WASHINGTON, DC – FWD.us President Todd Schulte issued the following statement today as Governor Andrew Cuomo signed bill S.2412-D/A.5285-C, which will establish the first State Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct in the nation:

“We commend Governor Cuomo for signing (S.2412-D/A.5285-C), a bipartisan bill to establish the nation’s first State Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct. This legislation, championed by Senator John DeFrancisco and Assemblymember Nick Perry and passed by an overwhelming majority by both chambers in June, is a good and necessary law that will create an independent commission to ensure that prosecutors are held accountable to all of us.

“This is an important step to add more government transparency and oversight, a positive development when it comes to questions of justice, safety, and liberty. Too often, prosecutors go unchecked and that unchecked power drives too many of the bad outcomes in our criminal justice system.

“We applaud Governor Cuomo, Senator DeFrancisco, and Assemblymember Perry for their leadership on prosecutorial reform.”