Nelson E. Roth, a partner in an Ithaca law firm and special prosecutor in the recent state police evidence-tampering investigation, has been appointed an associate university counsel in the Cornell University Counsel's Office.

Roth, who has been a partner with the law firm of Barney, Grossman, Roth & Dubow since 1981, begins his new duties March 17, according to James J. Mingle, university counsel.

"I am delighted that Nelson Roth is joining the University Counsel's Office," Mingle said. "Nelson is a seasoned litigator who has successfully handled a range of complex cases in private practice. He also has taught several litigation-related courses at Cornell's Law School and has managed a major investigation on special assignment for the governor. This remarkable combination of advocacy, instructional and investigative experience should serve Nelson Roth -- and Cornell -- very well in his position as principal litigator."

Cornell's legal work is handled by both in-house staff attorneys and outside contract attorneys, and in the latter capacity Roth already has handled a number of cases for the university. He said he is eager to join the counsel's office full time.

"I am truly looking forward to working for a university that I know to be one of the finest in the country, and I am honored to have been selected to join the University Counsel's team," he said.

In 1992 Roth was appointed by then-Gov. Mario Cuomo to conduct an investigation into allegations of perjury and evidence tampering by members of the New York State Police and to prosecute all cases arising out of the investigation. During the course of the investigation, five state troopers were convicted of tampering with evidence in 34 separate cases. Last month Roth issued a final report, saying no further evidence of tampering had been found across the state.

Roth was an assistant professor and adjunct professor of law at the Cornell Law School from 1978 to 1988 and was a deputy public defender in the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office from 1977 to 1978. He was an associate in a private Los Angeles law firm from 1976 to 1977.

Roth received his bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Antioch College in 1971 and his law degree from the University of California, Davis, in 1975.