Amici Podcast

John Sullivan is the statewide ADA coordinator for the New York courts. In this podcast interview coinciding with the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Mr. Sullivan discusses the law and implications for the court system and court users. Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022-07/John%20Sullivan.pdf

The Commission to Reimagine the Future of New York Courts is charting a course forward for the court system. Commission Chair Hank Greenberg, former NYS Bar Association president, and Justice Craig J. Doran of the Seventh Judicial District, discuss the working of the Commission and a new working group led by Justice Doran. Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022...

For this Pride Month edition of Diversity Dialogues, we are fortunate to have not one but two pioneering judges as guests: the Honorable Anthony Cannataro of New York's highest court, the Court of Appeals, and Justice Joanne Winslow of the Appellate Division Fourth Department. Together the judges co-chair the Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission of the New York Courts. Transcript: http://ww2.nycourt...

This Amici podcast features Sean Byrne, Executive Deputy Commissioner at the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, or OASAS. Mr. Byrne discusses addiction, the state's response and the OASAS relationship with the courts. Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022-05/Sean%20Byrne%20.pdf

Judge Rachel "Ruchie" Freier is believed to be the first Hasidic woman to hold public office in United States history. Dubbed the “Hasidic Superwoman of Night Court” by The New York Times and named one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world by the Jerusalem Post, Judge Freier shatters stereotypes about Hasidic woman neither being seen nor heard outside their insular community. Transcript: ht...

NYS Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks discusses a plan to streamline and modernize New York's convoluted, cumbersome and inefficient court structure. The interview was conducted by Daniel K. Wiig, host of the New York County Lawyers Association's Amicus Curiae podcast.

This Women's History Month program features the Hon. Deborah Kaplan, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the Courts Inside New York City. In this Diversity Dialogue podcast, Judge Kaplan describes her myriad roles -- and the challenges inherent in being a female in a leadership position. Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2022-03/Judge%20Kaplan_0.pdf

The son of a West Indies immigrant father and a mother of European roots, the Hon. Norman St. George brings a diverse background to his position as Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the Courts Outside NYC. “I believe I'm able to relate in some way to everyone and anyone,” he says in this new Diversity Dialogue podcast of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. “And I think that makes a difference...

Vishnu Priya, a native of India, came to United States in 2001 to attend graduate school at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and has been with the court system since earning her master's in info science. In this podcast, Vishnu discusses her background, her job and the opportunities available in the NYS Court System for techies. Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/fil...

In this Veteran's Day Diversity Dialogue segment, we're pleased to welcome Ron Pawelczak, the District Executive for the Seventh Judicial District. Ron is a decorated veteran of the US Army, who served in the armed forces during operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Just Cause. In this interview, Ron discusses the difficulties managing such a large and geographically diverse district, the cha...

Charlotte Watson, Executive Director the New York State Judicial Committee on Women in the Courts, has been crusading to end violence against women for virtually her entire life. In this Amici podcast, Charlotte shares the personal and professional journey that began as a little girl in her grandmother's beauty salon. Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-10/C...

Judge Edwina Mendelson wears a variety of hats in the court system. She’s the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives, oversees about 300 problem-solving courts as director of the Office of Policy & Planning, oversees the Child Welfare Court Improvement Project and leads the Equal Justice in Courts initiative. She describes her most recent project, implementing the recommendation...

The Hon. Edwina Mendelson is tasked with ensuring meaningful access to justice for all New Yorkers, and was recently selected to implement key reforms toward eradicating bias in the courts. In this Amici podcast, Judge Mendelson reveals her vision and plan. Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-09/Judge%20Mendelson_0.pdf

The daughter of two deaf parents -- one from Mexico, the other from Puerto Rico -- Maria Izaguirre is a Sign Language Interpreter in the NYS Court System. In this Diversity Dialogue segment for both National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Hispanic Heritage Month, Maria tells her fascinating story. Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-09/Maria%20Iza...

In this Diversity Dialogue segment, we're joined by Lt. Vincent Sinclair, a court officer recently commended by Chief Judge DiFiore for his role in designing a new Community Affairs program. Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-08/Vincent%20Sinclair.pdf

Addiction is not something that can be put on "pause" because there's a pandemic going on. This Amici podcast features Craig Stratton and Debbie Miller, two key members of Drug Court teams who creatively found ways to keep these problem-solving courts active and vibrant in the face of unparalleled challenges. Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-08/StrattonMi...

At the 2021 Judicial Summer Seminar, retired Judge Betty Weinberg Ellerin spoke to the judicial response to gender bias in the courtroom. Judge Ellerin, a historic figure in her own right, began with a brief but enlightening history of the Committee on Women in the Courts, a history Judge Ellerin is very much a part of. Transcript: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2021-06...

Over the past few weeks, the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission has posted a dozen oral history interviews with some of the pioneers who, 30 years ago, helped establish the nation's first judicial commission committed to racial and ethnic fairness in the courts. Today we'll close out the series with an interview with Joyce Y. Hartsfield, the former Executive Director of the Commission, who c...

Thirty years ago, Justice Chin Brandt was one of the founders of the nation's first court-based commission dedicated to ethnic and racial fairness in the courts: the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission.

The Hon. Peggy Cooper Davis, an original member of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, looks back on the panel and its work on the occasion of its 30th anniversary.

Attorney James Goodale, an original member of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, discusses the early days of the now 30 year old commission dedicated to racial and ethnic fairness in the NY courts.

In this production by the NYS Court System's Office of Diversity and Inclusion, two judges believed to be the first married same-sex couple appointed to the same court in New York share their views and experiences for a Pride Month podcast The judges are both African American. They were both raised by single mothers. They both worked for the Legal Aid Society's civil division, where they were invo...

Hon. Richard B. Lowe, an early member and eventual chairman of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, discusses the early days of the nation's first court-based commission dedicated to racial and ethnic fairness in the courts.

Welcome to the latest episode of a brief series of oral history interviews with the trailblazers and pioneers who were instrumental in establishing the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission. The recordings are excerpts of interviews conducted in preparation for a documentary on Ambassador Williams. Today, we're joined by Justice Rose Sconiers who eventually became Chair of the Commission

In recognition of a 30th anniversary of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, the co-chairs, Justice Troy Webber and Justice Shirley Troutman, and Executive Director Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, decided to post excerpts that described the early days and challenges of the Commission. Today, we feature Edna Wells Handy, the Commission's first Executive Director.