January/February 2008 Visit us at www.nycla.org Volume 4 / Number 1 NYCLA’s 93rd Annual Dinner celebrates 160th INSIDE Anniversary of the New York Court of Appeals SPOTLIGHT ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING 6 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Catherine A. Christian RESPECT 5 Seated (from left to right): Catherine A. Christian, NYCLA President; Hon. Judith S. Kaye, Chief Judge of the State of New York; Hon. Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick, New York Court of Appeals; Hon. Robert S. Smith, New York Court of Appeals; Hon. Susan P. Read, New York MEMBER PROFILES Court of Appeals; Hon. Theodore T. Jones, New York Court of Appeals; Hon. Harold Baer Jr., U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. Standing (from left to right): Hon. Richard C. Wesley, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and former Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals; Sylvia Fung Chin, member of the Annual Dinner Committee; Hon. Charles L. Brieant, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York; Hon. Victoria A. Graffeo, New York Court of Appeals; Hon. Albert Rosenblatt, former Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals; Hon. George Bundy Smith, former Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals; Hon. Eugene F. Pigott Jr., New York Court of Appeals; Robert L. Haig, Annual Dinner Chair; Hon. Joseph W. Bellacosa, former Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals; Hon. Sol Wachtler, former Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals; Hon. Shira A. Scheindlin, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York; and Hon. Margaret J. Finnerty and William Francis Kuntz II, members of the Annual Dinner Committee YCLA’s preeminent Centennial Appeals, and Hon. Richard C. Wesley, appreciated, an independent judiciary is year event in 2007 was its 93rd United States Court of Appeals for the our national treasure – the true jewel in our Michael T. Dougherty N Annual Dinner on December 11 cel- Second Circuit and former Associate Judge crown of a democratic society. I accept Eileen D. Millett ebrating the 160th Anniversary of the New of the New York Court of Appeals, accepted your award tonight on behalf of all of my York Court of Appeals. More than 1,400 the honor in song; that is, they sang a parody, colleagues on the state and federal bench, lawyers and judges attended the gala, which written by Judge Rosenblatt, to the tune of who are unparalleled in their commitment took place at the Waldorf Astoria. Hon. “My Favorite Things,” a song from the to public service.” Judge Scheindlin serves Judith S. Kaye, Chief Judge of the State of musical “The Sound of Music.” on NYCLA’s Task Force on Judicial New York, accepted the award, a sculpture of Ms. Christian presented Judge Baer with Independence and its Judicial Section, lec- Lady Justice, on behalf of the Court. Two the Boris Kostelanetz President’s Medal, tures frequently and is an adjunct professor 8 other awards were presented; Hon. Shira A. recognizing his record of dedication and ser- of law at Brooklyn Law School. Scheindlin, United States District Court, vice to the Association and legal profession. Robert L. Haig, former NYCLA presi- Southern District of New York, received the In his acceptance speech, Judge Baer said, “I dent (1992-1994), served as the Annual William Nelson Cromwell Award and Hon. am honored to receive this recognition and I Dinner Chair. The members of the Annual Harold Baer Jr., United States District Court, am particularly pleased that it identifies me Dinner Committee were Sylvia Fung Chin, CENTENNIAL PAGE Southern District of New York, received the now and forever with Boris Kostelanetz, a Hon. Margaret J. Finnerty and William Black History Month Boris Kostelanetz President’s Medal. great friend and mentor to me and to the Francis Kuntz II. In her introductory remarks, Catherine New York County Lawyers’ Association.” A The Annual Dinner is among the myriad at NYCLA: A. Christian, NYCLA President, said, former NYCLA president (1979-1981), NYCLA events taking place during the Celebrating Diversity “Tonight, we honor a court that has been led Judge Baer, with his wife, Dr. Suzanne Baer, Association’s Centennial year celebration, in Our Past and for the past 14 years by a woman of great founded NYCLA’s Summer Minority which commenced in April 2007 and ends intellect, great strength, elegance and grace – Judicial Internship Program in 1989, which in December 2008. Present Chief Judge Judith Kaye.” Judge Kaye provides law students of color with paid acknowledged, “On behalf of my colleagues, internships with state and federal judges. The full transcript of the speeches of Patricia L. Gatling to past and present, I express profound grati- In recognition of her dedication to Catherine A. Christian and Judges Kaye, receive Ida B. Wells- tude to County Lawyers—we feel so privi- public service, Judge Scheindlin was pre- Baer and Scheindlin are on page 17 and are Barnett Justice Award leged to be part of our State’s highest Court sented with the William Nelson Cromwell available on NYCLA’s website. Log on to and to be honored by a Bar Association we Award by Hon. Charles L. Brieant, U.S. www.nycla.org and click on News & hold in such high regard. And congratula- District Court, Southern District of New Publications and then on Speeches. tions on your own Centennial.” Judge Kaye, York, for whom she had once clerked. In 11 along with Hon. Albert Rosenblatt, former accepting the award, Judge Scheindlin See page 10 for more photos of the Annual Associate Judge of the New York Court of declared, “While not always recognized or Dinner. Life requires some juggling… don’t drop the ball. Life is made up of the people you love, the home you create, the career you manage, and it’s constantly evolving. 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AG-5738 E-5512-108 January/February 2008 / New York County Lawyer 3 EDUCATION COMMITTEE LETTER Dear Colleague, the forefront of the major legal and public On October 9, the Board of the New York policy debates in this state.” County Lawyers’ Association established an There is much to do and explore and you as Education Law Committee and we have been a member may play a key role in determining CENTENNIAL appointed its initial co-chairs. We hope you will our agenda and the Association’s public join us as charter members of this important stance on issues of educational moment. Our CALENDAR OF EVENTS new Committee and attend our first meeting at committee is co-chaired by Steve Landis, who Events are subject to change; please check the Association’s website, NYCLA, 14 Vesey St., on Wednesday, February heads his own practice in labor, employment www.nycla.org, for schedule changes and additions. 6 at 6:30 pm. Hon. Catherine Nolan, Chair of and education law (www.stevenlandis.com), and FEBRUARY Inc., election-related testimony includes Bush the New York State Assembly Education David Bloomfield, program head of v. Gore and other recounts, Contributing Committee, will be our guest speaker. Educational Leadership and associate pro- CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION EVENT Editor, Communications, of the Association We expect that the Committee will explore fessor of Education Law at Brooklyn College – PUBLIC FORUM: THE 9TH ANNUAL for Computing Machinery; Mark Crispin legal and policy issues concerning public and (www.brooklyn.edu/pub/Faculty_Details5.jsp?f FINRA LISTENS... AND SPEAKS Miller, Professor of Media, Culture and private schools (pre-school to university level) aculty=238). Monday, February 4 Communication at NYU and author of The 5:00 PM and related matters, including those dealing Please join us at our inaugural meeting at Bush Dyslexicon and Fooled Again: The Real with teachers, administrators and students. In NYCLA on February 6 at 6:30 pm. We wel- Place: NYCLA Home of Law – 14 Vesey Case for Electoral Reform; and Professor Street Penny M. Venetis, Clinical Professor of Law New York, State Education Law governs the come additional members, so your distribution FREE Speaker: Elizabeth R. Clancy, Esq., and Co-Director of the Constitutional creation and operation of schools as regulated of this invitation to colleagues is encouraged.