Honors and Awards

      Dybwad Humanitarian Award of American Association on Mental Retardation, 2004. For work in exponerating Virginia Death row inmate Earl Washington. 

      Public Interest Litigations

            Representative public interest litigations for which I have had primary responsibility include a challenge to the constitutionality of the prisoner exchange treaty between the United States and Mexico; collateral attacks on death penalties imposed in Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Virginia, two of which resulted in gubernatorial clemencies; the defense of two multimillion dollar libel actions; the representation of a literary agent claiming a First Amendment privilege against disclosure of his client's projects; a number of lawsuits under the Freedom of Information Act; claims on behalf of prisoners seeking damages for illegal arrests, searches, convictions and sentences; and a suit to nullify discriminatory zoning conditions imposed on a group home.     

      Commercial Litigations

            My private sector experience includes representations and expert testimony before state and federal trial and appellate courts and administrative agencies in connection with a variety of civil and criminal matters ranging from complex antitrust, bankruptcy, commodities, real estate, entertainment, and international controversies to straightforward matrimonial and contract disputes.

      Consulting

         I am extensively involved in providing counsel to others in my fields of expertise. In the death penalty and habeas corpus areas, I actively advise attorneys, contribute to amicus briefs, provide expert testimony, organize and appear on educational programs for lawyers and judges, and have testified before Congress.  I regularly teach litigation-oriented continuing legal education courses for such organizations as the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the Practising Law Institute.  I have also submitted extensive written and oral testimony to Congress on whether a sitting President may be indicted.

      Professional Affiliations

      Member, Board of Directors, National Coalition Against Censorship, 2002 - present.
      Member, Executive Committee, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 2001 - present.
      Member, American Law Institute, 2000 - present.
      Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 1998 - present.
      Member, Communications Law Committee, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 1998 - 2001, 1994 - 1995, 1982 - 1985.
      Chair, Civil Rights Committee, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 1995 - 1998.  Member, 1985 - 1988, 1989 - 1992. Wrote: Military Restrictions on Press Coverage: The Unacceptability of the Pentagon's Policies During the Persian Gulf Conflict, 46 Rec. Assoc. Bar 843 (1991), reprinted at 23 U. Toledo L.R. 421 (1992); Legislative Modification of Habeas Corpus in Capital Cases, 44 Rec. Assoc. Bar 848 (1989); Free Public Debate and the Espionage Acts, 42 Rec. Assoc. Bar 215 (1987).
      Member, Committee on Legal History, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 1996 - 1998.
      Member, Committee on Capital Punishment, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 1994 - 2001.
      Member, Committee on Lectures and Continuing Education, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 1992 - 1994.
      Chairperson, Communications Media Committee, American Civil Liberties Union, 1990 - 1992.  Member, 1981 - 1989.  Secretary, 1976 - 1977. 
      Member, Board of Directors, Initiative for Public Interest Law at Yale, 1985 - 1989.