James Yates
Encyclopedia
James A. Yates is an American
lawyer
and judge
from New York
. He had been appointed general counsel
to the Governor of New York
, David Paterson
, in 2008, but Yates ultimately decided to remain a judge instead. The appointment had come as a surprise, as the two are not close associates.
Yates received an A.B.
from Princeton University
in 1967 and a J.D.
from Rutgers School of Law
in 1973. He began his career as an attorney with the Legal Aid Society
in New York City
in 1973, and was one of the founders of the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
, an organization whose mission is to "ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crimes or other misconduct." He went on to serve as counsel to the New York State Assembly
Majority Leader
from 1987 to 1989, and to the Speaker of the Assembly
from 1989 to 1992. Yates taught as an adjunct professor on the faculty of the New York Law School
from 1997 to 2004, the New York University School of Law
from 1989 to 1993, the Queens College City University of New York School of Law
from 1986 to 1991, the Cardozo School of Law from 1985 to 1986, and the Pace University School of Law
in 1984.
In 1992, Yates was appointed to the New York State Court of Claims
by Governor Mario Cuomo
, and served until 1998, when he was elected to a fourteen-year term to the state's highest trial court
, the New York State Supreme Court, in New York County. On the bench, Yates was known as a liberal, and former New York City prosecutor Daniel Alonso noted that his "appointment may signal Governor Paterson's intention to adopt a progressive criminal justice agenda."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He had been appointed general counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
to the Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
, David Paterson
David Paterson
David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
, in 2008, but Yates ultimately decided to remain a judge instead. The appointment had come as a surprise, as the two are not close associates.
Yates received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1967 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Rutgers School of Law
Rutgers School of Law—Newark
Rutgers School of Law–Newark is the oldest of three law schools in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located at the S.I. Newhouse Center for Law and Justice, at 123 Washington Street, in downtown Newark...
in 1973. He began his career as an attorney with the Legal Aid Society
Legal Aid Society
The Legal Aid Society in New York City is the United States' oldest and largest provider of legal services to the indigent. It operates both traditional civil and criminal law cases.-History:...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1973, and was one of the founders of the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is an American criminal defense organization. Their stated mission is to "Ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime. Foster the integrity, independence and expertise of the criminal defense profession...
, an organization whose mission is to "ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crimes or other misconduct." He went on to serve as counsel to the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
Majority Leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
from 1987 to 1989, and to the Speaker of the Assembly
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
from 1989 to 1992. Yates taught as an adjunct professor on the faculty of the New York Law School
New York Law School
New York Law School is a private law school in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The school is located within four blocks of all major courts in Manhattan. In 2011, New York Law School...
from 1997 to 2004, the New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
from 1989 to 1993, the Queens College City University of New York School of Law
City University of New York School of Law
CUNY School of Law is a law school in New York City, founded in 1983.In 1981, CUNY hired Charles Halpern to be its founding Dean. This law school was established as a public interest law school. The curriculum integrates clinical teaching methods with traditional areas of legal study.In Spring of...
from 1986 to 1991, the Cardozo School of Law from 1985 to 1986, and the Pace University School of Law
Pace University School of Law
Pace University School of Law, known colloquially as "Pace Law School", is the law school of Pace University, a comprehensive, independent, and diversified university with campuses in New York City and Westchester County...
in 1984.
In 1992, Yates was appointed to the New York State Court of Claims
Court of Claims
The Court of Claims in the United Kingdom is a special court established after the accession of a new Sovereign to judge the validity of the claims of persons to perform certain honorary services at the coronation of the new monarch....
by Governor Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
, and served until 1998, when he was elected to a fourteen-year term to the state's highest trial court
Trial court
A trial court or court of first instance is a court in which trials take place. Such courts are said to have original jurisdiction.- In the United States :...
, the New York State Supreme Court, in New York County. On the bench, Yates was known as a liberal, and former New York City prosecutor Daniel Alonso noted that his "appointment may signal Governor Paterson's intention to adopt a progressive criminal justice agenda."