By Andrew M. Fallek, Esq.*

 

 

“Don’t you just love the thronging in the other room?” Chief Judge Judith Kaye rhetorically asked the audience gathered for the Brooklyn Bar Foundation’s Annual Dinner on Monday, December 8^th, 2008. “I think I spoke to almost everyone here.” The Chief Judge’s reference to the Foundation’s legendary cocktail “hour” seemed to capture the essence of the evening. The upshot of a slightly smaller crowd than the record turnout last year -- no doubt the product of a downturn in the legal economy --was a more intimate celebration with added face time with a variety of legal luminaries. Three Court of Appeals Judges were in attendance. In addition to Judge Kaye, Associate Judges Carmen Ciparick and Theodore T. Jones were also present. Hon. A Gail Prudenti, the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, along with eight other appellate division justices were there, as was Hon. Raymond Dearie, the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District.

The evening honored United States District Court Judge Dora Irizarry and former Justice, and now Commissioner of the New York City Office of Emergency Management, Joseph F. Bruno, both of who received the Foundation’s Annual Award. Judge Kaye received a Lifetime Achievement Award and “Brooklyn’s own Court of Appeals Judge,” Theodore T. Jones, received an Honorary Membership in the Brooklyn Bar Association. The evening also recognized the retirement of Hon. Gerald S. Held, Hon. Joseph S. Levine, Hon. Delores Waltrous and Hon. Eileen Nadelson.

The evening was emceed by Brooklyn Bar Association President-Elect John Lonuzzi. Judge Irizzary, who was introduced by Associate Appellate Division Justice Ariel E. Belen, spoke movingly about the discrimination she encountered as a Hispanic and as a female lawyer and thanked Judge Kaye for changing the climate so that her law clerks and other new lawyers would not have these experiences.

Michael L. Pesce, the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Term, Second and Eleventh Districts, introduced Commissioner Bruno with a detailed recitation of Commissioner Bruno’s storied career in public service, which included heading the New York City Parking Violations Bureau and the New York City Fire Department before becoming a Supreme Court Justice and Commissioner of OEM.

A shared penchant for the color red was evident when Brooklyn Bar Association President Diana J. Szochet, wearing red, introduced the Chief Judge, also wearing red. Not to worry, we were reassured, President Szochet and the Chief Judge had coordinated the color selections with each other earlier in the week. President Szochet reeled off a list of “firsts” by the Chief Judge: first female partner in her law firm, first female member of the Court of Appeals, first female Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and the longest serving Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.

Former Association trustee and Fox and MSNBC legal commentator, Rebecca Rose Woodland presented Judge Theodore “Teddy” Jones with his Honorary Membership in the Association.

Despite the weak economy, the Foundation received a near record number of sponsorships this year. This will permit the Foundation to carry on its important work in the Brooklyn Legal Community.

 

* Andrew M. Fallek, Esq. is the Editor-in-chief of the Brooklyn Barrister.