Success Stories

Jeffrey Deskovic is a 2019 Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University alumnus. Prior to law school, Jeffrey Deskovic was wrongly convicted of murder and incarcerated for sixteen years. Since his release, he has finished his bachelor's degree, earned a master's degree, started The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation For Justice, earned his law degree, passed the bar exam, became a recognized advocate in criminal justice reform circles, and much more. Jeff’s journey and graduation from law school, along with his post-law school path has been prominently featured in various media outlets.

A Q&A with Jeffrey Deskovic ’19 (with commentary by Professor Ben Gershman and Professor Robin Frankel)

Did you grow up wanting to be an attorney?

From the time that I was a teenager, I wanted to be an attorney. My mother had a personal injury attorney who I admired and this made me start thinking about becoming an attorney as a career down the road. Then, when I while I was wrongfully incarcerated, my mind went back to becoming an attorney. About three or four years prior to being exonerated, I thought, ‘if I ever get out of here, I want to become an attorney in order to help free others who are in my position.’

 After being exonerated, I received a scholarship from Mercy College to finish my education. Immediately after finishing at Mercy, I attempted to get into law school. Simply put, there was a large focus on LSAT scores and I did not do well on that specific test. I applied to 11 schools, arguing my background, the advocacy work I was doing, my undergraduate GPA, and what I wanted to do with the law degree should lead to law schools to give me a chance.  I did not get into a single school. So, from there, I went to graduate school and got a master’s degree. I also started my nonprofit, The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice, using the compensation I received from my wrongful incarceration, whose purpose is to free the wrongfully convicted and pursue policy changes aimed at preventing wrongful conviction in the first place.

How did Haub Law come into the picture?

I did a presentation at the Judicial Institute at the Law School. Afterwards, I spoke to a judge who was at the seminar in the hallway. This judge complimented the presentation I had just completed and encouraged me to apply to law school – telling me that all I was missing was the credential of a JD. It was then that I began to revisit the possibility of law school. With this encouragement, I decided to try again. I was also tired of sitting in the front row of the courtroom – we were freeing people through my foundation and I wanted to sit at the defense table and help represent the clients.

So I took a LSAT class, took the test, and did even worse on the LSAT. However, by now, law schools were taking a more holistic approach. I applied to Haub Law with the encouragement of Professor Bennett Gershman, who I had a pre-existing relationship with. Given my low score, I knew that I had to hit the ball out of the park in the interview to be admitted. Haub Law was the school I wanted to go to- it is the only law school in Westchester County. I grew up here in this county; was wrongfully convicted and exonerated here in White Plains. I do my work here. I got into an out of state law school, but though it was only four hours away, in many ways I would have had to give up my life to do so. While I was prepared to do so, it was not my preferred path. When Haub Law accepted me, it was like everything lined up exactly right. It is empowering to be an attorney- the extra credential allows me to be involved in freeing the wrongfully convicted in a more direct way, assists my policy work, and also how I regarded by my peers and elected officials.

Can you talk about some of the courses you took while at Haub Law and what role they have played in your post-law school career?

Legal Skills 1 and 2 were key. In those courses, I learned brief writing and writing memos – both objective and advocacy documents. I use all of those skills directly right now in my work. I was recently appointed to serve on the transition team for the Conviction Integrity Unit of Westchester D.A.-elect Mimi Rocah, who I previously had as an adjunct professor for two classes here at Haub Law. I have used these learned skills to draft memos on my recommendations. I am also serving on the Peekskill Police Task Force Reform committee and in that role, my experience reading case law has helped. I have to read rules and regulations so there is a direct intersection there as well. I am serving on the policy subcommittee and find myself using what I learned in administrative law regularly.

Additionally, my Foundation currently has 11 active cases where we are working on freeing 11 people. I have entered some of those cases as co-counsel. I am regularly using skills that I learned while in the defense clinic under the supervision of Professors Frankel and Dorfman, such as client interviewing and paying attention to detail.

Then, there are the additional bonus skills that I picked up in law school, such as the experience of working under a deadline and communicating with prosecutors while advocating for clients.   

What professors guided you most during your time at Haub Law?

Professor Gershman – 100% made my experience what it was – he was my everything. He was my unofficial advisor-he would check in on me, tell me what classes he thought I should take, and I was always enthusiastic about letting him know my grades. Not wanting to disappoint him was one of the many reasons that I gave 110%.

Professor Robin Frankel also. She was an extremely supportive adjunct. She came to many events when I got awards or spoke. We co-presented a CLE we designed called Tips from an Exonerated Man in Law School six times. Her imprint on my career and life is something I felt. She remains a trusted advisor in my life.

Professor Peter Widulski also used to check in on me. We would sit in hallways or have lunch in cafeteria and chat, even though I never had him for a single class!

Then, of course, Professors Michael Mushlin and David Dorfman. They each guided me in different but important ways, helping me on my journey in law school. I like to think I made significant contributions in their classroom settings as well, enhancing the educational experience for my fellow students.

I also received tremendous support from the academic success program at the law school. At certain points, my GPA was below a certain level and the school required that I take other classes as a result. While I didn’t like doing so at the time, I can unequivocally say that I would not have passed the bar exam on my first try without the extra prep those classes gave me.

Lastly, Professor Gannon went above and beyond in tutoring me- there was a stretch of approximately six weeks in a row where she came in early to work specifically to help me with Blue booking when I was completely lost. I ended up with a B+ in that class! There were many other times when she tutored me on legal research, answering other questions, using advanced features of Microsoft Word, and generally encouraging me in the Law Library, where I practically lived during my first two years in law school.

The great thing about Haub Law is that it is a school where each student receives the attention they need in order to succeed. I greatly appreciated the school allowing me to leave my imprint on it in terms of wrongful conviction. Every year we recognized Wrongful Conviction Day on Oct. 2^nd. I helped organize events and spoke at them. These were received enthusiastically.  I wrote a few articles for the student newspaper. I would forward my media coverage to the PR department. I like to think I was good to Haub Law also. I truly enjoyed participating in classroom discussion and my overall experience. I continue to stay in touch with many professors, and sometimes speak in the classes as a guest. Summed up: I am very appreciative of Haub Law giving me the opportunity to become an attorney.

Can you speak about The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice?

The Foundation has 11 active cases right now. All of the cases started out with someone in prison writing a letter alleging that they are actually innocent. We collect limited legal documents – direct appeal briefs from the defense and the prosecution, which we use for the factual section – that is our cliff notes. We get lab and police reports. We also have a questionnaire. We cross-reference the questionnaire with the factual section of the direct appeal briefs to authenticate. We consider what was used as evidence of guilt, particularly in light of known red flags in cases that have ended in exoneration. I have an intake team that reads all of this and gives me a report. Then we debate about the cases. I have read several hundred case summaries of cases that ended in exoneration from The Innocence Project’s website and from The National Registry of Exonerations, so I know the various angles and things to check. I ask questions of the case analysts who let me know if a line of reasoning might apply in that specific factual situation. We go back and forth a few times until we feel there is nothing else to know. Then we critically discuss the case, asking ourselves two questions: (1) do we believe in the applicant’s claim of innocence and (2) do we see a potential route for exoneration (which for us usually equates to a 15-20% chance of success). We also think about costs – time and financial. Then we make a hard choice – accept or pass. If we accept, we pitch the cases to lawyers – ask them to take on the cases pro boo, who carry out the legal and investigative strategies while we remain involved on the consultative level and pitching in with media and grassroots tactics.

I used some of my own funds to start the organization, but after three years I could not simply keep writing large checks. So I had to convert the organization to a volunteer entity. But I am I the process of trying to raise funds, with the end goal of again having a staff going hard at these cases and freeing as many wrongfully convicted people as possible. To date, we have freed ten people. We have also helped pass various laws and are working on a policy level too. We are constantly working on fundraising with the idea of expanding our capacity in terms of the number of cases we can take and in the number of states we can work on policy changes.

Jeff Deskovic’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Of Jeff, Professor Ben Gershman notes that: “It’s not possible to capture in words Jeff’s remarkable journey from imprisonment for sixteen years as a teenager for a crime he didn’t commit, to graduating with honors from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and then creating a legal foundation to assist other wrongfully incarcerated persons gain freedom. At a time when despair and cynicism permeate much of society, Jeff’s courage, resilience, and humanity shine through the darkness as a symbol of hope. I have watched him receive the Servant of Justice Award and have enjoyed his presentations so much.  I have seen the outpouring of support for him.”

Professor Robin Frankel recounts Jeffrey as “an inspirational storyteller with real-life lessons about what it means to be wrongfully convicted. It was a pleasure for me to join him on a citywide CLE tour entitled, “Tips From An Exonerated Man In Law School,” in which he shared these invaluable lessons with practicing criminal defense attorneys. I have accompanied Jeffrey on several speaking engagements, such as the New Rochelle High School Forensic Science Program and the Newburgh “Movies That Matter” lecture series in connection with his participation in the film, “Survivor’s Guide to Prison.”  Most importantly, I watched with pride as Jeffrey received the Servant of Justice Award for his role in the creation of the NYS Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct.  ​Jeffrey is a fighter, a role model, and a friend. I am so grateful to have him as an ally in the fight against wrongful convictions.”

Recently, students in Haub Law’s Dannat Hall residence were quarantined due to positive COVID-19 cases. The Alumni Board, led by its president, Mark Meeker, responded to outreach by Student Services to connect with the students. Working closely with Student Services and the Development team at the Law School, Mark was provided with a list of all of the students living in the residence hall along with their email addresses. Mark emailed all residents, letting them know the alumni are thinking of them and then he distributed all of the names to the Alumni Board officers and committee chairs and asked them to send an email, too. Not stopping there, the Board also funded $10 gift certificates from a local vendor for each student. Student Services and Development also coordinated the creation and delivery of gift bags complete with not only the gift certificates, but a gift from the Office of Student Services on the last day of quarantine. Mark notes, “We are all part of the same Pace family. The Board wanted to let the students know that we were thinking of them and were available to encourage and help them, not just during this tough period but throughout their law school journey and beyond.”

Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb is a 1999 Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University alumna who graduated with a certificate in environmental law. Hiroko teaches the Law of Oceans & Coasts seminar and advises on guided research at Haub Law as an adjunct professor.

A Q&A with Hiroko Muraki Gottlieb

You are an adjunct professor at Haub Law teaching Law of Oceans & Coasts seminar – how did that come about?

I was invited to teach the seminar, which was supposed to be taught by two faculty from Norway. They had to cancel at the last minute due to travel restrictions caused by the pandemic. The seminar was originally scheduled to accommodate the visiting professors’ availability, so 26 hours of complex course materials were condensed into one week! It was quite intense, but I really enjoyed designing and teaching the seminar.

What was the best part about teaching the seminar?

I loved engaging with my students, learning from their questions and their thoughts. I invited colleagues whom I really respect and admire - including leading scientists, scholars and distinguished diplomats - to participate in the seminar as guest lecturers. I felt that it was important for lawyers, especially those just starting their legal careers, to hear from professionals whose job is to facilitate better ocean governance. The knowledge gained by my students from engaging with those who are involved in cutting edge science or who are part of the policy and law-making process was invaluable.

What do you look forward to most in terms of teaching the course again in Spring 2021?

I look forward to introducing the students to the fascinating and vitally important role of the ocean in our lives. Whether physiologically or economically, our lives and livelihoods are intricately dependent on the ocean. It is an excellent subject matter to study as to how and to what extent diplomacy at various levels--global, regional, national and local--work, including its potentials and limitations. Effective diplomacy is difficult to achieve because of the balancing act between States’ interests and common interests at the global level. It takes knowledge of the law and negotiation skills to resolve dauntingly complex challenges. That is why it is important that the next generation of lawyers understand the vital role they can play, indeed must play, in our collective efforts to conserve and sustainably use the largest ecosystem of this planet. To that end, I designed my seminar to give a practitioner’s perspective based on my work in the international fora.

Can you speak about your experience as a law student at Haub Law?

I certainly took advantage of everything "environmental" that Haub Law offered. I was an Associate of the Environmental Law Review and received the Environmental Law certificate. Because of my interest in international law (my bachelor's degree was in International Relations), I loved the comparative environmental law course taught by Professor Nicholas Robinson. My favorite experience was the Environmental Litigation Clinic because not only did I enjoy learning from Professor Coplan and Professor Kennedy, but I enjoyed working with colleagues who felt passionate about environmental law and the clients we served.

I was also fortunate to have challenging summer internships, which enriched my education. After 1L, I worked at General Electric’s Corporate Environmental Program, focusing on matters that had potential implications on their businesses located in Asia. After 2L, I was a summer associate at Robinson & Cole, where I had the opportunity to work on really interesting environmental law matters. All of these experiences allowed me to easily translate what I learned as a student into my legal practice.

Do you keep in touch with any of your former professors from your time at Pace?

Professor Robinson has been my mentor from the time I was a student at Haub Law. We continue to collaborate on various projects. It is hard to believe that we have known each other for over two decades! Professor Powers kindly joined in one of my seminar classes as a guest lecturer. I was her student, so it was nice to be at the podium together, albeit virtually.

What advice do you have for current and/or future law students?

We are in unprecedented and tumultuous times. When I speak to students one on one, the topics we cover are not just about the seminar but also, how they are coping with the pandemic and racial injustice. It has been helpful to be in the same space with them, to listen to their concerns, fears, and hopes for the future, which often mirror mine. It is important to know that the pandemic will pass and we have the power, especially as those who are the keepers of the US legal system, to change how the law is drafted, implemented and enforced.

As for graduating students whose plans were disrupted due to the pandemic, my advice is to fill any gaps with pro bono work. There are a lot of organizations that need volunteers and the work will not only boost one's CV, but also, the act of helping and meeting like-minded people will give a sense of purpose and fulfillment. I have and continue to engage in significant amount of pro bono work so I can attest to the great benefits of giving.

Can you briefly describe your career path post Pace?

I am the Representative for the Ocean, International Council of Environmental Law, and an Associate of Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. I am also the Senior Ocean Governance Advisor, Global Marine Polar Programme, IUCN, a Fellow at the Global Center of Environmental Legal Studies at Haub Law and a member of IUCN's World Commission on Environmental Law. In my capacity as the Representative for the Ocean, I lead the ICEL delegation at the United Nations intergovernmental conference on an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

My previous positions include, Charge d’affaires/Senior Counsellor of the Permanent Observer Mission of International Chamber of Commerce to the United Nations; counsel, IBM’s Corporate Environmental Affairs; and associate at Robinson and Cole.

What do you hope to share and convey in your frequent lectures and panel presentations and through your published works?

My work is interdisciplinary, geared towards a wide range of stakeholders. I try to be what my colleague calls "an honest broker", to bridge the language/knowledge gaps among those who practice different disciplines. For example, there can be a vast difference in how scientists and diplomats communicate, but it is crucial that they can understand each other to achieve a collective goal. I try to convey knowledge in a way that can be used to foster dialogue, which could be the first step in finding solutions to complex problems. Perhaps being bilingual and bicultural help because I have to navigate two vastly different languages and cultures in my personal life. It is certainly a skill one has to acquire.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

My husband and I have a 14 year old daughter and we love to travel as a family. One of the things I enjoy about working at the UN is learning about different cultures through what the diplomats tell me about their country, which inevitably makes us want to go gain first-hand experience.

Also, music plays an important role in my life (I play the piano and the flute), perhaps because it is a universal "language" with each musician giving our unique interpretation of a particular piece. I love to play with other musicians--I think it is a more beautiful way to communicate than in words.

Steven Epstein ’92 is a founding partner of Barket, Epstein, Kearon, Aldea & LoTurco, LLP and head of the firm’s DWI and Vehicular Crimes group. He is also an adjunct professor at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law and the head of the Steven Epstein DWI Defense Institute. The Steven Epstein DWI Defense Institute is an educational program designed to teach lawyers how to defend DWI cases.

Did you always desire to go to law school and become a lawyer?

Yes, for as long as I can recall I had a passion for helping others, it was this that led me to become an attorney.

What sticks out to you as memorable from your time at Pace?

As a student, it was the friendships I made and the many fun times we had outside of the classroom. As an adjunct professor, it is seeing students head into court as attorneys and move on to great careers as trial lawyers. As a parent, my daughter attending the same law school as me and watching her enjoy all that Haub Law has to offer really stands out.

Who were some of your favorite professors and classes while at Pace?

I had many, but definitely Professors Michael Mushlin, Faith Colangelo, Marianna Hogan, and Barbara Salken. As far as classes, I really enjoyed Evidence and participating in the Criminal Defense Clinic, both of which have proved useful in my career.

How did you begin teaching at Pace?

I knew Professor Lou Fasulo through my work with the Legal Aid Society. I started by volunteering to coach the trial teams with Lou and after coaching for several years, Lou gave me the opportunity to teach and  more than 20 years later it is as fulfilling and fun as it was the day I started.

Your daughter is going into her third year at Haub Law – how did you feel once your daughter decided to pursue law and then attend the same law school as you?

I was thrilled that she found for herself a career that she had a passion for. Alexis has always wanted to make an impact on this world and she found law as a pathway to do that. It was an added bonus that she chose to study law at the same school as me. She is on track to graduate in 2021 and I am very proud.

Can you describe your career path?

I began my career as a public defender with the criminal defense division of the Legal Aid Society of New York City where I worked from 1992 to 1997. After leaving Legal Aid and working for a small firm for just under two years, I opened my own solo practice, which I ran until 2012. At that point, I formed my current firm, Barket, Epstein, Kearon, Aldea & LoTurco, LLP. We are a boutique litigation firm with offices in Manhattan, Garden City and Huntington. We handle matters in criminal defense, personal injury law, commercial litigation, civil rights litigation and appeals. I am also head of the Steven Epstein DWI Defense Institute, an educational program designed to teach lawyers how to defend DWI cases, which has established a relationship with Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. I have specialized in representing clients accused of DWI, vehicular homicides and other criminal offenses and have been lecturing nationally and locally on the topic of DWI for over 20 years. Over the last 28 years I have tried over 100 DWI cases to verdict. I serve as a Faculty Member, New York State Delegate and Northeast Regional Delegate of the National College for DUI Defense. I am also Vice President of the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and serves as the chair for their CLE committee.

One of my proudest achievements was when I successfully challenged New York’s discovery statute and obtained and enforced an order directing the State to turn over to every defendant in New York State the full records of gas chromatography that relate to the certification of the simulator solution used for every person charged with a DWI who submitted to a breath test. This ruling subsequently resulted in a change to New York’s legislation. The resulting new discovery statute now entitles every defendant to the full records of gas chromatography that relate to the certification of the simulator solution.

Can you speak about the Steven Epstein DWI Defense Institute – what do you hope attorneys gain from attending?

The Steven Epstein DWI Defense Institute is a learning center designed to teach the pathway of a DWI case in New York from arrest through trial.  The first year’s curriculum which is taught over a ten month period will include a 24-hour National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Student Course. The Institute has a faculty who are leaders their fields and includes nationally renowned expert witnesses in the fields of breath testing, blood testing, accident reconstruction and standardized field sobriety testing. Their work has led them to be some of the most sought-after expert witnesses in DWI defense in the nation. Their knowledge is then paired with the trial skills needed to defend DWI cases and the first year concludes with a mock trial of a breath test case. It is my hope that attorneys will gain the knowledge of the science and tools needed to defend a DWI case at a high level and then pair that knowledge with real trial skills so that they are best equipped to be leaders in the defense of DWI cases. The Institute will also serve as a center for advocacy for the defense community to address state wide issues and handle actual cases.

What would your advice be for future or current law students?

There is nothing in this life that is worthwhile that comes easily. The most rewarding things in life take the most amount of work. So find what it is you want, do not let anyone or anything get in your way of accomplishing it and most importantly work as hard as you can to accomplish that goal.