Public Defenders Threaten Strike That Could Disrupt Brooklyn And Queens Criminal Courts

BROOKLYN, NY— Hundreds of attorneys and legal staff at Brooklyn Defender Services could walk off the job after union members overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike, escalating a labor dispute that could disrupt criminal courts in Brooklyn and Queens.

Members of the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys at Brooklyn Defender Services approved the strike authorization Monday, about one week after their labor contract with the nonprofit expired.

The vote gives union leaders the authority to call a strike with little notice if negotiations fail to produce an agreement.

About 96 percent of participating union members voted in favor of authorizing a strike, according to the union.

Representatives presented the results to BDS management during a bargaining session Tuesday.

No strike date has been announced.

Why Are Public Defenders Considering A Strike?

The union is seeking higher wages, stronger health insurance benefits and more flexibility for remote work, among other contract demands.

Brian Holbrook, vice president for communications for the union, said members hope to avoid a walkout but believe the strike authorization is needed to pressure management during negotiations.

“We just have not seen the kind of offers from management that would tell us a strike is off the table,” Holbrook told the Eagle. “We need management to know the seriousness of the situation.”

Brooklyn Defender Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

How Could A Strike Affect Court Cases?

Brooklyn Defender Services represents people who cannot afford private attorneys in criminal, immigration and family court cases across Brooklyn and Queens.

The organization employs about 500 attorneys, along with additional legal support staff. A work stoppage could affect thousands of clients who rely on public defenders for representation.

The union warned that a strike could disrupt operations at courthouses throughout the two boroughs, though it said its goal remains reaching a deal without a walkout.

What Other Legal Aid Groups Are Facing Similar Disputes?

Brooklyn Defender Services is one of several public defense organizations facing contract negotiations after agreements expired June 30.

Other organizations represented by the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys, UAW Local 2325, include:

• Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem
• Bronx Defenders
• Center for Family Representation
• Catholic Migration Services

Together, the organizations employ more than 1,000 attorneys and legal aid workers.

The disputes center on similar issues, including wages and health care benefits.

The labor tensions come as New York City’s public defense system faces broader uncertainty.

Brooklyn Defender Services also absorbed about 120 employees from Queens Defenders last year after the organization’s former executive director, Lori Zeno, was removed and later arrested on fraud charges.

Meanwhile, about 1,000 attorneys at the Legal Aid Society, the city’s largest legal nonprofit, are negotiating a new contract, adding another layer of uncertainty for public defense services across New York City.

For now, court operations continue while negotiations remain ongoing. The union has not set a strike deadline.