One year ago tomorrow, our nation, our system of government, our values were savagely attacked on a morning we will never forget. There will be many different ways of commemorating Sept. 11 — speeches, vigils, concerts — all across the nation. At 8:46 a.m., the Court of Appeals will observe a period of silence. At noon, members of the state and federal judiciaries will gather for a ceremony on the steps of the New York County Courthouse. Throughout the day there will be observances in courts around the state. As we prepare to mark the day each in our own way, we would like to convey a few words about grief and gratitude.

      We grieve still for the nearly 3,000 victims who lost their lives on Sept. 11, and for the three court officers who did not return with their fellow officers from the rescue effort: Captain William Harry Thompson, Senior Court Officer Thomas Jurgens and Senior Court Officer Mitchel Wallace. We share the deep sense of loss felt by their families and loved ones, and by all who suffer from the rippling effects of that infamous day.

      The past year has also brought much to be grateful for. Like the spirit that immediately overtook and united Americans — the desire to help, to volunteer, to contribute, to celebrate this great land of liberty and opportunity. We are especially grateful that, from the first moments, our judges, court staff, the organized bar and individual attorneys struggled to find ways to resume their everyday responsibilities, as well as meet the new challenges created by the disaster. We are grateful for the bar's extraordinary pro bono response.

      And we thank especially all of the heroes of our court family — those who assisted victims and their loved ones, those who helped with the return to normality despite personal pain and loss, and those who persevere each and every day in this changed world to secure our nation's bedrock ideal of equal justice for all.

Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman

This article is reprinted with permission from the "September 10, 2002" edition of the "New York Law Journal" © "2002" NLP IP Company. All rights reserved. Further duplication without permission is prohibited.

The Historical Society of the Courts of the State of New York
140 Grand Street, Suite 701
White Plains, N.Y. 10601
phone: (914) 824-5717