ALBANY -- Saying wrongful convictions undermine public confidence in the justice system, the New York State Bar Association president has established a task force of 22 professors, former judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and others to identify rules, procedures and statutes contributing to the problem.

Manhattan attorney Bernice Leber, named president of the 74,000-member association on Monday, says that for every wrongful conviction that surfaces, unknown numbers of others remain unfairly resolved.

Barry Kamins, past New York City Bar Association president and an adjunct professor at Brooklyn and Fordham law schools, will chair the task force. It will analyze New York cases that led to wrongful convictions and hold hearings. A final report is expected in April 2009.