Hon. Dianne T. Renwick, Presiding Justice
Susanna Molina Rojas, Clerk of the Court
July 13, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Susanna Molina Rojas
Clerk of the Court
212-340-0400
Presiding Justice Renwick Announces the Appointment of the
Executive Director/Administrator of the Criminal Assigned
Counsel Plan for the First Judicial Department
Today, Presiding Justice Dianne T. Renwick announced the appointment of Steven Chavez, Esq. as the Executive Director/Administrator for the Assigned Counsel Plan (ACP) for the First Judicial Department, effective immediately. In this role, Mr. Chavez will be responsible for the operational oversight of the attorneys assigned to represent indigent parties in criminal matters.
As Director/Administrator, Mr. Chavez will evaluate attorneys seeking appointment to the ACP panel, supervise ACP office staff, assign attorneys to ensure adequate court coverage; investigate complaints regarding plan attorneys; coordinate CLE training, and develop and implement operating procedures. He will also serve as liaison among plan attorneys, court personnel, city agencies and bar associations.
Mr. Chavez brings a wealth of experience to this position. He has served as the Supervising Attorney for Operations and Supervising Attorney for Specialty Courts at ACP Office, working closely with the courts and panel attorneys since 2021 and gaining insight into all aspects of ACP operations. Prior to joining the ACP Office, Mr. Chavez practiced criminal defense for more than 15 years in the First Judicial Department, as a Supervisor and Attorney with the Legal Aid Society, where he conducted felony and misdemeanor trials, and supervised attorneys handling criminal matters. His extensive experience in indigent defense and comprehensive understanding of ACP operations position him to effectively lead the First Department’s Assigned Counsel Plan.