Highlights
News, Opinion & Past Event Profiles
United Against Hate
The Judicial Friends Association, Inc. stands with our colleagues and friends and we are all united against hate."We are heartened by the expressions of solidarity against anti-Asian bigotry and violence from our brothers and sisters across the many bar and judicial...
We Will Not Let Them Down!
The topic of historical black judges cannot be discussed without the mention of the Honorable Judge Harold A. Stevens and the Honorable Fritz Winfred Alexander. The Honorable Judge Harold A. Stevens (pictured right) was born on October 19, 1907. He lost his father at...
Our World and Humanity is Greatly Diminished by the Passing of Mayor David Dinkins
It is with a heavy heart that we reflect on the loss of a trailblazer, civil rights icon and first African American mayor of the City of New York, David Dinkins. Mayor Dinkins made significant contributions to the City of New York. Those accomplishments included...
The Judicial Friends Association Opposes OCA’s Sweeping Denial of 2020 Judicial Certifications and Re-Certifications
New York, New York, November 6, 2020 JFA vehemently opposes the decision of the Unified Court System (the Court System) to deny the certifications and re-certifications of 46 of the 49 Supreme Court Justices who have passed the age of 70, and the ninety-day...
Heroic Beginnings
HEROIC BEGINNINGS James S. Watson and Charles E. Toney were the first African American males elected as judges in New York State. The Honorable James Watson (1882 - 1952), illustrated above, was a pioneer. In 1930, he campaigned successfully for municipal court judge...
The Judicial Friends Association Releases Report: Systemic Racism In The New York State Court System With Solutions To Eradicate It
New York, New York, September 9, 2020 Judicial Friends Association, an association of Black and other minority judges in New York, officially released a comprehensive Report to the New York State Court’s Commission on Equal Justice in the Courts (“Report”). The Report...
A Great Judge
Sheila Abdus-Salaam was nominated to the New York Court of Appeals (New York's highest court) and was unanimously confirmed as an Associate Judge by the New York State Senate. She was the first African-American female judge to serve on the New York Court of Appeals.
38th Annual Rivers, Toney, Watson Gala
The Foundation For The Judicial Friends, Inc. presents the 38th Annual Rivers, Toney, Watson Gala honoring judges of color for their outstanding contributions to the judiciary and legal profession.