The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government replaced the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) on July 8, 2022. The ethics commission will consist of 11 members who are nominated by NYS elected officials as follows: the Governor (3); Senate President/Majority Leader (2); Senate Minority Leader (1); Assembly Speaker (2); Assembly Minority Leader (1); the Comptroller (1); and the Attorney General (1).
See below for the press releases from each of the elected officials who have submitted their nominees to the Independent Review Committee for Nominations to the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (IRC). The IRC, which is comprised of the Deans of New York’s 15 accredited law schools, will vet the nominees to determine if they should be confirmed for appointment to the ethics commission.
Here is the list of the nominees as of 2/15/23:
- Michael A. Cardozo and Frederick A. Davie (announced 7/7) – nominated by the Governor
- Kaylin L. Whittingham (announced 11/23) – nominated by the Governor – confirmed by IRC on 12/20
- Seymour W. James Jr., Esq. and Claudia L. Edwards, Ph.D. (announced 7/21) – nominated by the Senate Majority Leader
- Gary Lavine (announced 7/12) – nominated by the Senate Minority Leader
- Gary Lavine was not confirmed by the Independent Review Committee
- Robert E. Torres and Leonard B. Austin (announced 7/14) – nominated by the Assembly Speaker – public comment link not yet provided
- Robert E. Torres was not confirmed by the Independent Review Committee
- Dolly Caraballo (announced 9/23) – nominated by the Assembly Speaker – confirmed by IRC on 12/20
- Edward D. Carni (announced 7/8) – nominated by the Assembly Minority Leader
- Nancy G. Groenwegen (announced 7/13) – nominated by the Comptroller
- Emily Jane Goodman (announced 7/25) – nominated by the Attorney General
- Emily Jane Goodman was not confirmed by the Independent Review Committee
- Ava Ayers (announced 1/23/23) – nominated by the Attorney General – confirmed by IRC on 2/15
If the public wishes to communicate with the IRC directly, they can reach them at info@irc.ny.gov.