MBAWNY Task Force Co-Chairs
J. Miles Gresham, Samantha White, & John Elmore
Updates
MBAWNY’s Criminal Justice Task Force and the Enactment of the Right to Know Law
The Minority Bar Association of WNY Criminal Justice Reform Task Force has worked with community stakeholders over the last year to provide impactful, common-sense recommendations for policing reforms. One of those reforms is the Right to Know Law, which has been enacted in New York City and Syracuse. Taking inspiration from these versions, as well as the demands and gains of activists during last year's uprising, the MBAWNY Criminal Justice Reform Task Force drafted the first version of the Right to Know Law for Buffalo and provided extensive input regarding the final version. The Right to Know Law that is now in effect is the most robust one in New York State. Now that the law has been passed by the Common Council and signed by Mayor Brown, the Buffalo City Code and Charter will be amended to require police to provide the public with notice of the reasons behind their encounters with the Buffalo Police Department (BPD), as well as information on how to file a complaint. This law will also require police to record most interactions with civilians, and will require them to obtain affirmative consent for searches in most situations. Overall, the law is also designed to increase transparency in police practices and restore trust between the BPD and the community.
Miles Gresham, Co-Chair of the MBAWNY’s Criminal Justice Task Force
Shatorah Donovan, City of Buffalo’s Chief Diversity Office; John Elmore, Co-Chair of MBAWNY CJTF; Darius Pridgen, Common Council President; Samantha White, Co-Chair of MBAWNY CJTF; Anna Richmond, Member of MBAWNY CJTF, Rev Marc Blue, President Buffalo Branch NAACP.
John Elmore, Co-Chair of the MBAWNY’s Criminal Justice Task Force
The Bar Association of Erie County (BAEC) grants the Criminal Justice Task Force the Liberty Bell Award!
The Bar Association of Erie County has awarded the Liberty Bell award to MBAWNY’s Criminal Justice Task Force for their commitment to public service and contributions to the legal community!
John Elmore, Samantha White, and Miles Gresham, Co-Chairs of the MBAWNY Criminal Justice Task Force accepting the BAEC Liberty Bell Award
Endorsements and Partners
MBAWNY Task Force Members
Co-Chair John V. Elmore, Esq.
The Law Offices of John V. Elmore, Esq.
Past President of the MBAWNY
Co-Chair Samantha I.V. White, Esq.
Staff Attorney at Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc.
MBAWNY 2022 Vice President/ 2023 President-Elect
Co-Chair J. Miles Gresham, Esq.
Policy Advisor, Partnership for the Public Good
Free the People WNY Representative
Alexandra Harrington, Esq.
Associate Professor, UB School of Law
Director of the Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic
Director of the Innocence & Justice Project
Anna Marie Richmond, Esq.
The Law Office of Anna Marie Richmond
Civil and Constitutional Rights Litigator
BAEC Delagate Task Force Member
Leah Halton-Pope
Senior Advisor for NYS Assembly Majority Leader Crystal People's Stokes
Buffalo Branch NAACP 3rd Vice President.
Linwood Roberts, Esq.
Criminal Defense Attorney
UB School of Dental Medicine: Associate Director of Community Relations
