January 21, 2019: Chief Judge of the State of New York Awarded Gold Medal by the New York State Bar Association

January 21, 2019: Chief Judge of the State of New York Awarded Gold Medal by the New York State Bar Association

1.21.2019

By Communications Department

The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) honored Janet DiFiore, chief judge of the Court of Appeals and of the state of New York, with its Gold Medal Award on January 19 during its Annual Meeting in New York City.

The Gold Medal, the highest honor bestowed by NYSBA, is awarded each year to a lawyer whose qualifications include outstanding legal accomplishments, an active interest in and positive influence upon the profession, and constructive contributions in civic and community matters.

“Chief Judge Janet DiFiore’s esteemed legal career and her extraordinary contributions to the legal community, the Rule of Law and meaningful access to justice make her a natural choice for this award,” said NYSBA President Michael Miller. “Chief Judge DiFiore joins a pantheon of legal luminaries who have previously been so honored, including Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; Justice Thurgood Marshall; Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Justice Robert H. Jackson; John Foster Dulles; and the late Chief Judge of the State of New York Judith S. Kaye, to name but a few.”

“I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious award, and truly humbled to join past recipients who I have long admired for their significant contributions to the legal profession and unwavering dedication to the pursuit of justice,” said DiFiore.

DiFiore has served as chief judge since Jan. 21, 2016. Previously, DiFiore served as an assistant district attorney in the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office from 1981 to 1987, and from 1994 to 1998 as chief of its Narcotics Bureau. In 1998, she was elected a judge of the Westchester County Court. Four years later, she was elected a justice of the New York State Supreme Court. In 2005, DiFiore resigned from the bench and was elected Westchester County District Attorney. She served in this position from 2006 to 2016, when she became chief judge.

About the New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. Since 1876, the Association has helped shape the development of law, educated and informed the legal profession and the public, and championed the rights of New Yorkers through advocacy and guidance in our communities.

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Contact: Christian Nolan
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