Students and a top law firm team up to prepare FCC filing

In an effort coordinated by the Law School’s Center on the Administration of Criminal Law (CACL), two NYU Law students teamed up with one of the nation’s most prominent Supreme Court and appellate litigation firms to file comments on a matter affecting prisoners and their families.
 
At issue is the high amount prisons charge inmates for interstate phone calls, often the only means for incarcerated individuals and their families to stay in touch. Prisons commonly charge inmates rates up to 40 times higher than those paid by the public—a 15-minute call, for example, can cost as much as $17. In a filing in a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proceeding, CACL outlined reasons for the FCC to regulate these rates, contending that lower costs would advance the interests of criminal justice.

Bancroft PLLC represented CACL in the proceedings, and the two lawyers at the Washington, D.C. firm who signed the filing were Paul Clement, a former U.S. solicitor general, and D. Zachary Hudson, a former clerk for Chief Justice John Roberts. "Bancroft did extraordinary pro bono work for the Center, and we are so grateful for their fine assistance," said CACL Executive Director Nancy Hoppock.

Yotam Barkai '13 and Samuel Zeitlin '14 assisted in the preparation of the filing and “did a great job doing research for it,” Hoppock said.

Posted on March 31, 2013