To inquiry about interviews & for more information contact press@queensdefenders.org

RECENT NEWS

‘Busy and quick’: A peek into the life of a public defender in NYC
PIX11 | May 2022
Queens Defenders Director of Special Projects Kirlyn Joseph gives an interview regarding the life & role of a Public Defender

Saying No to Sexual Assault
The Rockaway Times | May 2022
Queens Defenders supported Denim Day by marching through Far Rockaway with the community to commit to ending sexual assault and gender-based violence.

Queens Attorneys Call for Changes to Family Court
Queens Daily Eagle | April 2022
Queens Defenders and other Organizations call on Albany to address their Family Court legislative priorities for 2022

K.C. Chiang Joins Olshan as Partner: And other announcements of recent hirings and promotions of New York attorneys.
New York Law Journal | April 2022
Queens Defenders promotes Lisa Saltzman to Director of Training

Queens needs the money: QBP hears budget needs throughout borough
Queens Daily Eagle | March 2022
Executive Director Lori Zeno gives testimony advocating for year-round youth programming and less policing of youth at the Queens Borough Budget Hearing.

Head of Queens Defenders reacts to Adams’ plan to tackle gun violence
WCBS-AM | January 2022
Queens Defenders Executive Director Lori Zeno comments on Mayor Adams’ Gun Violence Blueprint. 

What public defenders want from Albany next year
Spectrum News New York | December 2021
The Public Defenders organizations that represent New York City release their 2022 legislative agenda.

CLIENT & LEGAL SERVICES

A Woman Created the Public Defender Role. Jackson Could Bring That Experience to the High Court.
The Washington Post | March 2022
As mentioned in this article Queens Defenders is one of four New York Public Defenders Organization with Strong Women in their leadership.

NYC’s mayor is a former NYPD captain. This is his plan to combat gun violence in the city
CNN | January 2022
Queens Defenders and other Public Defenders organizations comment on Mayor Adams’ Gun Violence Blueprint. 

Queens DA Awards Grants to Community Organizations to Provide Youth Crime Prevention Program
Queens Post | November 2021
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz includes Far Rockaway Community Justice Center for the Community Youth Development and Crime Prevention Project. 

Hochul signs the Less is More Act
Queens Chronicle | September 2021
Queens Defenders Executive Director Lori Zeno comments on Governor Hochul signing the Less is More Act.

Queens DA Calls For Courts To Toss Thousands Of Marijuana Cases
Gothamist | June 2021
Managing Director Hettie Powell is quoted about what the dismissal of these cases means for convicted individuals.

City’s Jail Population Rises After Bail Reform Gets A Rewrite
WNYC (Gothamist) | December 2020
Queens Defenders managing director Hettie Powell is quoted speaking on the issue of bail reform.

Rise of the Queens Defenders
Queens Daily Eagle | January 2020
In January 2020 Queens Law Associates rebranded to become Queens Defenders.

PROGRAMMING

#BreakTheBias
The Rockawave | March 2022
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Queens Defenders hosted a Multicultural Celebration, where hundreds of women received special gift bags that contained clothing and other items. 

Brooklyn45 Interview with Oral “Nick” Hilary and Mani Tafari on Justice456
Brooklyn45 | August 2021
Interview with Attorney Mani Tafari & Education Specialist Oral “Nick” Hilary on the creation of Queens Defenders’ Justice456 Program.

Queens Defenders launch program to teach kids about their rights
Queens Daily Eagle | July 2021
Interview with Attorney Mani Tafari & Education Specialist Oral “Nick” Hilary introduce Queens Defenders’ Justice456 Program, designed to teach students about their constitutional rights provided by the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendment.

Know the power of 4th, 5th and 6th Amendments
AMNY | May 2021
Interview with Attorney Mani Tafari & Education Specialist Oral “Nick” Hilary on the creation of Queens Defenders’ Justice456 Program

COMMUNITY SERVICES & ADVOCACY

NYC’s First Net Zero Community Brings Housing to Storm-Ravaged Neighborhood
Bloomberg | March 2022
Brandon Jeffries, Director of Youth Programming, is quoted in this article about the upcoming Arverne East Development that will be in Far Rockaway. 

Queens BP hosts talk on cannabis legalization
Queens Daily Eagle | January 2022
Queens Defenders Director of Special Projects Kirlyn Joseph and Queens Defenders Staff Attorney Mani Tafari spoke with the Queens Borough President’s Office on the Marijuana Regulation and the Taxation Act. 

QD Community: QD is Here to Help
The Rockawave | August 2021
Director of Youth Programs Brandon Jeffries speaks about how Queens Defenders can help our community through his regular column in The Rockawave

Queens Defenders and Queens Public Library team up for reentry program
Queens Daily Eagle | November 2020
Queens Defenders & Queens Public Library partner for the “Immediate Access: Technology Re-entry Program” which will assist 75 recent parolees over the next two years with technological training.

New York City courthouses present an ‘unacceptably high risk’ for contracting Covid-19, report says
CNN | October 2020
CrowdRX Report shows the lack of safety in the New York City Courts including quotes from Executive Director Lori Zeno

New Justice Center Brings Community Court to Rockaways
WNYC | May 2020
Rockaway Community Justice Center where Queens Defenders mission of restorative justice can be served.

Exclusive Look Inside Queens’ First Community Justice Center
NY1 | May 2020
Rockaway Community Justice Center opens in Rockaways.

From Client to Staff, Queens Teen Pivots From Prison Path
The City | January 2020
Queens Defenders mission of restorative justice is shared through the real success story of Fatu Kamara with her mentor and former lawyer Anthony Martone. 

LEADERSHIP

Readers sound off on Dermot Shea, elephant’s ruling and Dr. Jill Biden
New York Daily News | December 2020
Executive Director Lori Zeno responds to NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea’s comments on Bail Reform.

Safe courts are not too much to ask
New York Daily News | October 2020
Op-Ed by Executive Director Lori Zeno regarding the safety of New York City Courts

After Video Shows Apparent Chokehold, N.Y.P.D. Suspends Officer
New York Times | June 2020
Queens Defenders Executive Director Lori Zeno was quoted regarding a client who was a victim of police brutality.

Erin Burnett OutFront
CNN | June 2020
Executive Director Lori Zeno continues to advocate for Queens Defenders clients following a client experiencing police brutality. 

An archive of press releases and news can be found here.

If you are with the media and would like to receive press releases, request an interview, or obtain additional information on Queens Defenders, please contact Alora Sherbert, Manager of Development & Communications and Brian Schatz, Director of Development & Communications at press@queensdefenders.org.