Judges have a difficult and underappreciated job. They do their best to apply the law in some tough circumstances. The just decision isn’t always obvious, and the stakes are high. Certainly, that’s true for the litigants and in many cases, the impact of a judicial decision has a ripple effect on the neighborhood, the state … Continued

The Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission of the New York State Courts is a statewide commission composed of judges, attorneys, and court administrators appointed by the Chief Judge of the State of New York. The 28-member Commission seeks to make the court system more responsive to the concerns of people of color and to improve … Continued

Recently, Hon. Susan Sullivan-Bisceglia, Town of LaGrange Justice, hosted Arlington High School Seniors from the 2023 graduating class who participated in a Mock Trial in the Town of Lagrange Courtroom. The students, who were very well prepared, took on the roles of Prosecutor, Defense Attorney, Witnesses and Judge and showed a great commitment to civic … Continued

Esq.1 Since former Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and former Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks established it in December 2016, the Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission has acted as a forceful advocate for LGBTQ issues and LGBTQ members of the legal community, providing a bridge between the judiciary’s leadership and LGBTQ individuals in the courts and … Continued

GREETINGS EVERYONE! 2024 marks the centennial anniversary of our NYSBA Judicial Section, and we recently kicked off the year with our very successful Annual Luncheon on Friday, January 19, 2024, at the New York Midtown Hilton. Many thanks to all who pitched in to assemble the program, including my fellow officers and our outstanding NSYBA … Continued

Each year, National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated by Americans from September 15th to October 15th. It is a time when the rich history, culture, and contributions of Hispanics / Latinos are acknowledged and recognized by our society. On Friday, October 13, 2023, the Appellate Division, Second Department, held its first Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, … Continued

Love was the central theme at this year’s Judicial Section Reception and Luncheon attended by more than 120 judges at the New York Hilton, Midtown on January 19, 2024. Love for each other as colleagues. Love of family and friends. Love for the rule of law. As always, the room full of energized judges took … Continued

On February 14, 2024, during the nation’s celebration of Black History Month, oral arguments at the Appellate Division, First Department were heard by panel of African American women justices. The five members of the historic panel were Presiding Justice Hon. Dianne T. Renwick and Associate Justices Hon. Troy K. Webber; Hon. Tanya R. Kennedy; Hon. … Continued

The celebration of Black History Month in this country has evolved and grown since 1926 when historian, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), launched Negro History Week in February 1926 to highlight the progress of blacks in America since the end of slavery, and to … Continued