the highest standards of professional ethics and craftsmanship, screening of judicial candidates, improvement of courts and court rules, the Assocation has insisted upon a total commitment to its objectives.
In the aftermath of the "Watergate Travesty," the Association has reviewed, studied and issued an authoritative and comprehensive report concerning the apparently illegal and improper impeachment of New York State Governor William Sulzer in 1913. It has recommended his vindication by the State Legislature.
Equally important, however, to the main goal of the Committee on Justice is the appointment of a commission to review and reconstruct the present Federal and State Impeachment procedures so as to avoid politically-inspired removal of duly-elected high officials by non-reviewable legislative fiat.
The personnel for these and other important tasks will come from the ranks of the Assocation. You are invited to join with us and take an active part in our work.
