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The Evolution of the U.S. Constitution:
A Constitution Day Look Back and Forward

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 | 1:00 PM | Register Now!

Celebrate Constitution Day with Us!

NY County Courthouse WPA Murals: Who Created Them and What Do They Represent?

Tuesday, June 25, 2024 | 1:00 - 2:30 PM | Watch the Program Video!

Hon. Norman Goodman Lecture

Join us as we explore the history of the murals and the artists that created them in the courthouse and place them in context with WPA murals in other public buildings.

Celebrating Emeline, the Heroine of the Lemmon Slave Case:
A High-water Mark for the New York Courts

Tuesday, May 21, 2024 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM | Hybrid Event | Program Video Coming Soon!

Featuring a World Premiere Audio Drama: How Emeline Got Free
An Untold Story of History

Murder At Madison Square Garden

Check out our latest podcast episode of Chatting with the Authors of Judicial Notice with guest Prof. Mary Noé on the scandalous case involving Harry K. Thaw and the murder of Stanford White in front of an audience of theater attendees at Madison Square Garden in the early 1900s. Watch or Listen Now!

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**Revisiting Mendez v. Westminster & Exploring Bilingual Education**

The Society’s Podcast teamed up with Amici Podcast and Latino Judges Association for a look at a little known case that ended school desegregation in CA and set the stage for future civil rights victories, explores the differences between bilingual education and ESL, and much more. Watch or Listen Now!

Head Back to School with Our Teaching Democracy Toolkit

As teachers turn to planning for the new school year, we review our educational materials! Our initiatives have one central goal: to empower students to be better informed citizens. Our Teaching Democracy Toolkit provides a variety of resources for NYS educators teaching social studies, US history, and government. Learn more!

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Recent Blog Posts

Lifetime Member of the Society Honored at 60 Centre Street

This article was written by Adrian Untermyer, a Society Trustee and an urbanist who advocates for historic preservation and improved transportation in Greater New … More Lifetime Member of the Society Honored at 60 Centre Street »

Harry Kendall Thaw Had A Problem

This blog article was written by Mary Noé, a lawyer and professor in the undergraduate Legal Studies program at St. John’s University and editor … More Harry Kendall Thaw Had A Problem »

Law Day 2024 Art Contest Winners

On May 1, Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson announced the winners of the 2024 Law Day Art Contest, co-sponsored by the Society and the … More Law Day 2024 Art Contest Winners »

nylegalhistory

The Society's mission is to preserve, protect and promote the legal history of New York State.

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor

Egbert Benson, serving as New York's first Attorne

Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, along with James

The Society will forever be grateful to the legend

Clinton County, rich in historical significance, h

Since 1911, Americans have observed Citizenship or

Today, we honor George Boyer Vashon, a trailblazer

Meet the New York State Court System's First Histo

Special New Podcast Episode Out Now! In a special

We’re back for another #CourthousesOfNY! Today’s feature is Suffolk County, NY.

Founded in 1683, Suffolk County’s first courthouse was a small frame building erected in 1729. This structure, which also served as a jail, was sufficient for a century. By 1855, the county needed a more substantial courthouse. They constructed a Georgian-style, two-story building with a cupola, pilasters, and a portico.

During this time, Selah B. Strong (1792-1872), a prominent legal figure, was on the State Supreme Court and likely presided in this courthouse. Strong, who had served as Suffolk County District Attorney and on the New York Court of Appeals, was also a member of the 1867 Constitutional Convention. His family’s influence is seen in Setauket with Strong House, Strong Lane, and Strong’s Neck.

As the county’s needs grew, additional buildings were added. In 1874, a county clerk’s office was built, followed by a grand county treasury building in 1916, featuring a portico and pediment with a wrought-iron balcony.

In the mid-1920s, space constraints led to plans for a new courthouse. Unfortunately, in April 1927, the 1855 courthouse burned down. Architect M. Vollney Liddell’s winning design, a Classical-style “Temple of Justice,” featured a grand façade with columns extending three stories and a heavy double bronze door.

Constructed by Wills-Egelhoff, this new courthouse harmonized with the surrounding buildings. Post-WWII population growth led to the creation of additional facilities, including the John P. Cohalan Court Complex in Central Islip in the early 1990s.

#CourthousesOfNY #SuffolkCounty #Suffolk #LongIsland #HistoricPreservation
#HSoftheNYCourts #NYSCourts #NYSJudges #NYSLawyers #NYSHistory #NYCHistory #NYHistory #NYLegalHistory #LegalHistory #AmericanHistory #History

Today we call attention to one of our state's lega

In a letter dated July 12, 1816, Thomas Jefferson

Today, for #CourthousesOfNY, we are visiting Cayug

Today in #CourthousesOfNY, we visit Allegany Count

Celebrate Constitution Day with us! We just opene

The video of the Hon. Norman Goodman Lecture, whic

New Podcast Episode! In this episode of Chatting

This blog article by Society Trustee Adrian Unterm

Check out this blog piece by Mary Noé on the scan

We were proud to present the inaugural Hon. Norman

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