Q&A
Council Member Sanchez inquires about confidential legal advice during legislative negotiations
1:04:45
·
131 sec
Council Member Pierina Ana Sanchez asks Corporation Counsel nominee Muriel Goode-Trufant about the process for obtaining confidential legal advice from the Law Department during legislative negotiations, separate from ongoing discussions with the administration. Goode-Trufant confirms that such confidential consultations are possible and explains how council members can request them.
- Sanchez expresses appreciation for Goode-Trufant's 34 years of service to New York City
- The discussion focuses on maintaining attorney-client privilege between the Law Department and City Council
- Goode-Trufant advises that council members can request confidential feedback through the Council's Office of General Counsel
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:04:45
Thank you so much.
1:04:46
I'm I'm so sorry, right, when you thought you were gonna exhale with the family, but this is this is just a quick follow-up.
1:04:53
Thank you so much for your service to to the city of New York over the past 34 years.
Keith Powers
1:04:57
I understand.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:04:58
I I join my colleagues in, you know, feeling of the breadth of an ability to exhale at your nomination, and just, having you here today and answering our questions.
1:05:09
My my question is a follow-up to a few of the questions that the speaker asked earlier regarding, you know, specifically the legislative process when we're moving legislation forward and negotiating legislation.
1:05:22
Is there a you you mentioned in your responses that you, the the the law department or the attorneys will not be disclosing if they're advising on behalf of the council or advising on behalf of mayor OT in a continuous manner throughout a negotiation.
1:05:38
Is there a particular way that, in your during your tenure when you have worked on legislation, there has been a way for the council to separately from an ongoing negotiation say, to counsel, in the law department, can we have a separate conversation?
1:05:56
I have this narrow concern about the legislation before us, and and I'd like your perspective, separate from any like, without you sharing with, the administration side.
1:06:07
Is is that something that has happened before?
Muriel Goode-Trufant
1:06:09
Yes.
1:06:10
It has.
1:06:11
And and we are happy to do it.
1:06:14
Whenever there is a request, we make certain to provide a response in a confidential manner.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:06:21
And what is, what is the way that we as members or our staff and and central staff go about requesting that kind of feedback and confidentiality?
Muriel Goode-Trufant
1:06:30
You can, reach out to us or I will I will add that, we work, regularly with the office of general counsel to the counsel and, they are, in touch with us, on a a weekly basis.
1:06:47
So just, reach out to your general counsel's office and they will, contact us.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:06:53
Okay.
1:06:54
Excellent.
1:06:54
Thank you.
1:06:55
Thank you so much, and thank you, chair.
