Paving the Way
March 28, 2025
Kings County Supreme Court-Criminal Term, Brooklyn
Lt. Mido Mary Wu—the first Asian American woman within the UCS to achieve the rank of lieutenant—was among the honorees at a Women’s History Month celebration highlighting the continued advancement of women in the courts and legal profession.
The program, held at Kings County Supreme Court’s Criminal Term in Brooklyn, was hosted by the Second Judicial District’s Equal Justice in the Courts Committee, with Kings County Supreme Court Justice and Committee Chair Joanne D. Quinones kicking off the event.
The day’s honorees also included several court clerks, a law clerk, court attorney referee, case management coordinator, court reporter, and secretary, all recognized for their dedication, leadership, and efforts in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the judiciary.
Congratulations to the awardees! We are thankful for their outstanding contributions to the Court System and for their impact—paving the way for future generations.
Strength and Determination
March 25, 2025
New York County Supreme Court-Civil Term, Lower Manhattan
Former—and longest-serving female—Appellate Division, First Department Associate Justice Angela Mazzarelli and Presiding Justice Dianne T. Renwick, the first woman of color to sit on the First Department bench, shared insights on their experiences as women judges at a “Women in Robes” program held in March at New York County Supreme Court’s Civil Term in Lower Manhattan. The talk, moderated by Jennifer Bisram of CBS News-New York, attracted a large audience, filling the Court’s ceremonial courtroom.
Justice Mazzarelli, who was appointed to the First Department in 1992, recalled her early days as one of the first female judges to sit in the Appellate Division. Justice Renwick, who began her judicial career in New York City Housing Court, shed light on her career trajectory, including her current role as Presiding Justice of the First Department, which hears appeals in criminal and civil cases from the trial courts in Manhattan and the Bronx.
The March gathering, one of many Women's History Month events held in courts across the State, was an inspiring reminder of the resilience of, and countless contributions made by, women judges throughout New York and beyond.
A Proper Tribute
March 25, 2025
Monroe County Hall of Justice, Rochester
Courtroom 525-A in Monroe County’s Hall of Justice now carries the name of suffragette and abolitionist Susan B. Anthony who, 153 years earlier, was arrested in her hometown of Rochester for violating the laws then prohibiting women from voting. The courtroom, and a statue bearing her likeness, were unveiled at a dedication ceremony at the Rochester courthouse in late March.
Auburn City Court Judge Kristin Garland and Associate Court Attorney Laurie Michelman revealed the restored marble statue, sculpted in Rome in 1882, at the heavily attended gathering. The event also featured a re-enactment of Susan B. Anthony’s trial which, held in federal court, resulted in her conviction—as the presiding judge did not allow the jurors to discuss the case but instead directed them to find her guilty.
In praising this icon’s tenacity and vision, Seventh Judicial District Administrative Judge William K. Taylor summed it up: “Susan B. Anthony saw a future where men and women are equal.”
Now, all who enter the Rochester courthouse are reminded of her legacy as a champion of human rights and equal justice.
A Remarkable Life
March 14, 2025
Nassau County Supreme Court, Mineola
The Nassau County Women in the Courts Committee honored the legacy of the late Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Dawn Jimenez at the Nassau County Supreme Court’s Hon. Betty Weinberg Ellerin Award Ceremony in mid-March. Tragically succumbing to injuries from an accident last October, Justice Jimenez was acknowledged posthumously for her fairness, dedication to justice, and longstanding public service—attributes embodied by the award’s trailblazing namesake, who spoke at the event.
Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas and First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George paid tribute to Justice Jimenez for her numerous contributions to the Nassau County bench and legal community. Chief Clerk Ananias Grajales opened the ceremony, with Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Lisa A. Caro welcoming the many attendees, and Administrative Judge Vito M. DeStefano introducing the indomitable Justice Ellerin.
The award was presented by Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Sharon M. J. Gianelli. Justice Jimenez’s parents, Maximo Jimenez and Elena Iaconis, and her daughter, Olivia Rae Salta, shared their reflections on her life and legacy. Their words painted a portrait of a remarkable woman, a highly respected judge and devoted daughter and mother whose traits and accomplishments continue to inspire so many within our court family and beyond.
Leveling the Field
March 5, 2025
Courts in Clinton, Warren, and Delaware Counties
Court of Claims Judge Kathleen Hogan was among the distinguished panelists at a Women in the Law program in northeastern New York’s Fourth Judicial District, sharing her experiences as a woman in the legal profession.
Held around the State annually during Women’s History Month in March, Women in the Law events introduce high school students to the range of career options in the legal field, working to promote the advancement of women in the legal profession. These programs, which have been expanding their reach, are a partnership of the Court System, the New York State Women’s Bar Association, and local bar associations.
Judge Hogan, who started as a prosecutor, emphasized the importance of breaking down barriers for women in law. According to the American Bar Association, 39% of lawyers were women in 2023, a significant increase from a decade ago. Judge Hogan noted that while women haven’t achieved complete parity, they’ve made tremendous strides. “All we want to do is make sure that we don’t have anyone who self-selects out, saying, ‘I can’t do that because I’m a woman,’” she added.
At the Sixth Judicial District’s Women in the Law program in Delaware County, Appellate Division, Third Department Associate Justice Molly Reynolds Fitzgerald discussed her career arc, providing insights and guidance to those in pursuit of judicial and other legal careers. A Binghamton native, Justice Reynolds was first elected to the Sixth Judicial District’s Supreme Court bench in Central New York in 2007 and re-elected in 2021, serving as the District’s Administrative Judge from 2016 until her 2019 appointment to the Appellate Division, Third Department.
The Fourth and Sixth Districts—and judicial districts throughout New York’s 62 counties—are committed to the continued growth of this valuable outreach initiative which, well-received by students and educators alike, aims to inspire future generations of legal professionals and level the field for women judges, attorneys, and other law- and court-related positions.
