Jonathan E. Gradess is Executive Director of the New York State Defenders Association (NYSDA), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality and scope of public legal representation in New York. The Association operates the nation's only state-funded Public Defense Backup Center, which serves New York's more than 5000 public defense attorneys, providing training, legal research, consultation and technical assistance. Under its contract with the State of New York, NYSDA is called upon to "…review, assess and analyze the public defense system in the State, identify problem areas and propose solutions in the form of specific recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature, the Judiciary and other appropriate instrumentalities." Mr. Gradess is also Executive Director of the New York State Defenders Justice Fund and manages its Campaign for an Independent Public Defense Commission. The Campaign, with more than 200 organizational members and over 500 individual members, seeks to establish a state public defender system.
Mr. Gradess, began his career as a paralegal, thereafter graduating cum laude in 1973 from Hofstra Law School’s charter class. He has worked as a criminal defense lawyer, a private investigator, and a law school professor. Mr. Gradess is the recipient of the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Gideon Award and the New York State Bar Association Criminal Justice Section award for Outstanding Contribution to the Delivery of Defense Services. He serves on the Restorative Justice Commission of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.