Kings County Supreme Court Celebrates Law Day 2023 by Honoring the Cornerstones of Democracy

By: Fern Sidman

On Wednesday, May 10^th, the Kings County Supreme Court held its annual Law Day ceremony in the jury room at 360 Adams Street in downtown Brooklyn.

The 2023 Law Day theme was “Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration.” In a statement on its web site, the American Bar Association said, “We invite everyone to join us in rebuilding trust in our institutions, respect for one another, and our willingness to collaborate to address the challenges that face our nation.”

Law Day, held annually on May 1, is a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day provides an opportunity to understand how law and the legal process protect liberty, strive to achieve justice, and contribute to the freedoms that all Americans share.

In 1957, American Bar Association president Charles S. Rhyne envisioned a special day for celebrating our legal system and in 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day as a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law. In 1961, Congress designated May 1 as the official date for celebrating Law Day. This program continues today and has grown to many countries around the globe.

While May 1 is the official date for Law Day, many celebrations take place before or after that date. Some organizations a Law Week or Law Month in April or May.

Serving as the organizer and master of ceremonies was the Honorable Lawrence Knipel, the Administrative Judge for Civil Matters in the Second Judicial District. Judge Knipel has hosted this important event for many years.

Prior to welcoming all the guests and dignitaries, Judge Knipel introduced the Honorable Danny Chun who offered a spectacular rendition of the national anthem.

Remarks on how the courts and legal system serve to uphold democracy was the Honorable Rowan D. Wilson, Chief Judge of the State of New York and the Court of Appeals. Judge Wilson also spoke of his California roots having grown up in Berkeley.. He received his A.B. degree from Harvard College in 1981, and his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1984. He was admitted to the bar of the State of California in 1985, and the bar of the State of New York in 1987. From 1984 to 1986, he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable James R. Browning, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, based in San Francisco, California.

In 1986, he joined the firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City as an associate, and was elected to partnership there in 1991, in which position he continued until February 2017. On January 15, 2017, then Governor Andrew M. Cuomo nominated Judge Wilson to serve as an Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals, and the New York State Senate confirmed his nomination on February 6, 2017. On April 10, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul nominated Judge Wilson to serve as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and the State of New York. The New York Senate confirmed his nomination on April 18, 2023. While in private practice, Judge Wilson served on the boards of several charitable and not-for-profit organizations and handled numerous pro bono matters.

Also addressing the assemblage was the Honorable Tamiko Amaker, the Acting Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts of New York State as well as the Honorable Deborah Kaplan, the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge of New York City Courts.

Judge Kaplan spoke of her previous role as public defender and her worked in the field of legal aid. Addressing the civility initiative, Judge Kaplan said that our democracy is weakened when civility becomes obsolete. “The higher the rate of civility that we maintain, the less hate and violence we have,” she said. “Treating everyone with the dignity that they deserve must be our first priority,” Judge Kaplan added.

The Honorable Edwina Richardson-Mendelson, the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives told the law day gathering that “law is the heart and soul of our country” and that the emphasis on civics and education can raise our level of ethics. “We must provide everyone with access to true justice and we must promote “justice for all.”

Also delivering remarks at the gathering was retired Surrogate Judge, the Honorable Frank Seddio. Judge Seddio was as a member of the New York State Assembly representing southeastern Brooklyn from 1999 to 2005. He served as the chairman of the Brooklyn Democratic Party from 2012 to 2020, when he resigned to focus on his legal business. He remains a district leader for the 59th Assembly District, an unpaid volunteer party position he serves in since 2010.

Judge Seddio said that 22 new Kings County Supreme Court justices have been appointed in the last few years and took a moment to reflect on the lives of his colleagues that were lost due to Covid in the last years.

Other speakers included the Honorable Matthew D’Emic, the Administrative Judge for Criminal Matters in the Second Judicial District and County Clerk/Commissioner of Jurors, the Honorable Nancy T. Sunshine.  Ms. Sunshine spoke of diverse parties coming together to work in unison for the sake of preserving and fostering true justice and democracy.

The keynote speaker for law day was the Honorable Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, Corporation Counsel for the City of New York.

Judge Hinds-Radix said that civility matters and that working to maintain and presents a unique opportunity to create a stronger foundation for our society in which we can better effectuate change. “As we look to our future, we know that we are stronger in our diversity, “ she said. “If we do nothing, we are guaranteed to fail,” she added.

As the first woman of color in her position, Judge Hinds-Radix also addressed the dangers of the misinformation that was disseminated during the Covid crisis. To achieve true equality under the law and to protect our freedoms in our democratic society, the Judge noted that it is within the purview of the courts to assist in these matters. “The courts are here and they are very active,” she added.

A dedication of a portrait of the late Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a native of Brooklyn, was then unveiled.

Following the addresses Judge Knipel and a colleague turned the tone of the day into a more musical one. The two justices took out their guitars and charged up the audience with a lively rendition of “This land is your land, this land is my land.”

The day concluded with a celebratory luncheon.