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While there are many talented attorneys in the capital region, Cheryl is one of the few who can also offer clients the advantage of experience from every part of the courtroom, judge, prosecutor, and defense attorney.
Most people remember Cheryl as one of Albany County's most well-know and successful prosecutors. As an Assistant District Attorney from 1986-2000, Cheryl's trial conviction rate was over 90 percent, including over 20 murder trial convictions.
During this time, Cheryl won over a dozen awards for her courtroom excellence. Here are some of Cheryl's awards:
- United States Department of Justice Awards for Public Service
- Albany County Stop DWI's "Prosecutor of the Decade" Award
- Albany Police Officers Union Gold Shield Award
- In 1992 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) named Cheryl as one of the top prosecutors in the U.S.A. in their national magazine, Maddvocate
- Cheryl was awarded Outstanding Service Awards three times by the Albany Police Department and the twice by the Colonie Police Department
- Distinguished Service Award - National Black Police Association
She also earned many distinctions, including:
- Being honored by Governor Pataki at a press conference after her victory in the well know Jose Lopez case.
- Being a guest speaker on many local TV and radio programs.
- She was an instructor at numerous continuing legal education courses for lawyers on topics such as DNA evidence, expert testimony, DWI and vehicular homicide prosecution, and more.
- Being an adjunct professor at Albany Law School and Hudson Valley Community College
- She was featured prominently in the nationally televised PBS documentary "A Crime of Insanity" which first aired in October 2002.
- She addressed the NYS Assembly Committee at the request of the NYS Defenders Association, during hearings opposing the reinstatement of the death penalty.
After leaving the Albany County District Attorney's Office in 2000, Cheryl went into private practice. In her very first trial as a criminal defense lawyer, Cheryl scored a huge win by obtaining a not guilty verdict in the high profile Hampshire murder case in Saratoga County in March 2001. She was honored during that time when she was selected as the special prosecutor in the equally high profile case of Tracy Grady whom she convicted on all counts for the shooting of two Albany Police Officers.
On December 27, 2001 Cheryl was sworn in by Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings as Albany City Court Judge. However, it did not take long for Cheryl to realize that the same qualities that made her so successful as a lawyer - her aggressive style, her love of the fight - were not the same qualities needed to be a good judge. So Cheryl left her judgeship in the summer of 2004 to return to her passion - the practice of law. Due to overwhelming response, Cheryl now limits her practice solely to criminal defense. Click here to view some of Cheryl's recent successes.
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