General Qualifications for 18-B Criminal Panels

2. Each applicant must maintain a business office where he/she can receive and interview clients and witnesses.

3. Each applicant must either live or maintain an office in Nassau County.

4. Applicants to the various panels must have the indicated number of years of experience in practice at the Bar. This does not mean admission to the Bar but actual practice.

a. District Court
(Including Glen Cove and Long Beach Court) 1 Year
b. County Court 4 Years
c. Major Felony Panel 5 Years

5. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an applicant may gain admission to the County Court or Major Felony panel, with fewer than the stated years of experience, if the Assigned Counsel Screening Committee, in conjunction with the Assigned Counsel Administrator, determine that said applicant's prior criminal experience in a District Attorney's office, Legal Aid Society or Public Defenders Office warrants such admission.

6. Notwithstanding any other provision of these general qualifications or of the specific qualifications for the individual panels, an applicant may gain admission to any panel if he/she possesses such skills as are necessary to properly fulfill the requirements of such panel, but such admission shall be granted only by a majority vote of the Assigned Counsel Screening Committee, acting in conjunction with the Assigned Counsel Administrator.

Assigned Counsel Plan Qualifications for Admission to the 18-b Panel For the District Court (including Long Beach / Glen Cove)

Category I

1. Actual court experience in at least five criminal cases within the past 3 years involving as least:
a) Three negotiated pleas, dismissals or other non-trial disposition.
b) Two litigated motions in which oral testimony was taken and a decision rendered.
c) One jury trial which proceeded to verdict and one bench trial or two jury trials.

2. Applicant must submit names of the following references:
a) Two judges before whom applicant has conducted a litigated motion or trial.
b) Two trials or hearing adversaries.
c) Two co-counsels whit whom applicant has handled criminal cases, or attorneys who are familiar whit applicant's work through actual in-court observation.

Category II

1. Appearance in court as co-counsel within the last three years with an experienced criminal lawyer on at least ten criminal cases involving at least:

a) Five negotiated pleas, dismissals or other non-trial dispositions.
b) Two litigated motions in which oral testimony was taken and a decision rendered.
c) Two jury trials which proceeded to verdict or one bench trail and one jury trial.

2. Applicant has completed an intensive course in criminal law and procedure which has been approved by the Assigned Counsel Administrator.

3. Applicant must submit names of each of the following references:
a) The attorneys with whom the applicant appeared as co-counsel.
b) Two judges before whom applicant appeared as co-counsel.
c) Two attorneys familiar with applicant's ability and knowledge.

Category III

1. Exceptional trial advocate on non-criminal matters who has had at least five jury trials, in any area of law, within the past three years.

2. Participate in Mentor Program.

3. Appearance in Criminal Court as co-counsel with an experienced criminal lawyer, three negotiated pleas, dismissals or other non trial dispositions, one litigated motion and one jury trial.

4. Applicant can demonstrate knowledge in criminal law and procedure by having taken an approved intensive course.

5. Applicant must submit manes of the following references:

a) Three judges before whom applicant has conducted jury trials.
b) Three trial adversaries.
c) Three attorneys familiar with applicants ability and knowledge.

Category IV

A former judge of the District Court, County Court, Criminal Court or Supreme Court (Criminal Term) who has recently retired or voluntarily resigned from the bench.

Qualifications for Admission to 18-b Panel Of the County Court

Category I
1. Actual court experience in at least 15 (fifteen) criminal cases within five years, involving at least:
a) Ten negotiated pleas, dismissals or other non-trial dispositions, at least five of which occurred post-indictment:
b) Three litigated motions, post-indictment in which oral testimony was taken and a disposition rendered;
c) three post-indictment jury trials which proceeded to verdict or appearance as co-counsel on one post-indictment jury trial which proceeded to verdict and two appearances as sole counsel on post-indictment jury trial; or the trial of eight (8) misdemeanor cases that proceeded to verdict, at least six (6) of which were jury trials.

2. Applicant must submit names of each of the following references:
a) Each judge before whom applicant appeared as either trial counsel or co-counsel in post-indictment jury trial (up to three).
b) Each judge before whom applicant has litigated a motion. (Up to three)
c) Three trial or hearing adversaries.
d) three co-counsels with whom applicant has handled criminal cases or attorneys who are familiar with applicant's work through actual in-court observation.

Category II
A former judge of the District Court, County Court or Supreme Court (Criminal Term) who has recently retired or voluntarily resigned from the bench who receives favorable recommendations from at least 3 attorneys who have practiced before this person within the last three years.

Qualifications for Admission to 18-b Panel - Major Felonies

2. Applicant must submit names of each of the following references:
a) Five judges before whom applicant has conducted a litigated motion, hearing or trial;
b) Five trial adversaries;
c) Five co-counsels with whom applicant has handled criminal cases or attorneys who are familiar with applicant's work through actual in-court observation.

Category II
A former judge of the County Court or Supreme Court (Criminal Term) who has
recently retired or voluntarily resigned from the bench who received favorable recommendations from at least 5 attorneys who have practiced before this person within the last three years.

Appellate Panel

An attorney with a good academic background, criminal law experience, the requisite writing and verbal skills, motivations and attitude should be able to skillfully handle appellate work. Therefore, the following minimum requirements must be met:
1. Actual experience in at least ten criminal cases, on either the trial or appellate level, during the past three years;
2. A writing sample consisting of a brief, law review article or similar publication (two documents).
3. Applicant must submit manes of each of the following references to the committee:
a) Three judges before whom applicant has handled criminal matters, on either the trial or appellate level;
b) Three trial or appellate adversaries;
c) Three co-counsels with whom applicant has handled criminal cases, or attorneys familiar with applicant's work through actual in-court observations. (No cross-references permitted)

Parole Panel

Family Court Requirements:

Each applicant must have participated on at least two occasions in each of the following proceedings, either as law guardian or as a representative of the petitioner or respondent.

1. Permanent Neglect Proceeding
2. Neglect
3. Termination of Parental Rights
4. Custody/Visitation
5. Support Proceeding
6. Litigated Paternity
7. Family Offense
8. Contested Adoption

These Proceedings need not have occurred in Nassau County alone.
Each applicant must supply the Administrator with the following information as to each of the listed proceedings: Name, address and telephone number of each participating attorney; name of the Judge; type of proceeding; applicant's role in proceeding.

General Qualifications for 18b Family/surrogate's Court Panels

2. Each applicant must maintain a business office where he/she can receive and interview clients and witnesses.

3. Each applicant must either live or maintain an office in Nassau County.

4. Applicants to the Family Court panel must be members of the Law Guardian Panel for at least one year before becoming eligible to join the 18B panel.

5. Applicants to the Surrogate's Court panel must be in practice for at least 18 months handling custody/adoption matters before eligible to join the 18B panel.