
NYC Council confirms Muriel Goode-Trufant as corporation counsel

Muriel Goode-Trufant, a veteran public servant with more than three decades at the New York City Law Department, has been confirmed as the city’s 82nd corporation counsel. The City Council approved her nomination on Thursday in a 41-7 vote, marking a new chapter for the 765-attorney agency tasked with representing the city in legal matters.
Goode-Trufant, who has served as interim head of the department for the past six months, succeeds Sylvia Hinds-Radix. Hinds-Radix, a former Appellate Division justice, resigned after reportedly clashing with Mayor Eric Adams’ office over legal representation in a sexual assault lawsuit.
“I look forward to continuing my work with the dedicated members of the Law Department, who embody the principles of fairness and justice as they work to further the interests of the city,” Goode-Trufant said in a statement released by City Hall.
Goode-Trufant joined the Law Department in 1991 and has held leadership roles across various divisions, overseeing a wide range of cases from commercial litigation to juvenile matters. During a November hearing before the council’s Rules Committee, she spoke passionately about her career in public service.
“Opportunities have presented themselves unsolicited, but there is no finer work, I believe, than at the Law Department,” Goode-Trufant said. “There are some who choose money, and there are some who choose fulfillment. I have been quite fulfilled at the Law Department.”
The department she now leads operates with an $18 million budget and oversees 18 divisions.
Goode-Trufant’s confirmation stands in contrast to the contentious nomination of Randy Mastro, Mayor Adams’ initial pick for the role. Mastro, a partner at King & Spalding and former deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani, faced intense criticism during an eight-hour testimony in August. Council members raised concerns about Mastro’s aggressive litigation tactics and his work representing controversial clients, including parties who had sued the city.
Ultimately, Mastro withdrew his nomination. In comparison, Goode-Trufant’s confirmation received widespread support.
Leave a Comment
Leave a Comment