Amici Podcast: Recent Episodes
John Caher
The "Amici" podcast series was created to share information and insight from New York's judges and the Unified Court System with constituents, stakeholders and anyone else who might have an interest in these topics.
In this special edition of “Amici: News and Insights from the New York Courts,” Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson turns the microphone toward someone who has spent decades shining a light on others: longtime “Amici” host and UCS veteran John Caher. As John embarked upon retirement last Spring, he reflected on his extraordinary career spanning 30 years in journalism and another decade in the Unified Court System, where he was charged with bringing bold ideas to life — from getting the Court System’s social media presence off the ground to producing an award winning documentary, and co founding the impactful U CAN mentoring program. Here, in a 42-minute interview, Chief Judge Wilson guides a warm, enlightening conversation that spans John’s Buffalo childhood, his path into journalism, the mentors and judges who shaped him, and the curiosity that has driven his life’s work. They revisit the origins of the podcast, the many people whose stories John has brought to light, and the deep commitment to justice, storytelling, and humanity that threads throughout his career. It’s an insightful, moving tribute to a colleague whose creativity and compassion have helped strengthen our Courts and enrich our understanding of one another.Transcript: https://webfiles.nycourts.gov/public/2026-07/rdw-and-john-caher-final_0.pdf
In this episode of Amici: News and Insights from the New York Courts, we meet an inspiring pair of women who made NYS Court System history: Court Officers Rebecca and Jolyn Dingman, the first mother–daughter duo to graduate side by side from the New York State Court Officers Academy. A generation apart but united by service, pride, and deep family bonds, Rebecca and Jolyn completed their training at the upstate academy in June 2025 and have been proudly serving in Oneida County ever since. They join us to share the story of their unique path to the academy, the challenges they faced along the way, and how they relied on strength, resilience, and empathy to reach this extraordinary milestone.Transcript: https://webfiles.nycourts.gov/public/2026-06/amici-mom-and-daughter-court-officers-rebecca-and-jolyn-dingman.pdf
In this special Black History Month edition of Amici: News and Insights from the New York Courts, we shine a light on one of the most extraordinary and often overlooked stories in American legal history. It begins in Ulster County, New York, where a newly freed Black woman discovers that her young son has been illegally sold to a plantation in Alabama. Determined to bring her son home and seek justice for herself and her family, she turns to the Ulster County Courthouse in Kingston, NY. Her name was Isabella, the woman the world would come to know as Sojourner Truth.Thanks to the kindness of those she encountered in the courthouse and the bravery of the grand jury she stood in front of, Sojourner Truth became the first Black woman in the United States to successfully sue a white man and win.To help us explore this remarkable chapter of Sojourner Truth’s life, we’re joined by historian and Ulster County Commissioner of Jurors Paul O’Neill. Paul has made it part of his mission to share Sojourner Truth’s story with today’s jurors as a reminder “That each of us plays a role, and each of us can make a difference.”Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2026-02/Paul-O-Neill-Sojourner-Truth.pdf
Inclusion.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2026-01/mindy%201.7.26%20MJ%20%28002%29_0.pdf
The latest Amici podcast tells the unlikely and inspiring story of a 16-year-old girl who was suddenly rendered quadriplegic yet, without the use of arms or legs, grew up to be a Family Court Judge in Erie County— the Hon. Shannon Filbert.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2026-01/filbert%20Transcript.pdfContent Warning: Frank medical discussion
Justice Llinét Rosado of the Appellate Division, First Department, is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic who became a U.S. citizen in her early 20s. Justice Lourdes Ventura was born to Dominican immigrants. In this Amici podcast, the justices discuss their journey from very humble roots to the upper echelon of the NYS Judiciary. They explain their culture and experiences as part of the Dominican diaspora.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2025-11/Exploring%20Dominican%20Heritage%20with%20Justices%20Rosado%20and%20Ventura.pdf
In this Diversity Dialogue segment of the Amici podcast program, we explore Indian boarding schools, institutions established in the U.S. and Canada with the expressed goal of eradicating indigenous culture. Our guest is Marnee Ryan Lehtonen, of Corning City Court. Marnee’s grandmother grew up in the notorious Thomas Indian School and, with some prodding by Marnee, shared her experience. Here, Marnee shares what she learned from her grandmother. Diversity Dialogue is a production of the NYS Unified Court System’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion. Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2025-09/Marnee.pdf#indianboardingschools #orangeshirtday
Shortly after Peter F. Lane took office as a New York City Civil Court judge in January, he was surprised to get a call from the Estonian Embassy. He assumed it was a wrong number. Regardless, he picked it up and learned that he's apparently the first and only judge in the nation of Estonian descent. In this podcast, we'll explore Judge Lane's background and learn a little about a country in Northern Europe that some of us may have heard of, but most of us could never pinpoint on a map. Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2025-08/Judge%20Peter%20Lane.pdf
The lack of accessible legal services in rural areas is a national crisis, and New York State — where four million people live in rural areas – is certainly no exception.Presiding Justice Elizabeth A. Garry of the Appellate Division, Third Department, is attempting to address the crisis through a novel “Rural Pathways” initiative that places law students in remote areas where they can experience the camaraderie of the local legal community and appreciate the innumerable benefits of life and practice outside the bigger cities.In this Amici podcast, Justice Garry, who grew up on a dairy farm and spent most of her legal and judicial career in one of the more remote regions of the state, speaks of the need for legal services in rural areas and the recently completed and highly successful pilot program she embraced: Rural Pathways.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2025-08/Rural%20Pathways.pdf
In the latest Diversity Dialogue podcast, Esther Louis-Juste, the Justice Coordinator for the Ninth Judicial District and the child of Haitian immigrants, discusses her role in the courts, and how her background and family experiences influence the way she views her job.“I think about my grandpa, who's 102,” she said. “If my grandpa came into this court building today, would he be able to access the courts in a safe manner? Will they be able to accommodate his language barrier or his physical barriers? Will he feel comfortable and safe? If I take the mission statement and apply it to anybody that I encounter, my challenge is making sure that people feel that us, as justice coordinators, and us, as court staff, are meeting their needs for equal justice and access to justice on a daily basis.”The Diversity Dialogues segment of the Court System’s Amici podcast program is produced in conjunction with the Office of Diversity & Inclusion.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2025-06/OPTIMIZE%20Esther%20Louis%20Juste.%20docx.pdf
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2019-08/Goodman-Booth_0.pdf
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2019-08/Goodman-Zhu%20Final.pdf
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2019-06/TamaraKersh.pdf
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2019-05/Goodman-RazzaqFinal_0.pdf
In today's Diversity Dialogue, we'll meet a man well-known to many of us in the court system -- Martin Huynh. But who knew he was a Vietnamese refugee brought out of the country at the age of four by a single parent mom, or that their journey halfway around the worldbegan on a boat and included a period of waiting in the Philippine Islandswhere they slept on hammocks?Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2025-05/Martin.pdf
Less than a decade ago, no Black person had ever been elected to state Supreme Court in any of the 28 counties of the Third Department, an area from Kingston to Canada that accounts for about 45 percent of the counties in New York. The woman who broke that barrier and paved the way for several others, the Hon. Christina L. Ryba, was recently appointed Administrative Judge for the Third Judicial District, which encompasses seven counties in the Albany area. In this episode of Amici, the Court System’s podcast program, Justice Ryba discusses her journey, her dreams and her plans, and reveals personal details about her childhood, family — and year as the Albany Tulip Queen.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2025-06/Judge%20Ryba.pdf
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2019-07/GRIPCourt_0_0.pdf
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2019-11/CynthiaLaFave6-27-19FINAL_0.pdf
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2019-08/Goodman-Booth_0.pdf
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2019-08/Goodman-Zhu%20Final.pdf
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2019-06/TamaraKersh.pdf
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2019-05/Goodman-RazzaqFinal_0.pdf
In this Jewish Heritage Month Diversity Dialogue segment, we are pleased to feature the Hon. Joan B. Lefkowitz. Judge Lefkowitz, who has been on the bench for 38 years, discusses the intricacies of holding true to her Orthodox traditions while serving in the relatively rigid environment of a Court System. It worked, she says, because both she and the Court System accommodated each other’s needs. She also reveals that early in her career when she was young and married she was fired from a private sector job for getting pregnant.Diversity Dialogues is a presentation of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion
A Journey from the Homeless Shelter to the Bench: Hon. Raymond P. Fernandez (edited) by John Caher
Growing up in poverty with parents addicted to drugs, few would have predicted that Ray Fernandez would grow up to be a judge. In this Amici podcast, the Hon. Raymond P. Fernandez discusses his struggle, the guardian angels he encountered along the way, and the importance of rejecting victim mentality and learning to stand on top of, rather than be buried beneath, our past. Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2025-04/Judge%20Fernandez.pdf
On Sept. 11, 2001, then-Captain Luis Valcarcel of the Court System’s Department of Public Safety happened to be in Albany attending a meeting on, of all things, emergency preparedness when the country was attacked by terrorists. He was viewing the events unfold on live television, watching as a large plane approached the World Trade Center, and knowing full well that his brother was inside that building.Over his 47 years with the courts, Chief Valcarcel witnessed the growth of a newly unified court system that evolved under the nine Chief Judges under which he served. He ushered in new eras in security and helped make the Department of Public Safety the robust, cutting edge force that is today. But nothing compares to the moment he saw the plane hit the World Trade Center where his brother was working.In this new Amici podcast, Chief Valcarcel, who is retiring effective April 1, shares his story of growing up in the Bronx with a little girl who is now one of the most influential individuals in the nation, as well his memories of 9/11 and the impact that day had not only on his life, but the entire court system.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2025-03/Chief%20Valcarcel%20final.pdf
In this episode of Diversity Dialogues, a production of the New York State Unified Court System's Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Amici podcast program, we're going to pull back the curtain and try to see the world from a different set of eyes. We are going to explore how this world looks from the perspective of a little person, learn a little bit about the condition called “dwarfism,” and have a frank discussion about the challenges those with that condition encounter every day in our society. Our guest is the Hon. Sarika Kapoor, a judge in Nassau County who stands all of three foot, eight inches tall. Judge Kapoor is believed to be the first little person ever to serve in the New York State Judiciary. Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2025-04/Judge%20Kapoor.pdf(NB: The podcast was recorded in October 2024)#dwarfism #achondroplasia
Civics Learning Week kicks off today and runs throughout the week, and for the first time ever the New York Court System is involved, reflecting a priority of New York Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson to promote civic education.In this short podcast, Zenith Taylor, the first Civic Engagement Coordinator in the courts, discusses the importance of civics education, what brought her to this position, and the activities the Unified Court System will engage in this week.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2025-03/zenith%20taylor-compressed_0.pdf
In this St. Patrick’s Day episode of Diversity Dialogues, we chat with Shane O’Donoghue, the child of Irish immigrants who discusses the centuries long ethnic and religious persecution of his ancestors in Ireland, and the discrimination and hatred the Irish endured in America. Shane, a management analyst in the Court System's Division of E-filing, covers the Cromwell reign of terror, the Great Hunger and, in this country, the nativist Know Nothing Party, which accused Irish and German immigrants of destroying the country by “poisoning the blood” of the nation, committing crimes and taking jobs that rightfully belonged to native born Americans.Diversity Dialogues is a production of the NYS Unified Court System's Office of Diversity & Inclusion. We live in a nation of immigrants, and our Diversity Dialogue segment is designed to highlight people in the court system who bring unique experiences and different perspectives to everything we do behind the scenes and in the courtroom."[Diversity] is incredibly important," Shane said. "It creates an atmosphere of empathy. Once you see that diversity and you can see what other people's socio and economical challenges are or what their cultural problems that they faced, what their stories are, you kind of have a sense of empathy for them, and you want to give them a helping hand. You understand why things are the way they are and how things can get better."Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2025-03/Shane%20O%27Donoghue.pdf#StPatricksDay #DiversityDialogues #IrishImmigrants #HistoryLesson #CulturalHeritage #ImmigrationHistory #CourtSystem #DiversityAndInclusion #EmpathyInAction
This episode of Diversity Dialogues, a production of the NYS Court System's Office of Diversity and Inclusion, is a story of two young people from Poland who met in a displaced persons camp after World War II, found a way to emigrate to America, built a successful business, and raised two daughters who carry their memories, and to some extent, their trauma. One of those daughters is Joan Levenson, principal law clerk to the Hon. Deborah Kaplan and counsel to the New York State Judicial Committee on Elder Justice.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2025-01/Joan%20Levenson%20FINAL_0.pdf
In this Veterans Day episode of Diversity Dialogues, a production of the New York State Unified Court System’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, we explore leadership, service and camaraderie from the perspective of a woman who followed an unlikely path to become an Army medic, treating Wounded Warriors during Operation Desert Storm, and then an equally unlikely path to become the first Black woman ever to serve as Deputy District Executive and now District Executive in the Eighth Judicial District. Ms. Moore discusses her journey, the influence of Buffalo area role models such as judges Wilbur Trammell, Samuel Green, Rose Sconiers, Shirley Troutman, Jeanette Ogden and Kevin Carter, and her commitment to lifting as she climbs.“It's very important that to the best of my ability, I make myself available to anyone who wants to speak to me, who I'm able to assist in moving forward, to the youth who come after us,” Ms. Moore said. “Every one of us has someone who was behind us, who has made it easier for us to get where we're going. And it is due to their hard work, their sacrifice, their willingness to lift as you climb.” Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-11/Tasha%20Moore.pdf
In a new Diversity Dialogue podcast, Rafael Dilones, the Clerk of Richmond County Family Court and the child of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, reveals that as a child he questioned whether he was fully American, even though, as a natural born citizen, he’s as American as George Washington. He simply didn’t see anyone who looked like him in authority positions.“When I was in grade school, none of my teachers were of color,” Rafael said. “They were all great teachers and very encouraging, but I didn't see anyone that looked like me, and I think that matters. When I saw people on TV, the people that had the power did not look like me, and the people that were marginalized, they were the people that looked like me. Representation matters so, so much, especially to the young kids. They need to see that not only are we a member of this society, but we have a lot to contribute.”Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-09/Rafael%20Dillones%20CORRECTED_0.pdf
It's hard to imagine anyone having a better grasp of the history of the Office of Court Administration than Legislative Counsel Marc Bloustein -- for the simple reason that Marc is the history of the OCA. Marc was there at the start of OCA and, in his 50-year career, has served under every Chief Administrative Judge in state history.In this wide-ranging and insightful interview, Marc discusses the origins and evolution of statewide court management - and reveals some tidbits that only an insider would know. Marc is retiring Sept. 26.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-09/Marc%20Bloustein%20FINAL.pdf
For today's Diversity Dialogue segment, we're going to commemorate National Wellness Month, albeit just a little bit late, with a program that will largely focus on legal, judicial, and court workforce practice. Our guest is Dr. Aimée Neri Gueye of the Office for Justice Initiatives, Child Welfare and Family Justice Division.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-09/AimeeNeri.pdf#wellness #traumainformed #circlekeepers #cwcip #icwa
In a special co-production of the Historical Society of the New York Courts and Amici, the podcast program of the NYS Unified Court System, an insightful panel discusses with Host John Caher the growth of the Latino Judges Association, a little known case that ended school desegregation in California and set the stage for future civil rights victories, an upcoming inaugural moot court competition, and the differences between bilingual education and English as a Second Language (ESL). Three sitting judges – Supreme Court Justices Patria Frias-Colón and Wilma Guzman and Court of Claims Judge Linda Mejias-Glover – and Daniel O. Sierra of the Historical Society offer insight and perspective.Video: https://youtu.be/ZeAFOMc3foUTranscript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-08/Mendez%2024-edited.pdf
In this latest podcast production by the NY Courts Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Today we have a program like no other, because we have a guest like no other. Nicole "Nicky" Hylton is a new Deputy Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Special Projects Coordinator, but that doesn't begin to tell the story of a "queer" Black woman who grew up with functionally illiterate parents in Jamaica and brought her remarkable experience and two master's degrees to the NYS Unified Court System. Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-08/Nicky%20Hylton.pdf
In this Amici podcast, we introduce you to the three chairs of the NYS Permanent Commission on Access to Justice -- Helaine M. Barnett, the Grand Dame of the Access to Justice movement, Supreme Court Justice Christina Ryba and Acting Supreme Court Justice Shahabuddeen A. Ally.Transcript: Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-07/A2J.pdf
Thirty-four years ago today, President George Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act, the world's first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities.Our guest today is a young woman with a very special perspective on the doors that were opened, literally, by the ADA, and a painfully special insight into the consequences of inner-city gun violence.Her name is Rolanda “Dolly” Coleman, a soon to be second year law student at Fordham Law School, who was interning this summer with the New York City Criminal Court.Rolanda was only 17 years old and living in public housing in East New York when she was shot three times in a stairwell, paralyzing her and leaving her to navigate life in a wheelchair.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-07/Rolanda.pdf
In this podcast, Diego Santiago, a court attorney/ referee in the NY Courts, discusses his journey as a gay Puerto Rican, the meaning of "Pride," why he prefers "queer" to "gay," the concepts of "social justice" and “Nuyorican,” explains why gay men often identify with non-gay strong women like Madonna, Cher, Judy Garland and Barbara Streisand -- and even entertains us by singing a stanza from "I Will Transform" by Pax Ressler.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-06/Diego%20Santiago%20final.pdf
In a new Diversity Dialogue podcast, the Hon. John Zhuo Wang, a Criminal Court Judge in New York City, discusses the persecution and oppression his family suffered at the hands of the communists in China, his early battles with anti-Asian discrimination, his realization that his ethnic group is just as capable of racial bias as other groups – and his insightful reflections on what makes for a good judge, summed up in one word: humility. Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/doc/37426
For this Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Diversity Dialogue, we are honored to have an opportunity to chat with the Hon. Jeffrey K. Oing, an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department, in Manhattan. Justice Oing is a native of Hong Kong whose parents brought him to the United States at the age of four and raised him in East Harlem.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-05/Justice%20Oing%20Final.pdf
Since its creation in 1995, the Commercial Division has transformed business litigation in New York, and as you'll hear, made the New York courts a preferred forum for complex business disputes.We have three guests with us today: the Honorable Jennifer Schecter, who has served on the Commercial Division since 2018; the Honorable Joseph Lamendola, one of the Presiding Justices of the Commercial Division in Onondaga County; and Robert L. Haig, a partner at Kelley Drye & Warren in Manhattan, and Chairman of the Commercial Division Advisory Council.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-05/commercial%20division.pdf
Antonella Barbieri was the young mother of a 2 ½ year old boy when she received the shocking and life-altering news: Your son has autism.“I cried,” she said. “I cried a lot.”In this candid and moving episode of Diversity Dialogues, Antonella, a senior management analyst in the Division of E-Filing, takes us behind the curtain to view the real life experiences of an autistic boy and his mother. She discusses those first moments and days, the daily struggles of the parent of an autistic child. And you’ll hear how she wouldn’t change a thing and believes the experience has made her a better and more patient manager. We hope you enjoy—and share—this Autism Awareness Month feature.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-04/Antonella%20Barbieri.pdf#autism #autismawarenessmonth #neurodiversity
Many judges decorate their office with pictures of judicial luminaries who they view as role models. In Supreme Court Justice Joanne D. Quiñones' office, you’ll find Wonder Woman memorabilia. Learn why and hear about her "Camp Quiñones" mentoring program, in this new Diversity Dialogue podcast, a production of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-04/Judge%20Quinones%20final.pdf
The New York State Court of Claims is often a below-the-radar court in the state court system. It rarely makes news. Its jurisdiction is limited to civil cases against the state and some of its entities. There are no jurors, so each case is decided by a judge. And since the judges are all appointed by the Governor, they never interact with the public in the way that judges campaigning for public office do.In a new Amici podcast, Acting Presiding Judge Richard E. Sise and Court of Claims Judges Catherine Leahy-Scott and Ramón Rivera demystify the court, explaining why it exists, what it does and how it does it. Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-03/Court%20of%20Claims%20final.pdf
When Carolyn Walker-Diallo, New York City Civil Court Administrative Judge, took her oath of office in 2015 with her hand on the Qur’an, the public recoil was instant. She was called “un-American,” a "jihadist" and a “terrorist.” For a time, she and her family were under armed guard.In this new Diversity Dialogue podcast, Justice Walker-Diallo, the first Muslim person to serve as a judge in New York State, discusses Islam and her spiritual journey. She also reveals that that prior to converting, she harbored negative presumptions about Islam based upon the misrepresentation of the religion in the news and the media. Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-02/Administrative%20Judge%20Walker-Diallo.pdf#ramadan #Islamophobia
Fifty years ago, Judge Harold Arnoldus Stevens made history when he became the first African American to sit on New York's highest court, the Court of Appeals. In this extraordinary podcast, the two attorneys who served as Judge Steven's law clerks -- Robert McGreevy and Lawrence Zweifach -- provide an inside look at this trailblazer.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-02/Harold%20Stevens.pdf#gibsondunn #courtofappeals
As the third of eight children in an Irish Catholic family, future Deputy Chief Administrative Judge James P. Murphy picked up a lot of skills early on that would come in handy when he undertook the daunting task of overseeing day-to-day trial court operations in 57 of New York’s 62 counties and put him in charge of 640 judges and 6,000 non-judicial employees: teamwork, collaboration, humility, group dynamics and a keen understanding that the interests of the clan as a whole outweigh those of any individual.Judge Murphy, who was appointed last year as the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the Courts Outside New York City, discusses his background and management approach in a new Amici podcast.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-02/Judge%20Murphy.pdf
In this Diversity Dialogue segment, we are honored and delighted to welcome to the program a truly historic figure, the Honorable Milton A. Tingling, the keystone of a nation's first three-generation family of Black judges. The Tingling family history and legacy is truly remarkable."You don't command respect," he said. "You earn respect."NOTE: THE PODCAST DESCRIBES JUDGE TINGLING AS NEW YORK'S FIRST BLACK COMMISSIONER OF JURORS. HE WAS THE FIRST IN NYC. THE FIRST BLACK JURY COMMISSIONER STATEWIDE WAS SIDNEY OGLESBY OF ONONDAGA COUNTY.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2024-01/Milton%20Tingling_0.pdf
Daniel Santiago-Stewart, a Senior Management Analyst in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, discusses the challenges of growing up gay in a deeply religious home, and his successful quest for happiness and peace."I am happy. Things could have been easier, but I don't regret what happened becauseI am who I am because of it. I am strong because of it."Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-12/Dan%20Santiago.pdf
In this Diversity Dialogue podcast, Linda Wiedrick, Chief Clerk in the Erie County Surrogate's Court, discusses her Mohawk roots and family story, reveals that the Mohawks were the first feminists and environmentalists, and shares the traditional Native American prayer of Thanksgiving."We're here. We're strong. We're surviving. We're striving not to lose our customs and traditions," says Ms. Wiedrick.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-11/Linda%20Wiedrick%20Podcast%20Transcript%20final.pdf
In this Diversity Dialogue edition, the Hon. Lillian Wan, the first and only Asian American woman to serve on any of the four departments of the Appellate Division, discusses her childhood, growing up with immigrant parents, the biases she confronted and how those life experiences made her the judge she is.“I wanted my courtroom to be a place where everyone feels welcome, everyone feels included, where everyone feels, regardless of the outcome—win, lose or draw— that I'm not going to prejudge you based on what you look like or where you come from and that you're going to get a fair shake in my courtroom, whether you love my decision or hate my decision, and that's still what I aspire to.”Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-10/Judge%20Wan.pdf
" I can't think of anything more important in today's society than to defend the Judiciary."In this Amici podcast, former Presiding Justice Rolando T. Acosta of the Appellate Division, First Department, explains how growing up under a dictatorship where the judiciary was complicit in, rather than a force against, injustice, fueled his passion for judicial independence from political pressure. Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-10/Judge%20Acosta%20final.pdf
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion is pleased to present this podcast interview with Sgt. Bernice Torres, a NYS court officer who will discuss her Puerto Rican roots, her journey out of poverty, how she became a world class handball player -- and why she insists that she has the best law enforcement job possible.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-08/Sgt.%20Torres.pdf
The Hon. Peter O'Donoghue didn't let blindness interfere with his goals of attending college and law school, passing the bar and ultimately becoming a judge. In this new Diversity Dialogue podcast, Judge O'Donoghue shares his inspiring story.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-08/Judge%20O-Donoghue_0.pdf
In this Diversity Dialogue segment, the Hon. Joseph Zayas, the first Latino ever appointed Chief Administrative Judge in NYS, discusses his childhood in a Harlem housing project, growing up with a mentally ill father and his vision for the court system he manages.
Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-07/Judge%20ZayasFINAL_0.pdf
Dr. Christine Farrow, the first female and first African American ever to serve as Commissioner of Jurors in Erie County, reflects on her life, her career, the importance of mentoring and her challenge in diversifying the jury pool.
Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-07/Christine%20Farrow.pdf
In this Diversity Dialogue podcast, New York Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson discusses his childhood growing up with a totally blind mother, his recent appointment as the first Chief Judge of color in state history, his bottom-up management style and his plan to create more work for his colleagues on the high court.
Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-06/Chief%20Judge%20Wilson%20Final%20RDW%20edits.pdf
In this presentation of the Unified Court System's Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Charlie Arrowood, senior counsel to the Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission discusses their own gender transition, the meaning of terms such as "non-binary" and why the use of "they" and "them" as a singular pronoun is both appropriate and grammatically correct.Transcript: ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/fi…0Arrowood%20.pdf
In this presentation of the Unified Court System's Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Charlie Arrowood, senior counsel to the Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission discusses his own gender transition, the meaning of terms such as "non-binary" and why the use of "they" and "them" as a singular pronoun is both appropriate and grammatically correct.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-05/Charlie%20Arrowood%20.pdf
In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Month, Diversity Dialogues is honored to present the Hon. Shahabuddeen Ally a native of Guyana and the first Muslim man elected to the bench in New York State.An unabashed believer in the American Dream, Judge Ally grew up in a one-bedroom South Bronx apartment that housed as many as 13 people. Compared to the life they left behind in Guyana, it was paradise.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-05/Shah%20Ally.pdf
Randy Bowens, the Statewide Equal Justice Coordinator for the NYS Courts, discusses his background and new role in this Diversity Dialogue podcast of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-04/Randy%20Bowens.pdf
Thirty years ago today, the Hon. Judith S. Kaye made history when she was sworn in as the first female Chief Judge in New York State, a position she would hold for a record-breaking 15 years. All told, Judge Kaye, who was the first woman ever to sit on the state’s highest court, served 25 years, three months, 19 days and 12 hours on the Court of Appeals. In a special Women’s History Month edition of Diversity Dialogues, a podcast program of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Marilyn Marcus, Executive Director of the Historical Society of the New York Courts, discusses what Judith Smith Kaye meant to the courts, the law and to her personally.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-03/Marilyn%20Marcus%20on%20JSK.pdf
Seventy-six years ago, the Mendez family and other Mexican American families in Southern California took on segregated schools and set the stage for the US Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education.On March 23, a re-enactment of Mendez will be presented in Manhattan and virtuallyTo commemorate the decision from a Ninth Circuit US Court of Appeals, the Latino Judges’ Association is sponsoring a reenactment of the case with the help of students, faculty and administrators at Columbia Law School and St. John's Law School. The event, which is open to the public and comes with CLE credit for attorneys, will be held March 23rd at the Southern District of New York in Manhattan and virtually. Details: https://hsnyc.formstack.com/forms/20230323_mendez_v_westminster_reenactment_registrationTranscript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-02/MendezFinal.pdf
Judges Troy Webber and Richard Rivera — proud products of the South Bronx — were inspired to become lawyers, judges and co-chairs of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission by the injustices they witnessed as children.In this Diversity Dialogue podcast, the judges talk about their childhoods, what they witnessed and their mission in co-chairing the first court-based commission in the nation committed to racial and ethnic fairness in the courts.Transcript: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2023-02/WebberRivera.pdf
Salihah Denman -- a first generation immigrant from Suriname and the first member of her family to attend law school -- discusses the New York Legal Opportunity Program or "NY LEO," an extraordinary initiative of the NYS Judicial Institute that helps traditionally underrepresented students prepare for law school.
In this Native American Heritage Month episode of Diversity Dialogues, we are proud to feature the Hon. Mark Montour, the first Native American ever elected to a state judicial position. In this podcast, Judge Montour, who serves on the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, discusses his Mohawk roots and the history of his tribe.Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022-11/Judge%20Montour.pdf
Perhaps more than anyone else, Jeff Carucci has spearheaded the NYS Court System's lengthy effort to make "e-filing" accessible in every court and every county. On the occasion of Jeff's retirement, please enjoy this short chat with a man known internally as a "true gentleman."
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022-11/Jeff%20Carucci.pdf
After scoring a number of “firsts” in her judicial career –first African American woman appointed as Supervising Judge in the Ninth JD, first woman to be appointed Administrative Judge in the Ninth and the first African American to be appointed Administrative Judge outside of New York City – Judge Kathie E. Davidson has embarked on a new challenge: running the cutting-edge think thank that is the NYS Judicial Institute.
In this interview, she discusses her past, her present and her vision for the future of the Judicial Institute.
For this Diversity Dialogue segment, we're pleased to feature Chief David Santiago. Chief Santiago, a court officer since Bill Clinton was president and Mario Cuomo was governor, was the first person of color and first Latino in Suffolk County to become a sergeant and a lieutenant and a captain and a major and now chief.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022-09/David%20Santiago.pdf
HispanicHeritageMonth
Every day, the NYS Court System interacts with people of all backgrounds, all skill sets and all education levels. Our materials, both in print and online, are only helpful if they are clear, concise and intelligible to all.
Bill Perritt is leading our effort to cleanse court materials of legalese, unnecessary jargon, confusing acronyms and bureaucratese.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022-07/Bill%20Perritt.pdf
John Sullivan is the statewide ADA coordinator for the New York courts. In this podcast interview coinciding with the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Mr. Sullivan discusses the law and implications for the court system and court users.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022-07/John%20Sullivan.pdf
The Commission to Reimagine the Future of New York Courts is charting a course forward for the court system. Commission Chair Hank Greenberg, former NYS Bar Association president, and Justice Craig J. Doran of the Seventh Judicial District, discuss the working of the Commission and a new working group led by Justice Doran.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022-06/Reimagine2.pdf
For this Pride Month edition of Diversity Dialogues, we are fortunate to have not one but two pioneering judges as guests: the Honorable Anthony Cannataro of New York's highest court, the Court of Appeals, and Justice Joanne Winslow of the Appellate Division Fourth Department. Together the judges co-chair the Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission of the New York Courts.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022-05/PrideMonth22_1.pdf
This Amici podcast features Sean Byrne, Executive Deputy Commissioner at the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, or OASAS. Mr. Byrne discusses addiction, the state's response and the OASAS relationship with the courts.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022-05/Sean%20Byrne%20.pdf
Judge Rachel "Ruchie" Freier is believed to be the first Hasidic woman to hold public office in United States history. Dubbed the “Hasidic Superwoman of Night Court” by The New York Times and named one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world by the Jerusalem Post, Judge Freier shatters stereotypes about Hasidic woman neither being seen nor heard outside their insular community.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/.../files/2022-05/Judge%20Freier.pdf
NYS Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks discusses a plan to streamline and modernize New York's convoluted, cumbersome and inefficient court structure. The interview was conducted by Daniel K. Wiig, host of the New York County Lawyers Association's Amicus Curiae podcast.
This Women's History Month program features the Hon. Deborah Kaplan, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the Courts Inside New York City. In this Diversity Dialogue podcast, Judge Kaplan describes her myriad roles -- and the challenges inherent in being a female in a leadership position.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022-03/Judge%20Kaplan_0.pdf
The son of a West Indies immigrant father and a mother of European roots, the Hon. Norman St. George brings a diverse background to his position as Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the Courts Outside NYC.
“I believe I'm able to relate in some way to everyone and anyone,” he says in this new Diversity Dialogue podcast of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. “And I think that makes a difference when you are attempting to work with people and gain trust and respect. I can always find something in common.”
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022-01/Judge%20St.%20George.pdf
Vishnu Priya, a native of India, came to United States in 2001 to attend graduate school at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and has been with the court system since earning her master's in info science. In this podcast, Vishnu discusses her background, her job and the opportunities available in the NYS Court System for techies.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-12/VishnuPriyaFinal.pdf
In this Veteran's Day Diversity Dialogue segment, we're pleased to welcome Ron Pawelczak, the District Executive for the Seventh Judicial District. Ron is a decorated veteran of the US Army, who served in the armed forces during operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Just Cause.
In this interview, Ron discusses the difficulties managing such a large and geographically diverse district, the challenges in recruiting a diverse workforce -- and the personal challenges he has faced as a gay man.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-11/Ron%20Pawelczak.pdf
Charlotte Watson, Executive Director the New York State Judicial Committee on Women in the Courts, has been crusading to end violence against women for virtually her entire life. In this Amici podcast, Charlotte shares the personal and professional journey that began as a little girl in her grandmother's beauty salon.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-10/Charlotte%20Watson.pdf
Judge Edwina Mendelson wears a variety of hats in the court system. She’s the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives, oversees about 300 problem-solving courts as director of the Office of Policy & Planning, oversees the Child Welfare Court Improvement Project and leads the Equal Justice in Courts initiative. She describes her most recent project, implementing the recommendations of Secretary Johnson in his October 2020 report on institutional bias in the courts, as the “assignment of a lifetime.”
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-09/Judge%20Mendelson.pdf
The Hon. Edwina Mendelson is tasked with ensuring meaningful access to justice for all New Yorkers, and was recently selected to implement key reforms toward eradicating bias in the courts. In this Amici podcast, Judge Mendelson reveals her vision and plan.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-09/Judge%20Mendelson_0.pdf
The daughter of two deaf parents -- one from Mexico, the other from Puerto Rico -- Maria Izaguirre is a Sign Language Interpreter in the NYS Court System. In this Diversity Dialogue segment for both National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Hispanic Heritage Month, Maria tells her fascinating story.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-09/Maria%20Izaguirre.pdf
In this Diversity Dialogue segment, we're joined by Lt. Vincent Sinclair, a court officer recently commended by Chief Judge DiFiore for his role in designing a new Community Affairs program.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-08/Vincent%20Sinclair.pdf
Addiction is not something that can be put on "pause" because there's a pandemic going on. This Amici podcast features Craig Stratton and Debbie Miller, two key members of Drug Court teams who creatively found ways to keep these problem-solving courts active and vibrant in the face of unparalleled challenges.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-08/StrattonMiller.pdf
At the 2021 Judicial Summer Seminar, retired Judge Betty Weinberg Ellerin spoke to the judicial response to gender bias in the courtroom.
Judge Ellerin, a historic figure in her own right, began with a brief but enlightening history of the Committee on Women in the Courts, a history Judge Ellerin is very much a part of.
Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-06/Judge%20Ellerin.pdf
In this episode of Amici, we are very pleased and proud to present to you Judge Ellerin's opening remarks.
Over the past few weeks, the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission has posted a dozen oral history interviews with some of the pioneers who, 30 years ago, helped establish the nation's first judicial commission committed to racial and ethnic fairness in the courts.
Today we'll close out the series with an interview with Joyce Y. Hartsfield, the former Executive Director of the Commission, who can share a perspective gleaned from over 20 years with the Commission.
Thirty years ago, Justice Chin Brandt was one of the founders of the nation's first court-based commission dedicated to ethnic and racial fairness in the courts: the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission.
The Hon. Peggy Cooper Davis, an original member of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, looks back on the panel and its work on the occasion of its 30th anniversary.
Attorney James Goodale, an original member of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, discusses the early days of the now 30 year old commission dedicated to racial and ethnic fairness in the NY courts.
In this production by the NYS Court System's Office of Diversity and Inclusion, two judges believed to be the first married same-sex couple appointed to the same court in New York share their views and experiences for a Pride Month podcast
The judges are both African American. They were both raised by single mothers. They both worked for the Legal Aid Society's civil division, where they were involved in housing issues and where they met. They raised two sons together. And earlier this year, when Judge Howard was appointed to Housing Court, she joined her spouse who was appointed two years earlier.
Hon. Richard B. Lowe, an early member and eventual chairman of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, discusses the early days of the nation's first court-based commission dedicated to racial and ethnic fairness in the courts.
Welcome to the latest episode of a brief series of oral history interviews with the trailblazers and pioneers who were instrumental in establishing the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission. The recordings are excerpts of interviews conducted in preparation for a documentary on Ambassador Williams.
Today, we're joined by Justice Rose Sconiers who eventually became Chair of the Commission
In recognition of a 30th anniversary of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, the co-chairs, Justice Troy Webber and Justice Shirley Troutman, and Executive Director Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, decided to post excerpts that described the early days and challenges of the Commission. Today, we feature Edna Wells Handy, the Commission's first Executive Director.
Welcome to the latest episode of a brief series of oral history interviews with the trailblazers and pioneers who were instrumental in establishing the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission. Each of the recordings is an excerpt of an interview conducted in preparation for a documentary on the life of Franklin H. Williams.
In recognition of a 30th anniversary of the commission, the co-chairs, Justices Shirley Troutman and Troy Webber, and Executive Director Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, decided to post excerpts that describe the early days and challenges of the commission.
Today, we feature Anthony Suarez, a founding member of the Commission and former President of the Puerto Rican Bar Association.
Thirty years ago, the New York courts established the first court-based commission dedicated to racial and ethnic fairness -- the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission. Judge Juanita Bing Newton was there, and in this program she reveals the early dynamics.
Thirty years ago, when the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission was just getting started, Jonathan Lippman was a deputy court administrator (who went on to become Chief Judge). In this segment, Judge Lippman reveals the early discussions and the stonewalling that occurred when the Commission attempted to independently examine issues of racial fairness in the NY courts.
Thirty years ago, the first court-based commission in the nation was established in New York, the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission. In this oral history, one of the founders, the Hon. Samuel Green, discusses the origins.
The Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission was established 30 years ago by then-Chief Judge Sol Wachtler. The following is brief segment of an interview with Judge Wachtler in which he discusses the factors and forces that led him to establish the Commission.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, the co-chairs, Justices Troy Webber and Shirley Troutman, and Executive Director Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, are releasing excepts from oral history interviews with several of the pioneers who helped create and establish the Commission.
In this initial episode, we’ll share some insights from Judge Lewis Douglass, an historic figure in his own right who was a founder and chair of the Commission.
In honor of Asian and Pacific Islander month, we're proud to feature Lieutenant Henry C. Chen, a court officer in the New York City Civil Court. We will be chatting with Lieutenant Chen about his background, Asian Americans in the court system, and a new fraternal organization that he helped start, the New York State Courts Asian Jade Society.
The Gender Fairness Committee of the Third Judicial District has completed oral history interviews with many of the true pioneering women judges in the region. Judge Peters, the first Supreme Court justice, the first Appellate Division justice, the first Presiding Justice, certainly fits the definition of "pioneer."
The Third Judicial District Gender Fairness Committee has conducted oral history interviews with some of the pioneering women judges in the region. This podcast features the Hon. Rachel Kretser, Albany City Court Judge (ret.)
Retired Judge Betty Weinberg Ellerin, 91, discusses the progress women have achieved in the judiciary and the courts during her decades of service, as well as the challenges that remain.
Video: https://youtu.be/CNcziTflTe0
In today's diversity dialogue segment, we're proud to feature Rosemary Garland-Scott, an attorney and native of the Bahamas who wears three hats in overseeing ethics standards in the New York Courts.
Omar Cumberbatch, health coach, reformed sugar addict, radio talk show host and deputy district executive for the 9th Judicial District, discusses his roots as the child of a Jamaican mom and a dad from Barbados, and reveals how he built a great career in the NYS Courts.
We're all aware of Brown v. Board of Education, the unanimous 1954 Supreme Court decision that legally anyhow sent Jim Crow in separate but equal to the historical dystopian. But years earlier, in 1947, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion that helped blaze the trail to Brown. In Mendez v. Westminster, the court shielded children of Mexican ancestry from public school segregation in California. On April 14th, the 74th anniversary of a decision and the 20th anniversary of a documentary that lifted the Mendez case from the footnotes to the text of history, the Latino Judges Association is sponsoring a Continuing Legal Education program. That program is co-sponsored by Latino Justice PRLDEF, the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, CUNY Law School Center for Latinx Rights and Equality, the Historical Society of the New York State Courts and the New York State Judicial Institute. The Judicial Institute is also providing technical support.
The Latino Judges Association and The Judicial Friends are jointly sponsoring a virtual Black History Month Literary Program Feb. 10 featuring "The Dead Are Arising" by Les Payne and Tamara Payne.
Ms. Payne will be interviewed by CBS anchor Maurice DuBois via Zoom. This Amici podcast interview with Ms. Payne is a sneak preview.
To register for the Feb. 10, 6-8 p.m. program, RSVP to Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels at smanzane@nycourts.gov
In this Diversity Dialogue interview, Sheila Sproule Executive Director of the ADR Inclusion Network Steering Committee, discusses efforts to diversify alternative dispute resolution. Sheila is a management analyst with the NYS Court system's Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Since April 2009, the Honorable Juanita Bing Newton has served as Dean of the New York State Judicial Institute, the capstone of a career as an attorney, a trial judge, and an administrative judge. On the occasion of her retirement, Judge Bing Newton sat with Amici to discuss her life and career to date, and the past, present and future of judicial education.
Sherrill Spatz, Inspector General for the NY Courts, and Kay-Ann Porter Campbell, Managing Inspector General for Bias Matters, discuss the office and its role in battling discrimination and bias in the courts
Betty Campbell, the first African American female commissioner of jurors in the entire State of New York, tells her inspiring story to Diversity Dialogues, a production of the NYS Court's Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
In the latest "Diversity Dialogue" episode, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion brings you an insightful and informative chat with Troy O'Dend'Hal, who brought his experience, skills and diverse background -- Native American and Puerto Rican - to the court system just a year ago.
As part of our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion is sponsoring a series of interviews with employees of Hispanic descent. Today we feature Sylvia T. Miranda, a court analyst in the civil side of Brooklyn's Supreme Court.
Sylvia was born in the Bronx, of Puerto Rican parents, but the family moved back to Puerto Rico and she spent her childhood there. Sylvia is President of the Cervantes Society.
As part of its "Diversity Dialogue" series, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion is spotlighting employees of Hispanic heritage during Hispanic Heritage Month. Meet Sky Davis -- and learn about her unusual first name, and the world's best sancocho made by her mom, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic
In this Hispanic Heritage Month interview, Elix R. Madera-Fliegelman discusses her roots in Puerto Rico, and how her own experience with domestic violence inspired her to help others.
The Hon. Gerald J. Whalen, Presiding Justice, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, leads a court that has the last word in nearly every case in Central, Western and Southern NYS. In this interview with the NYS Judicial Institute, Justice Whalen discusses his court and judicial philosphy -- and offers some inside hints for lawyers arguing before the Fourth Department.
The Hon. Elizabeth A. Garry, Presiding Justice, Appellate Division, Third Department, is in charge of a court that has the last word in almost every case in a 28-county region of New York State. In this interview with the NYS Judicial Institute, Justice Garry discusses her court's unique role, and her own judicial philosophy.
The Hon. Alan D. Scheinkman runs the busiest appellate court in New York State, and possibly the nation. In this program, created and produced by the NYS Judicial Institute, Justice Scheinkman -- Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department -- discusses his court and his judicial philosophy. Welcome to Meet Your PJ, the latest installment in a four-part series on the four "PJs" whose courts nearly always have the last word on New York cases.
In New York State, the four departments of the Appellate Division have the final word in almost all cases. The NYS Judicial Institute create this series to introduce you to the four Presiding Justices who run this vital courts. This program features the audio of our interview with the Hon. Rolando T. Acosta, Presiding Justice, Appellate Division, First Department. Video is available at https://youtu.be/k3gMd0Js_uw
The Historical Society of the New York Courts is producing a day-by-day, and in some cases minute-by-minute, account of how the court system responded to the coronavirus challenge. Marilyn Marcus, Marilyn Marcus, Executive Director of the Historical Society, discusses the project.
In this final episode of the New York State Judicial Institute's "Women Leaders in the Courts" series, we're delighted to interview Christine Sisario, the Director of Technology for the Unified Court System.
This is the fourth of a five-part series produced by the New York State Judicial Institute to highlight "Women Leaders in the Courts" -- the women who help manage a $3 billion enterprise with 16,000 employees. Meet Maureen McAlary, the court system's budget director.
As part of its "Women Leaders in the Courts" series, the NYS Judicial Institute proudly presents Nancy J. Barry, Chief of Operations.
The NYS Judicial Institute is proud to present the second installment of "Women Leaders in the Courts," with a spotlight on just a few of the extraordinary women who help run the largest and most complex court system in the nation. Today's episode features Eileen D. Millett, counsel to the Office of Court Administration.
The New York State Judicial Institute is proud to present "Women Leaders in the Courts," featuring interviews with just a handful of the exceptional women to help run the largest and most complex court system in the nation. This episode spotlights Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. Video is available at https://youtu.be/jgdWsDGkRoU
The Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission of the New York courts sponsors public Pride Month events in every region of the state every June, except this year, with the pandemic, that wasn't feasible. However, the Failla commission and the Office of Diversity & Inclusion held a special Skype event on June 18th, moderated by Tony Walters, director of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. In this podcast, we're bringing you the audio portion of that presentation.
On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act, which brought civil rights protections to disabled individuals. In recognition of the 30th anniversary of that historic occasion, we feature Dave Whalen, an attorney with the New York State Court System who happens to be a quadriplegic.
Fifteen years ago, the House of Representatives designated June "Caribbean-American Heritage Month" to recognize the contributions of immigrants from that region to American society. In this Diversity Dialogue podcast, we feature, with Betty Matondo John, a second-generation immigrant from Barbados. Betty is secretary to Associate Justice Sylvia Hinds Radix of the Appellate Division, Second Department.
In this Pride Month Diversity Dialogue interview, Justin Harby-Conforti, Principal Court Attorney for the Honorable David H. Guy, Surrogate and Acting Supreme Court Justice in Broome County, discusses his position, and the ways in which his personal story perhaps enables him to bring a particular sensitivity to the issues that arise i Surrogate's Court.
In this Diversity Dialogue interview, Yao Chen, a web developer with the NYS Unified Court System, discusses her journey from Shanghai to New York City, and the opportunities that await bright, hardworking people of all backgrounds.
In this Diversity Dialogue interview, Yao Chen, an immigrant from China, discusses the career opportunities she was provided with the New York State Unified Court System.
Eileen D. Millett, the daughter of immigrants from Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago, recently took over as the top lawyer in the New York State Office of Court Administration. In this Diversity Dialogue interview, Ms. Millett discusses her background, aspirations and the task of managing the legal affairs for one of the largest and most complex court systems on the planet.
In this Diversity Dialogue interview, Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, Executive Director of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, discusses the origins, history and aims of the first court-based commission in the U.S. committed to diversity in the justice system.
In this Diversity Dialogue interview, Tony Walters, director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion with the New York State Office of Court Administration, discusses the history, mission and goals of his office.
New York State has an urgent need for court officers, especially in the upstate districts, and that means there's a wonderful opportunity right now for someone who just might have what it takes to join this prestigious law enforcement agency.
Today, we're joined by Captain Vinetta Anderton, a career court officer, who explains what court officers do, how they do it and why serving in that capacity is so rewarding.
Porter Kirkwood, the descendant of slaves, is the first-ever African American to serve as Sixth Judicial District Executive. In this Amici podcast, Mr. Kirkwood discusses his role, his career and the benefits of working in the NYS Unified Court System.
The New York State Unified Court System embraces diversity and seeks to hire and promote the best possible candidates. We believe our diverse tapestry improves our ability to fulfill our mission of serving the public. In this interview, Doreen Hanley, chief clerk of the NYC Family Court, discusses her position and career.
The New York State Unified Court System embraces diversity and seeks to hire and promote the best possible candidates. We believe our diverse tapestry improves our ability to fulfill our mission of serving the public. In this interview, Kris K. Singh, principal court attorney, discusses his position and career.
The NYS Unified Court System celebrates the diversity of its workforce. In this interview, Jose Cruzado, a man who grew up poor in Rochester and rose to become Chief /Clerk in Livingston County, discusses his route to success, managerial style and hopes for the future.
"To me, I wasn't looking to be a 'woman lawyer,' or the 'best woman lawyer,' or anything like that. I didn't want to be identified as a woman first. I wanted to be identified first as a lawyer."
Cynthia LaFave of LaFave Wein & Frament, a pioneering woman lawyer in New York's Capital Region, shares her experiences and insight with the Third Judicial District Gender Fairness Committee.
The NYS Court System is proud of its diverse workforce. In this Diversity Dialogue interview, Helen Zhu of Queens Supreme Court speaks of her experiences.
Welcome to Amici, News and Insight from the New York Judiciary and Unified Court System. This is the latest episode of Diversity Dialogues with Susan Goodman. Today, Susan's interview is with Elizabeth Booth, associate computer systems analyst.