Milbank and Cardozo’s Perlmutter Center Announce Partnership to Advance Criminal Justice Reform
Milbank LLP and the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice at Cardozo Law have joined forces in a four-year partnership aimed at addressing inequities in the US criminal justice system. The focus will be on tackling wrongful convictions, excessive sentencing, and clemency. As a part of this partnership, Milbank has pledged $1 million to establish the Milbank Exoneration and Resentencing Review Unit at the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice. This initiative will bolster the Center’s ability to review the high volume of requests it receives and expand its staff. Milbank has also committed to working closely with the Center at every stage of its work.
The Perlmutter Center specializes in combatting the misuse of junk science in wrongful convictions and offers assistance to individuals with excessive sentences seeking parole and clemency. Since its inception, the Center has successfully represented four clients, including obtaining one clemency and three modifications of sentences. Moreover, it has developed strong relationships with District Attorney’s offices, as well as current and formerly incarcerated individuals. The Center is also actively involved in criminal justice policy reform work.
Milbank’s $1 million donation to the Perlmutter Center will be funded by the remaining attorneys’ fees from a settlement in a racial discrimination lawsuit. The suit, brought by Milbank and LatinoJustice PRLDEF on behalf of 21 Latinos in Suffolk County, Long Island, alleged repeated harassment, stops, and even robberies by the Suffolk County Police Department. By allocating these funds to the Perlmutter Center, Milbank aims to further its commitment to social justice.
Milbank has a track record of dedicating significant time and resources to criminal justice cases. Over the past five years, the firm’s lawyers have spent over 30,000 hours on such cases, securing dismissals of wrongful convictions, reduced sentences, compensations for wrongful imprisonment, and even parole and release for incarcerated individuals. Their collaboration with the Perlmutter Center strengthens their shared commitment to seeking justice for those who have faced mistreatment within the criminal justice system.
The partnership between Milbank and the Perlmutter Center was received with enthusiasm by Melanie Leslie, Dean of Cardozo School of Law, who expressed her happiness and highlighted the remarkable accomplishments of the Perlmutter Center in its first year. The center focuses on training students and lawyers on the proper use of scientific evidence, particularly in regards to forensic science that can contribute to wrongful convictions.
Milbank LLP is a renowned international law firm with offices around the world, serving leading commercial, financial, industrial enterprises, institutions, individuals, and governments. The Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice at Cardozo Law is supported by a $15 million grant from the Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Foundation and aims to shed light on cases deserving reconsideration for incarcerated individuals.
Through this partnership, Milbank and the Perlmutter Center are poised to make a significant impact in the fight for criminal justice reform. By addressing wrongful convictions, excessive sentencing, and advocating for clemency, the partners will contribute to a fairer and more equitable system that upholds the principles of justice for all.
