America must get to work. In the chill climate in which we live, we must go against the prevailing wind. We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust. We must dissent from a nation that has buried its head in the sand, waiting in vain for the needs of its poor, its elderly, and its sick to disappear and just blow away. We must dissent from a government that has left its young without jobs, education or hope. We must dissent from the poverty of vision and the absence of moral leadership.
We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better.”
Listen to the tribute video celebrating honoree Hon. Milton Tingling, County Clerk of New York County.
The Judicial Friends Association held its 43rd Annual Rivers, Toney & Watson Gala on December 10, 2024 at the Tribeca Rooftop. Listen to the tribute video celebrating honoree Justice Cheryl Chambers, Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, Supreme Court, State of New York.
Judicial Friends 42nd Annual Gala Honoree Video Highlight-Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals and of the State of New York.
Judicial Friends 42nd Annual Gala Honoree Video Highlight-Hon. Dianne Renwick, Presiding Justice, Appellate Division, First Department.
Judicial Friends 42nd Annual Gala Honoree Video HIghlight – Hon. Deborah A. Dowling, Associate Justice, Appellate Division, Second Department.
Access to justice is an inclusive and holistic term. Seeking “Access to Justice”, in the American context, thus necessarily includes any conversation dealing with one of the means historically used to deny justice to so many. That is, and has been, denying the unprotected-many the ability to vote and disenfranchising those of them who were previously registered to vote. Beginning on June 22, 2021, New York City will instituted “Ranked-Choice Voting” in its primary elections for many of its elected positions. Ranked-Choice Voting ask the voter to pick their preferred candidate, then choose/rank up to the next four candidates, in descending order, they would support if their candidate does not win. The apparent hope of those instituting this change is that it will prompt candidates to address the issues of concern to a broader electorate and prompt a weary and forgotten electorate to be more engaged in the electoral process. Please view this webinar for more information on how the process will work!
The Equal Justice in the Courts Initiative will see the implementation of specific recommendations proposed by former Obama Administration Cabinet member, Jeh Johnson in his report on issues of racial bias within the New York State court system. This report was commissioned by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, in response to world-wide demonstrations last year, sparked by the death of George Floyd which, yet again, protested systemic institutional racism.
Hon. Edwina G. Mendelson has been tasked with the implementation of thirteen distinct recommendations to strengthen and support OCA’s commitment to “combat racism within our courts, and promote a more fair and equitable justice system for all”. Please read her message to JFA to see just how she plans to do that and how you can assist in achieveing this cardinal principle.
Judicial Friends Association members gathered at the JI – June 2025.
The Honorable Sterling Johnson Jr., a Senior Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, passed away on Oct. 10 in Queens, N.Y. He was 88 years old.
The Judicial Friends Association salutes Judge Johnson, and extends its sincere condolences to his surviving family.
In 2019, Johnson was one of 22 federal judges from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York who taught Brooklyn Law School students refugee law at EDNY Day.
Johnson was best known for ordering the closing of a Guantanamo Bay detention facility, which he referred to as an “H.I.V. prison camp” for Haitian refugees, and for ruling that New York City had failed to adequately help poor residents who had AIDS.
Johnson was long involved with the National Black Prosecutors Association, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the Presidential Drug Advisory Council, and task forces on promoting minority representation in the judiciary and gender, racial, and ethnic fairness in the courts.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Johnson received his B.A. from Brooklyn College and was a U.S. Marine for three years.
Judicial Friends Members were honored to attend the New York State Judicial Institute Judicial Seminar on July 9, 2024.
The Judicial Friends Association, Inc. proudly stands with the members of our global LGBTQ family as we join in celebrating Pride Month. We reaffirm our dedication to choose love over hate and our demand for diversity, inclusion and unity over division at all times. We believe that we are one people and as Judges we boldly affirm our commitment to ensuring justice for all.
The “Judicial Friends members gave a warm welcome to two interns participating in the Judicial Friends 2024 Summer Internship program at a Meet and Greet Welcome Reception at Carib Soul BK in Brooklyn on Monday, June 17.”
Individuals in photo (left to right): Hon. Carolyn Wade, Hon. Abena Darkeh, Justin P. Lowe, Jonathan Alleyne, Hon. Cheryl Gonzales, Hon. Dena Douglas, Hon. Patsy Gouldbourne , Hon. Lumarie Maldonado Cruz, Hon. Dakota Ramseur, Hon. Deborah Dowling and Hon. Guy Ritchie.
The Judicial Friends Association held a reception in honor of Chief Judge Rowan Wilson at Londel’s Soul Food Restaurant in Harlem on February 22, 2024.
Judicial Friends Association members attend the annual Judicial Institute event-July 2025.
Judicial Friends members welcomed our summer interns at the Intern Meet & Greet Welcome Reception at BK9 in Brooklyn on Monday, June 16, 2025. First Row from Left to Right: […]
Judicial Friends Association members gathered at the JI – June 2025.
The Honorable Sterling Johnson Jr., a Senior Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, passed away on Oct. 10 in Queens, N.Y. He was […]
On Tuesday, September 3, 2024, members of the Judicial Friends were in attendance at the Apollo for the In Conversation: Ketanji Brown Jackson event unveiling Justice Brown Jackson’s memoir, Lovely […]
Judicial Friends Members were honored to attend the New York State Judicial Institute Judicial Seminar on July 9, 2024.
The Judicial Friends Association, Inc. proudly stands with the members of our global LGBTQ family as we join in celebrating Pride Month. We reaffirm our dedication to choose love over […]
The “Judicial Friends members gave a warm welcome to two interns participating in the Judicial Friends 2024 Summer Internship program at a Meet and Greet Welcome Reception at Carib Soul […]