We Care About Our Community

Hon. Sheila Abdus-Salaam

Thank You

Judge Henry Bramwell

1974, Nominated by President Gerald Ford to the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York

Judge Jane Bolin

1931, the first black woman to graduate from Yale Law School

Judge James S. Watson

One of the first two Black Americans elected as a judge in the state of New York

Judge George Bundy Smith

1992, Governor Cuomo appointed Smith to Associate Judge of New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals

Judge Harold A. Stevens

1974, the first African-American to serve on the New York Court of Appeals

Judge Lawrence Pierce

The third African-American to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Judge Langston McKinney

1986, became Syracuse’s first African American city judge

Judge Moxey Rigby

1959, the first African American judge elected in Nassau County

Celebration Of Black Judges

2019

Judge Erika Edwards

“We cannot play ostrich. Democracy just cannot flourish amid fear. Liberty cannot bloom amid hate. Justice cannot take root amid rage. 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.”

– Thurgood Marshall

We Have the Power to Impact Our Community, and We’re Doing Something About It

Judicial Friends Associates

Today, Judicial Friends Association (JFA) members sit on the bench at every level of the courts in New York State, adjudicating all manner of legal issues. In addition to supporting public understanding of and access to the legal system, JFA members act as mentors to law students, provide training to law interns, assist attorneys in obtaining positions as clerks with the judiciary, and train newly appointed and elected justices and judges.

A TRIBUTE TO OUR RETIRING COLLEAGUES

On December 14, 2020, The Judicial Friends Foundation and JFA paid tribute to our esteemed colleagues who are retiring at the end of 2020 and who, with honor and distinction, have served the citizens of the State of New York. We honor them and are so very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside them in the pursuit of justice for all.  You can watch the event on YouTube at https://youtu.be/jOKJmxthoV0.

2020 Retiring Judges:

Hon. Juanita Bing Newton

Hon. Antonio I. Brandveen

Hon. Ronald D. Hollie

Hon. Robert T. Johnson

Hon. Leslie G. Leach

Hon. Daniel Lewis

Hon. Larry D. Martin

Hon. Donald A. Miles

Hon. Bruce E. Tolbert

***List in formation***

Issue Awareness & Advocacy

JFA promotes educational activities in the law for the purposes of improving the understanding of the law through seminars, published materials and lectures.

Community Support & Engagement

JFA members support public understanding of and access to the legal system, assist attorneys, and train newly appointed and elected justices and judges.

Youth Development

JFA mentors law students, provides internships and scholarships, and educates the community to build  confidence in our court system.

What’s Happening

HAPPY PRIDE!

HAPPY PRIDE!

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....