Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced the appointment of the Hon. Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick to the New York State Indigent Legal Services Board. Judge Ciparick is currently of counsel to the international law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP and is a co-chair of the National Appellate Practice Group.

"Judge Ciparick is a well-respected member of New York's legal community. She was the first Hispanic and only the second woman to serve on the New York State Court of Appeals," said Silver. "She began her career working with those less fortunate and her extensive experience in our court system is unmatched. I am pleased she has agreed to dedicate her time to strengthening legal defense services for low-income New Yorkers."

"I was privileged to spend many years working in our court system and I have seen firsthand how inadequate legal representation can alter a defendant's life forever," said Judge Ciparick. "I look forward to working with the Indigent Legal Services Board to ensure that, regardless of income, everyone in New York has access to quality legal counsel in criminal cases."

Judge Ciparick served as senior associate judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. She was elected to the State Supreme Court in 1982 and served four years as a judge of the Criminal Court of the City of New York.

Prior to serving on the bench, she was Chief Law Assistant of the Criminal Court of the City of New York and Counsel in the Office of the New York City Administrative Judge. She was also an assistant counsel for the Judicial Conference of the State of New York and a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society of New York City.

Judge Ciparick, a graduate of St. John's University School of Law and Hunter College, will be appointed by Governor Cuomo at the recommendation of the Speaker.

The New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services, established in 2010, is charged with aiding local governments to improve the quality of legal services for those who are entitled to, but cannot afford, an attorney.