Associate Judge Michael J. Garcia of New York Court of Appeals

9/14/2021

Associate Judge Michael J. Garcia

c/o New York State Court of Appeals

20 Eagle Street

Albany, NY  12207

Dear Associate Judge Garcia,

My name is Matt Winick from Ann Arbor, Michigan and I have a strong interest in learning history, social justice, and criminal justice reform. In these subjects, I like to learn the need for civil rights to be stronger to reduce discrimination, expand on criminal justice reform to help protect people’s rights while reduce crime, and many others.  Associate Judge Garcia, the main reason I’m writing you a letter is to explain how I find your work when you served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and as current Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals to be very inspiring to me.

When you served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2005-2008, I truly appreciated on how you were a strong supporter of civil rights by advocating for people with disabilities’ rights, prosecuting people who committed hate crimes to help protect minorities including people who are different, and investigate public places that practice different forms of discrimination or violated civil rights legislation. Supporting drug treatment programs to help drug users get the care they need to reduce drug abuse, working with law enforcement to expand on resources to help victims of crime or victims of domestic violence get help on dealing with their trauma, and expanding along with expressing the need for funds to improve DNA testing including forensic science to help solve evidence efficiently while reduce sending an innocent person to jail is common sense for criminal justice reform. Also on criminal justice reform, I liked on how you investigated law enforcement that committed police misconduct. Another thing that I liked about your work when you served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York is how you launched investigation into law enforcement including public officials who are corrupt or accepted illegal bribes to improve ethics, went after financial institutions including health care companies that committed fraud or abuse on taxpayers, and prosecuted industries that violated environmental protection laws to help protect the environment.  In your current role as Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals I like on how you are a continuous strong supporter of civil rights and criminal justice reform.  Also in your current role as Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals I like on how you are a strong supporter of protecting civil liberties from being violated like the fourth amendment to help protect people from unreasonable searches.   

 Associate Judge Garcia, I have autism with a learning disability. Having a disability is hard for me because I have trouble comprehending on learning different advance subjects, sometimes I struggle to communicate my thoughts, and get teased. Your commitment to be a strong supporter of civil rights including people with disabilities’ rights really inspires me to work hard on my disability. Your role as former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and as current Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals gives me motivation to continue to learn history, social justice, and criminal justice reform.  My future goal is to someday work in these areas to help emphasize the need for civil rights to be stronger to reduce discrimination, expand on criminal justice reform to help protect people’s rights while reduce crime, and many others.

I strongly believe that you are making a great difference for society. I’m very proud on how you are working hard to support civil rights, push along with advocate for criminal justice reform, and many others. You truly inspire me to work hard on my disability, learn about your work, and continue to learn different subjects. Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, working hard to make a great difference, and inspiring me. Please continue to make a great difference for society.

Sincerely,

Matt Winick