May 6, 2024
As part of the firm’s commitment to pro bono work and our partnership with Appellate Advocates, Kobre & Kim appeared before the New York State Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department last month for oral argument on an appeal of a charge for criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
With excellent supervision from Appellate Advocates, Kobre & Kim assisted the appellant to appeal his conviction under a provision of the New York Penal Law that was invalidated by the United States Supreme Court in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen. The Kobre & Kim team raised arguments in their submissions and at the hearing concerning the constitutionality of New York’s firearm licensing regime, and by extension the constitutionality of the client’s conviction, that are live issues at every level of the New York court system. Michael Sanfilippo argued the appeal at the Appellate Division on April 16, and we await a decision.
The Kobre & Kim team consisted of partner Ben Sirota, principal Michael Sanfilippo, associate Layan Charara, and former associate Chris Cogburn. The team received valuable litigation support from Gabriela Bertoldo, Hannah Weil, Noam Katz, Thomas O’Heney and former litigation assistant Ivy Xu.