The New York State Executive Advisory Commission was established on March 19, 1981 by Governor Hugh Carey. The commission was made up of primarily private citizens, including lawyers, businessmen, and teachers. The chair of the commission was Arthur Liman. Members of the commission included: Arthur Barnes, President of the New York Urban Coalition; Richard L. Gelb, Bristol-Myers Company; Betsy Gotbaum, New York City Police Foundation; Simon P. Gourdine, Esq., National Basketball Association; Ralph Graves, Editorial Director; Thomas F. Hastings, Executive Director of Rochester Jobs, Inc.; Mrs. Ruth Hinerfeld, League of Women Voters; Alan Hruska, Esq., Cravath, Swain and Moore; Patricia M. Hynes, Esq., Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney; Salvatore R. Martoche, Esq.; Robert B. McKay, Esq., Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies; Robert M. Morgenthau, Esq., District Attorney of New York County; Archibald R. Murray, Esq., The Legal Aid Society; Vincent O'Leary, President of the State University of New York at Albany; The Honorable John F. O'Mara, Juan Ortiz, Esq.; Personnel Director for the City of New York; The Honorable Harold R. Tyler, Jr.; H. Richard Uviller, Esq., Professor of Law; Mrs. Martha Redfield Wallace; The Henry Luce Foundation, and Steven E. Landers, Esq., Secretary to the Commission.

The mission of the commission was to evaluate current problems with the criminal justice system, such as prison overcrowding, prison sentencing, parole law and practices, as well as jury selection reform. The commission's goal was also to brainstorm new and innovative approaches to fixing those problems and establish effective criminal justice strategies that would produce "real results". The commission held meetings and hearings to gather information about and discuss those issues. The commission was disbanded in 1983.