NYC Council Confirms Steven Banks to Helm Law Department

The New York City Council on Thursday voted 42-6, with one abstention, to make former Paul Weiss pro bono chief Steve Banks head of the city’s law department.

Banks, who will succeed Muriel Goode-Trufant, is the first public service lawyer to serve in the role that oversees more than 850 attorneys who represent the city in civil litigation.

Banks first was cleared by the council’s Committee on Rules, Privileges, Elections, Standards and Ethics by a vote of 8-1 Thursday morning. The full council voted hours later, with all five Republicans and Queens Democrat Phil Wong voting against his confirmation.

He ...