WHEREAS, After decades of public service in the Homicide Unit of the Defenders’ Association of Philadelphia, Marc Bookman and Dana Cook founded the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation (ACCR) in 2010; and
WHEREAS, Since its founding, ACCR has provided expert legal support, not only in Pennsylvania but across the nation: offering consultation and referrals in other states, providing critical assistance in federal capital cases, and representing the Government of Mexico in death penalty cases involving Mexican nationals; and
WHEREAS, ACCR engages in both case-specific and systemic litigation. As direct counsel, ACCR represents individuals facing the death penalty. At the systemic level, ACCR works to improve the standard of capital defense in Pennsylvania and across the nation; and
WHEREAS, A key component of ACCR’s work is the development of mitigation investigations, which involve close collaboration with clients and witnesses to build comprehensive social histories. These humanizing narratives are essential to an effective defense but are often underutilized. ACCR is actively working to combat this; and
WHEREAS, ACCR has participated in a wide variety of extraordinarily important litigation on behalf of those accused of capital offenses. In 2011, the Center won a major legal victory before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. As a result, Philadelphia courts were forced to increase their pay for capital attorneys; and
WHEREAS, ACCR is the only organization in Pennsylvania that tracks new death penalty cases. While the PA Department of Corrections and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund maintain records of individuals already sentenced to death, ACCR monitors cases from the outset; and
WHEREAS, This legislative body recognizes and commends the outstanding work of ACCR and its staff, and looks forward to many more years of advocacy, impact, and justice; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby honors and recognizes the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation and its staff for 15 years of dedicated service addressing systemic issues with the death penalty in Pennsylvania and across the nation.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to the Atlantic Center for Capital Representation as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
End