BUFFALO, NY – Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP partner Carol Heckman was re-appointed to the Merit Review Committee by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second District.  The Committee is charged with evaluating the re-appointment of Marianne Mariano as the Federal Public Defender (FPD) for the District of Western New York and whether Ms. Mariano should be appointed for third, four year term. 

The Committee interviews judges, Assistant United States Attorneys in the District of Western New York, the CJA Panel representative and CJA Panel attorneys in Buffalo and Rochester, criminal defense attorneys, court personnel including probation officers and clerks to determine the following:  the quality of the representation provided by the Defender and the office; the level of commitment and service to clients by the Defender and the office; and, the administrative efficiency of the FPD Office.

“Carol has had a very distinguished career and her re-appointment to this committee only reaffirms this,” said Kevin J. Cross, managing partner, Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman, LLP.  “We are extremely fortunate to have Carol as part of our growing team.”

“I look forward to working with my other colleagues in the legal community who also serve on the review committee as we go about our work on this assignment which we take very seriously,” Heckman said.  “The FPD Office serves a critical function in our system of jurisprudence, especially for indigent and those who rely on public defenders in our court system.”