Mayor Eric Adams Announces the Intention to Nominate Muriel Goode-Trufant to Serve as New York City’s Corporation Counsel
– New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced his intention to nominate Muriel Goode-Trufant as the city’s next corporation counsel. Goode-Trufant is a longtime public servant, having spent more than 30 years in the New York City Department of Law, where she has served as acting corporation counsel since this summer. As corporation counsel, Goode-Trufant will lead the New York City Department of Law, which is primarily responsible for providing legal representation to the City of New York — for the Mayor’s Office, the Public Advocate’s Office, the Comptroller’s Office, city agencies, and the City Council — in all affirmative and defensive civil litigation.
“I am excited to announce my intention to nominate of Muriel Goode-Trufant as New York City’s next corporation counsel,” said Mayor Adams. “Muriel’s record speaks for itself — a dedicated public servant with more than 30 years of experience at the Law Department, a recipient of the agency’s highest honor, and a lawyer who has fought for equity and justice. As our next corporation counsel, Muriel is prepared to serve our entire municipal government and use the full power of our legal system to lead our city forward.”
“I am humbled and honored by the intention to be nominated by Mayor Adams to serve as the city’s next corporation counsel,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Nominee Muriel Goode-Trufant. “Through my more than three decades as an attorney at the New York City Law Department, I am keenly aware of the vital role the corporation counsel plays in New York City government.”
Muriel Goode-Trufant will replace Judge Sylvia Hinds-Radix, who stepped down from her post at the end of May. Judge Hinds-Radix led the Department of Law since January 2022.
About Muriel Goode-TrufantMuriel Goode-Trufant began her career at the New York City Department of Law in 1991 as an attorney in the General Litigation Division where she held numerous roles, including assistant chief of the division. She later became the agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity officer and rose to the position of chief in the Special Federal Litigation Division.
Goode-Trufant became the Law Department’s managing attorney in 2015 and first assistant corporation counsel in 2023.
Before working for the city, she was an associate at the Philadelphia law firm Cohen, Shapiro, Polisher, Shiekman and Cohen.
Goode-Trufant has won numerous legal awards, including the Law Department’s highest honor, the Corporation Counsel’s Award for Distinguished Legal Service, in 2011.
Goode-Trufant is a graduate of Temple University School of Law and the University of Pennsylvania.
Under the City Charter, the nominee for corporation counsel must be confirmed by the City Council.
October 1, 2024 Manhattan, New York
Here are two questions each from Republican and Democratic critics regarding Mayor Eric Adams’ nomination of Muriel Goode-Trufant as the city’s next corporation counsel:
Republican Questions:
- Transparency and Accountability: “Given that Muriel Goode-Trufant has spent her entire career within the New York City Law Department, how can we ensure that her nomination is not merely a continuation of the status quo, especially when it comes to accountability in the handling of legal matters for the city?”
- Public Safety Focus: “With rising concerns about public safety in New York City, how does Mayor Adams justify appointing a corporation counsel who may prioritize equity and justice over effective legal strategies that protect the city’s residents and law enforcement agencies?”
Democratic Questions:
- Equity and Justice Commitment: “As someone who has fought for equity and justice throughout her career, how will Muriel Goode-Trufant ensure that the legal representation provided by the City of New York actively addresses systemic inequities in our justice system?”
- Diversity in Legal Representation: “Considering the diverse population of New York City, what steps will Goode-Trufant take to promote diversity within the Law Department and ensure that the voices of underrepresented communities are heard in legal matters affecting the city?
October 1, 2024 Manhatta, New York
Here are two questions each from Republican and Democratic critics regarding Mayor Eric Adams’ nomination of Muriel Goode-Trufant as the city’s next corporation counsel, tailored for BigNY.com:
Republican Questions:
- Continuity of Legal Leadership: “With Muriel Goode-Trufant having spent her entire career within the New York City Law Department, how can we be sure that her appointment will not simply perpetuate existing legal strategies that may be failing to address the challenges facing our city today?”
- Focus on Law Enforcement: “In light of increasing public safety concerns, what concrete steps will Mayor Adams and Muriel Goode-Trufant take to ensure that the legal strategies pursued by the corporation counsel’s office prioritize the needs of law enforcement and community safety?”
Democratic Questions:
- Advocacy for Equity: “Given Muriel Goode-Trufant’s commitment to equity and justice, how does she plan to utilize her role as corporation counsel to tackle systemic issues within the legal framework that disproportionately affect marginalized communities in New York City?”
- Strengthening Community Engagement: “What initiatives will Goode-Trufant implement to enhance community engagement in the legal processes affecting New Yorkers, ensuring that residents have a voice in the city’s legal decisions?”
Sources: New York City Hall NYC.gov , Midtown Tribune news ,
Big New York news BigNY.com
