A film crew from NBC-TV's "Today" show was in Buffalo Thursday to tape Buffalo City Court Judge Hon. Robert Russell Jr. addressing a new Bar Association of Erie County committee.

Russell presides over the nation's first and only Veterans Court. Launched Jan. 15, the court aims to help returning veterans readjust to civilian life and steer clear of the criminal-justice system. Veterans struggling with substance abuse and emotional challenges are given an opportunity to avoid jail time by participating in court-directed treatment programs.

Russell addressed the Bar Association's new ad hoc committee on legal issues affecting veterans and service members, chaired by Buffalo lawyer Jennifer Stergion.

"It became apparent that veterans faced a number of challenges in addressing their combat-related trauma," he said. "Of the approximately 1.6 million American troops who have served in Afghanistan and/or Iraq, a disproportionate number of them return home plagued by mental-health and substance-abuse issues."

Vietnam veteran Jack O'Connor, who coordinates a program in which veterans volunteer as mentors for Veterans Court participants, also addressed the committee Thursday.

"I got arrested when I got out," he said. "A lot of us did. I wish we'd had a Judge Russell to listen."

Russell said it's hard for returning service members to overcome a "warrior's mentality" that makes them resistant to seek help or treatment.

"War-related illnesses often contribute to escalated suicide attempts, arrest, incarceration, divorce, domestic violence, homelessness and despair," he said. "It is my hope that other jurisdictions will use our experience to critically examine how they can better serve the veterans who come through the criminal courts."

Russell created Buffalo's Drug Treatment Court in 1995 and its Mental Health Treatment Court in 2003. His work with veterans recently led Sens. John Kerry, D-Ma., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Ark., to introduce the Services, Education and Rehabilitation for Veterans Act, which would create veteran drug-treatment courts in other parts of the country.