On the morning of Thursday, August 4, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy announced the appointment of Terence L. Kindlon to serve as acting Albany County public defender. Kindlon joined the county in June as senior counsel and director of training for attorneys working for Albany County. He has practiced as a criminal defense lawyer in Albany since 1974.
“County Executive McCoy has pledged to put the public defender on a level playing field with the district attorney,” said Kindlon, who began his career as an assistant public defender, before entering private practice in the late 70s. “Indigent criminal defense has emerged as one of the most important civil rights issues of the 21st Century. Equal protection of the law has meaning only when the least powerful among us are as zealously and effectively defended as the most powerful. We are beginning a process designed to upgrade and modernize the Albany County public defender’s office to make it a powerful, respected force in the criminal justice system.”
Throughout his legal career, Kindlon has received a number of awards, including: the New York State Defenders Association Service of Justice Award; the New York State Bar Association’s David S. Michaels Memorial Award for Courageous Efforts in Promoting Integrity in the Criminal Justice System; the Thurgood Marshall Unity Award by the NAACP Oneonta Area Branch; the Disabled American Veterans Certificate of Appreciation for the DAV Vietnam Veterans Outreach Program; and a Commendation from the Veterans Administration Vet Center for Legal Assistance. He has also received the Martindale Hubble AV rating (highest ratings for Legal Ability and General Ethical Standards) and has been selected for inclusion in “New York Super Lawyers” for the past several years.
A founding member of at the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Kindlon also lectures for that group, as well as for the Criminal Justice Section of the New York State Bar Association.
“Terry is one of the area’s most highly respected attorneys,” said McCoy. “When I asked him to join our staff to assist with guiding and training two months ago, it was because of his tremendous knowledge, skill and experience. I am thrilled Terry has accepted the position of acting public defender and will provide the leadership needed in this important role.”
Kindlon is replacing Director of Albany County’s Regional Immigration Assistance Center and former Public Defender Jim Milstein, who has been serving as Acting Public Defender since June.
