FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY (July 24, 2025) – Citizens Union issued the following statement from Board Chair John Avlon on the passing of Board Member Michael Cardozo:
“Citizens Union mourns the passing of Michael Cardozo and extends our deepest condolences to his loved ones. Michael is a long-time Board member of Citizens Union and a devoted and skilled public servant.”
Though he spent most of his career as a partner in the Proskauer law firm, Michael undertook many public responsibilities. He was proud to be the longest-serving New York City Corporation Counsel, having served all three terms of the Bloomberg Administration, steering the City through difficult times.
“A life-long devotee of court reform, Michael worked with former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance to draft the constitutional amendments establishing merit appointment of New York Court of Appeals Judges in 1977. His dedication to the cause of merit appointment of judges never flagged, as he served in many capacities to promote an independent judiciary. Michael’s most recent public position was as a Commissioner of the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG). He was tireless, constantly pushing himself and others to achieve more than they thought possible. With Michael’s passing, we lost a great civic leader.”
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