Independent Review Committee for Nominations to the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government

The following law deans comprise the Indepenedent Review Committee:

Horace Anderson
Dean and Professor of Law
Pace University Elizabeth Haub School of Law

S. Todd Brown
Dean and Professor of Law
University at Buffalo School of Law

Cinnamon P. Carlarne
President and Dean, Professor of Law
Albany Law School

Anthony W. Crowell, IRC Chair
Dean and President, Professor of Law
New York Law School

Jelani Jefferson Exum
Dean and Professor of Law
St. John’s University School of Law

Joseph Landau
Dean and Professor of Law
Fordham University School of Law

Elena Langan
Dean and Professor of Law
Touro University, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center

Terence J. Lau
Dean and Professor of Law
Syracuse University College of Law

Melanie Leslie
Dean and Professor of Law
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University

Daniel Abebe
Dean and Professor of Law
Columbia University School of Law

Troy McKenzie
Dean and Professor of Law
New York University School of Law

David D. Meyer
President and Dean, Professor of Law
Brooklyn Law School

Jens David Ohlin
Dean and Professor of Law
Cornell University School of Law

Jenny Roberts
Dean and Professor of Law
Hofstra University Maurice A. Deane School of Law

Sudha Setty
Dean and Professor of Law
City University of New York School of Law

The IRC has developed a rigorous pre-nomination process that requires nominating elected officials to assess a broad array of critical information, including professional experience, findings from a thorough background check, and results of a twenty-one-day public comment period on their proposed nominee to help determine the qualifications, suitability, and fitness of the candidates they will nominate. When the nominating elected officials have reviewed and considered this information, they make an informed choice of whether or not to formally nominate the candidate to the IRC for review.

After the IRC receives a formal nomination of a candidate, it reviews the candidate’s professional experience and full history, background investigation findings, public comments, check references as needed, and conducts a personal interview with them. The IRC then has the sole responsibility to determine whether or not to confirm the nominee for appointment. The nominating elected officials and their staffs are not able to communicate with the IRC members about their nominee, except in writing to the IRC Chair, while the nominee is formally being considered. If a nominee is not confirmed, the nominating elected official is notified in writing by the IRC, and must identify and submit a new nominee for review pursuant to the same process.

Here are the official procedures of the Independent Review Committee (updated August 2024).

Development and Implementation of the IRC's Procedures

The IRC’s procedures were developed independently and exclusively by the members of the IRC. Once they were drafted, the IRC advised counsel to the nominating elected officials, as well as good government groups from throughout the state, on what the procedures require. The IRC’s work will be supported by the State Police and the Office of General Services (“OGS”) which will undertake the background investigation process.

OGS has assigned an attorney with relevant investigative expertise to serve as a confidential liaison to the nominating elected officials and the IRC, and who will coordinate an efficient and timely background check process. The attorney will provide access to all information in the background investigation records as needed by the IRC. The IRC also will maintain contact with staff from the new Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government for limited administrative purposes and to coordinate public information and education efforts.

Proposed nominees will have 10 days to complete their background investigation forms, releases, and fingerprinting and submit them to the State. The State Police and OGS will then have 21 days to complete the background investigation, and report findings to the nominating elected officials. Once a formal nomination is received by the IRC, the Deans will have up to 30 days to determine whether or not to confirm the nominee.

Candidates who are formally nominated for appointment will be asked to complete the pre-interview questionnaire and submit it to the Independent Review Committee in advance of their formal interview.

Candidates for reappointment must complete the Candidate Reappointment Questionnaire 2024.

As stewards of a profession built on the highest ethical and professional standards, the Deans’ work as members of the IRC is conducted as transparently, independently, and objectively as possible under the law. Accordingly, the IRC provides up-to-date information on this website concerning its procedures, activities, and other news.

The following address is the means by which the public can communicate with the IRC in writing, including making requests pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law: [email protected]. Such requests shall be made to the IRC’s Records Access Officer Matthew Gewolb, IRC Alternate Representative.

Under the Procedures established by the Independent Review Committee (IRC), elected officials making appointments to the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government are required to make public the names of their proposed nominees and solicit public comment before making a formal nomination to the IRC. Press Releases containing the names of proposed nominees can be found below. The public may make comments directly to each elected official as provided for in the press releases.

Independent Review Committee of New York’s 15 Law Deans Approves Renomination of Michael Cardozo to the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government September 9, 2024

Governor Hochul Announces Renomination for the Commission on Ethics in Lobbying and Government August 19, 2024

Independent Review Committee of New York’s 15 Law Deans Approves Nomination of James Caras to the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government August 19, 2024

Governor Hochul Announces Nominee for the Commission on Ethics in Lobbying and Government July 3, 2024

Remarks of IRC Anthony Crowell Before the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government March 29, 2023

Summary of Activities of the Independent Review Committee of New York’s 15 Law Deans March 28, 2023

Independent Review Committee Of New York’s Law Deans Announces Release of Summary of Activities Report March 28, 2023

Independent Review Committee of New York’s Law Deans Confirms Nomination to the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government February 15, 2023

Attorney General James Announces Nominee for the Commission on Ethics in Lobbying and Government January 23, 2023

Independent Review Committee of New York’s 15 Law Deans Confirms Two Nominations to the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government December 20, 2022

Governor Hochul Announces Nominee for the Commission on Ethics in Lobbying and Government November 23, 2022

Speaker Heastie Announces Nominee to Commission on Ethics and Lobbying September 23, 2022

Attorney General James Announces Nominee for the Commission on Ethics in Lobbying and Government July 25, 2022

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins Announces Nominees to Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government July 21, 2022

Public Comment Period Open for Speaker Heastie's Nominees to the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government July 21, 2022

Speaker Heastie Announces Nominees to Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government July 14, 2022

DiNapoli Announces Nominee for the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government July 13, 2022

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt Names Gary Lavine to New State Ethics Commission July 12, 2022

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay Announces Intention to Nominate Edward D. Carni to State’s New Ethics Oversight Panel July 8, 2022

Governor Hochul Announces Nominees for the Commission on Ethics in Lobbying and Government July 7, 2022

IRC Procedures Announced

Independent Review Committee Procedures August 2024

Independent Review Committee of New York’s Law Deans Issues Procedures To Review Nominations to the New Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government June 15, 2022