ILS Board

The nine-member Indigent Legal Services Board was established by Executive Law § 833 to monitor, study and make efforts to improve the quality of legal representation provided pursuant to Article 18-B of the County Law.  Executive Law § 833 also specifies the Board's composition and duties.

Duties of the Board

The ILS Board’s statutorily required duties include:

       • Evaluating existing indigent legal services programs and determining the type
         of indigent legal services that should be provided in New York State to best
         serve the interests of persons receiving such services.

       • Consulting with and advising the Office of Indigent Legal Services in carrying
         out the Office’s duties and responsibilities.

       • Accepting, rejecting, or modifying recommendations made by the Office of
         Indigent Legal Services regarding the allocation of funds and the awarding of
         grants, including incentive grants, from the Indigent Legal Services Fund.

       • Advising and making an annual report to the Governor, Legislature, and
         Judiciary.

Composition of the Board

The nine-member Indigent Legal Services Board is chaired by the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. The other eight Board members are appointed by the Governor as follows:

       • One on the recommendation of the Temporary President of the Senate;

       • One on the recommendation of the Speaker of the Assembly;

       • One from a list of at least three attorney nominees submitted by the New York
        State Bar Association;

       • Two from a list of at least four nominees submitted by the New York State
        Association of Counties;

       • One who shall be an attorney who has provided public defense services for at
        least five years;

       • One who shall be an attorney; and

       • One from a list of no more than two nominees submitted by the Chief
        Administrator of the Courts, each of whom shall be a judge or justice, or retired
        judge or justice, who was elected to the Supreme, County or Family court, or
        appointed to the Criminal Court or Family Court in the City of New York, and
        has substantial experience presiding as such a judge or justice in trial matters
        before such court.

Executive Law § 833 excludes from the Board active prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and anyone providing services to, or employed by, prosecutors and law enforcement officials. Member terms are for three years, members may be reappointed for additional terms, and members of the Board shall continue in such position upon the expiration of their term until such time as they are reappointed or their successor is appointed.

Members receive no compensation for their services but are allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their functions.

Board Members

Rowan D. Wilson, Chair
Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals

Diane Atkins
Director of Human Services for Westchester County

Carmen Ciparick
Greenberg, Traurig LLP
Former Senior Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals

Christopher P. DeBolt
Ontario County Administrator

Sheila DiTullio
Judge of the Erie County Court, Buffalo

Vincent E. Doyle III
Partner, Connors LLP, Buffalo

Suzette M. Melendez
Assistant Professor and Director of Children's Rights and Family Law Clinic
Syracuse University College of Law

Leonard Noisette
Program Director: Criminal Justice Fund, Open Society Foundations, US Programs
Executive Director, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (1995 - 2008)

Jill Paperno
Chief Strategy Officer, Empire Justice Center

Upcoming Board Meetings

Unless otherwise specified, quarterly meetings of the ILS Board are held at 11:00 a.m. at the New York City Bar Association, 42 West 44th Street, New York, NY. Meeting dates for the following year are typically agreed upon by the ILS Board at the December meeting.

September 20, 2024

December 13, 2024

Past Board Meetings

Documents from the quarterly Board Meetings are provided below:

September 20, 2024
Meeting Notice[pdf] 
Agenda[pdf] 
Minutes[pdf]

June 7, 2024
Agenda[pdf]
Minutes[pdf]

April 5, 2024
Meeting Notice[pdf]
Minutes[pdf]

December 8, 2023
Meeting Notice[pdf]
Agenda[pdf]
Minutes[pdf]

September 22, 2023
Meeting Notice[pdf]
Agenda[pdf]
Minutes[pdf]

June 2, 2023
Meeting Notice[pdf]
Agenda[pdf]
Minutes[pdf]

April 14, 2023
Meeting Notice[pdf]
Agenda[pdf]
Minutes[pdf]

December 2, 2022
Meeting Notice[pdf]
Agenda[pdf]
Minutes[pdf]

September 23, 2022
Agenda[pdf]
Minutes[pdf]

June 3, 2022
Minutes[pdf]

April 8, 2022
Agenda[pdf]
Minutes[pdf]
Video[mp4]

December 3, 2021
Meeting Notice[pdf]
Agenda[pdf]
Minutes[pdf]
Video[mp4]

September 24, 2021
Meeting Notice [pdf]
Minutes [pdf]
Video [mp4]

June 11, 2021
Meeting Notice [pdf]
Minutes [pdf]
Video [mp4]

April 8, 2021
Minutes [pdf]
Video [mp4]

December 4, 2020
Minutes [pdf]
Video [mp4]

September 25, 2020
Agenda and Minutes[pdf]
Video [mp4]

June 5, 2020
Minutes [pdf]
Video [mp4]

April 24, 2020
Minutes [pdf]
Video, Joined in Progress [mp4]

December 6, 2019
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

September 20, 2019
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

June 14, 2019
Agenda [pdf]

April 4, 2019
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

November 30, 2018
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

September 28, 2018
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

June 1, 2018
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

April 13, 2018
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

November 3, 2017
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

September 22, 2017
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

June 9, 2017
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

April 21, 2017
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

December 9, 2016
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

September 23, 2016
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

June 17, 2016
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

April 22, 2016
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

November 6, 2015
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

September 25, 2015
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

June 18, 2015
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

April 10, 2015
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

November 7, 2014
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

September 26, 2014
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

June 13, 2014
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

March 14, 2014
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

November 22, 2013
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

September 27, 2013
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

June 7, 2013
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

March 5, 2013
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

September 28, 2012
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

June 8, 2012
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

March 14, 2012
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

November 9, 2011
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

September 27, 2011
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

June 7, 2011
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

March 10, 2011
Agenda and Minutes [pdf]

Annual Reports

Annual Report - 2023 [pdf]
Annual Report - 2022 [pdf]
Annual Report - 2021 [pdf]
Annual Report - 2020 [pdf]
Annual Report - 2019 [pdf]
Annual Report - 2018 [pdf]
Annual Report - FY 2016-2017) [pdf]
Annual Report - FY 2015-2016) [pdf]
Annual Report - FY 2014-2015) [pdf]
Annual Report - FY 2013-2014) [pdf]
Annual Report - FY 2012-2013) [pdf]
Annual Report - FY 2011-2012) [pdf]