Testimony Before the Chief Judge’s Civil Legal Services Hearing – By Muhammad U. Faridi, President

My name is Muhammad Faridi and I am President of the New York City Bar Association. I am honored to speak on behalf of the City Bar Civil Right to Counsel Task Force. I am joined tonight by Sara Wagner, who is one of the three co-chairs of the Task Force, along with Alison King and Andrew Scherer.

Our Task Force was formed in 2018 to support the implementation of New York City’s landmark Right to Counsel law for tenants facing eviction, advocate for its expansion, and ensure that legal representation is guaranteed where fundamental human needs are at stake. The Task Force’s members include City Bar Presidents, prominent attorneys, legal scholars, housing advocates, and representatives from our judiciary.

New York City’s passage of Right to Counsel was a historic step forward. For the first time in our nation’s history, low-income tenants facing eviction—a crisis that threatens their homes, their families, and their communities—were guaranteed legal representation.

This law has made an undeniable impact: Evictions and eviction filings have dropped dramatically. Over 83% of represented tenants remain in their homes. Housing Court has become more balanced, fostering greater fairness and dignity for New Yorkers who might otherwise face displacement alone. Right to Counsel has also proven to be a critical tool in stabilizing communities, preserving affordable housing, and reducing homelessness. New York City has set a national example, inspiring 20 other localities and five states to adopt similar protections.

Yet despite these successes, the promise of Right to Counsel is far from fully realized. The system is struggling. There are not enough attorneys to meet the need, and thousands of tenants are left unrepresented. This is not just a matter of access to justice—it is a matter of racial justice, as eviction disproportionately impacts communities of color. The failure to provide counsel undermines the very purpose of this law.

To address this, our Task Force urges immediate action. The City must support the passage of the statewide Right to Counsel bill, which would strengthen tenant protections across New York and ensure that no one loses their home due to lack of representation. This bill would expand coverage to all legal proceedings that could result in displacement, require courts and landlords to inform tenants of their rights, and ensure tenants have the time and ability to secure an attorney before their case proceeds. The right to a home should not depend on one’s ability to afford a lawyer . We must fully realize the promise of Right to Counsel, protect vulnerable tenants, and ensure that no one in our city faces eviction alone.

I’ll now turn it over to Sara to address the other two recommendation we are making.