Sharing Our Memories: Angélicque Moreno
2.26.2026
In honor of our 150th anniversary, we asked longtime, involved members for their recollections of the New York State Bar Association.
Angélicque Moreno, past chair of the Trial Lawyers Section, remembered what inspired her to create the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Vanguard Award.
“I’m very proud of creating the RBG Vanguard Award for the Trial Lawyers Section. Back in 2020, when COVID-19 happened, we were isolated in our homes. It was like nothing we have ever known before. Also, at this time, we lost Justice Ginsburg. [Past Chair Betty Lugo and I] were brainstorming, and she was like, ‘Come up with ideas, you’re the diversity chair. Let me know how you think we should move forward so that we can create a buzz.’
“At that moment, it occurred to me: why not create an award in honor of Justice Ginsburg? But also, it locks in with diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the importance of it, because of what she stood for. We are the Trial Lawyers Section. We should be recognizing someone who’s an amazing trial attorney, as well as someone who promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion on a day-to-day basis. It just seemed like an amazing thing to start at a time in which everyone was in a lockdown, harboring at home.”
Do you have a special memory you want to share in honor of our 150th anniversary? Email rmelnitsky@nysba.org and your memory may be featured on our website.
