New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department

The Historical Society of the New York Courts maintains biographies of retired Appellate Division, First Department Associate Justices and retired and sitting Presiding Justices, which are updated infrequently. For biographies of the current jurists, please visit the First Department’s website.

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Sheila Abdus-Salaam

Abdus-Salaam, Sheila

In 2013, Judge Abdus-Salaam was appointed to the Court of Appeals. See her full biography HERE. The first African-American woman ...
Ronaldo T. Acosta

Acosta, Rolando T.

The Hon. Rolando T. Acosta was elected as a New York State Supreme Court Justice in New York County in ...
Fritz W. Alexander II

Alexander II, Fritz W.

In 1985, Judge Alexander was appointed to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE. The first black judge ...
Richard T. Andrias

Andrias, Richard T.

Justice Richard T. Andrias is a 1970 graduate of Columbia Law School and attended the Graduate Law School of the ...
Sidney H. Asch

Asch, Sidney H.

Known as a scholar and an authority on law and social change, Sidney Howard Asch was born in New York ...
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George C. Barrett

Barrett, George C.

It was said that Justice George C. Barrett "was undoubtedly one of the greatest Judges that ever sat upon the ...
Earle C. Bastow

Bastow, Earle C.

Justice Bastow also sat on the bench of the 4th Department; more information can be found HERE. Earle C. Bastow ...
Francis Bergan

Bergan, Francis

In 1963, Judge Bergan was elected to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE. Judge Bergan also sat ...
Harold Birns

Birns, Harold

Harold Birns was born on the Lower East Side of New York City in 1914. He attended George Washington High ...
Max Bloom

Bloom, Max

Max Bloom was born in 1909 in New York City. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School and received his law ...
Bernard Botein

Botein, Bernard

A principal figure in New York City's legal establishment, Justice Bernard Botein was active in court reform and had an ...
Charles D. Breitel

Breitel, Charles D.

In 1967, Judge Breitel was elected to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE. Among the most noted ...
Charles H. Van Brunt

Brunt, Charles H. Van

It was said of Justice Charles H. Van Brunt that "an impartial application of sound law is his rule of ...
John T. Buckley

Buckley, John T.

John T. Buckley was born in Utica, New York, on February 8, 1936. He graduated from Georgetown University in 1958, ...
William P. Burr

Burr, William P.

William P. Burr was born in Dublin, Ireland on March 30, 1856. He came to the U.S. as a young ...
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Joseph M. Callahan

Callahan, Joseph M.

Joseph M. Callahan was born in New York City on December 10, 1885. He attended New York City public schools, ...
Louis J. Capozzoli

Capozzoli, Louis J.

Louis Joseph Capozzoli was born on March 6, 1901, in Cosenza, Italy, and emigrated with his family to the United ...
John Carro

Carro, John

Born in Puerto Rico in 1927 and raised in New York City, John Carro graduated from Fordham University in 1949 ...
Aron Steuer

Catterson, James M.

James M. Catterson, III was born on December 19, 1958 in Jamaica, New York. He is the son of the ...
Darcel D. Clark

Clark, Darcel D.

Born and raised in the Bronx, Darcel Clark was the first member of her family to attend college. She earned ...
John Proctor Clarke

Clarke, John Proctor

On January 4, 1927, shortly after Justice Clarke's retirement from the Appellate Division, the president of the Association of the ...
Albert Cohn

Cohn, Albert

Justice Albert Cohn served as a mentor to future Appellate Division Justice Martin M. Frank, who eulogized Cohn citing his ...
Nicholas Colabella

Colabella, Nicholas

The son of immigrants from Italy, Justice Nicholas Colabella was born on May 22, 1936 in Bronxville, New York, and ...
Joseph A. Cox

Cox, Joseph A.

Joseph A. Cox was born in New York City in 1896, the son of a stone cutter. He attended public ...
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Vernon M. Davis

Davis, Vernon M.

Born on January 29, 1855 in Manhattan, New York, to Robert Vernon Davis and Mary Semler Davis, Justice Davis was ...
Leland G. DeGrasse

Degrasse, Leland G.

Justice DeGrasse is best known for being the trial judge who ruled against the state’s system for financing public schools ...
Edward S. Dore

Dore, Edward S.

In a survey conducted in 1931 by Professor Joseph X. Healy of the College of the City of New York, ...
William F. Dowling

Dowling, Victor J.

Born on July 20, 1866 in New York City, Victor J. Dowling attended parochial schools and De La Salle Academy ...
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Samuel W. Eager

Eager, Samuel W.

Samuel W. Eager was born in Montgomery, New York, on August 19, 1900. He was schooled in Orange County, New ...
Betty Weinberg Ellerin

Ellerin, Betty Weinberg

"She may be petite, but pound for pound (or in her case, ounce for ounce), Betty Weinberg Ellerin packs more ...
Herbert B. Evans

Evans, Herbert B.

While attending DuSable High School on the South Side of Chicago in the 1930s, Herbert B. Evans decided that he ...
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Arnold L. Fein

Fein, Arnold L.

Justice Fein was born in Boston in 1910, and grew up in Brooklyn, where he attended Erasmus Hall High School ...
Paul G. Feinman

Feinman, Paul G.

In 2017, Judge Feinman was appointed to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE. In June 2017, Governor ...
Edward Ridley Finch

Finch, Edward Ridley

In 1935, Judge Finch was elected to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE. Justice Edward Ridley Finch ...
Sydney F. Foster

Foster, Sydney F.

In 1960, Judge Foster was appointed to the Court of Appeals and elected later that year. See his full biography ...
Martin M. Frank

Frank, Martin M.

As a Supreme Court Justice, Martin M. Frank condemned the "standard magistrates' courts practice" of arraigning persons on "an assembly ...
Helen E. Freedman

Freedman, Helen E.

When asked why she was leaving the bench, Appellate Division, First Department Justice Helen Freedman stated that she was following ...
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Judith J. Gische

Gische, Judith J.

JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE Designated Associate Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Department, October 2012. Elected Justice of ...
Edward J. Glennon

Glennon, Edward J.

Edward J. Glennon was born in New York in 1884. As a young man he graduated from Fordham. He began ...
Luis A. Gonzalez

Gonzalez, Luis A.

Justice Luis Antonio Gonzalez was born in Manati, Puerto Rico in 1945. His parents migrated to New York in the ...
Samuel Greenbaum

Greenbaum, Samuel

Born January 23, 1854 in London, England, Justice Greenbaum was the son of Louis and Rachel Deborah (Schlessinger) Greenbaum. He ...
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Edward W. Hatch

Hatch, Edward W.

Justice Hatch also sat on the bench of the 2nd Department; more information can be found HERE. Edward W. Hatch ...
Christopher J. Heffernan

Heffernan, Christopher J.

Justice Heffernan also sat on the bench of the 3rd Department; more information can be found HERE. At one point in ...
Henry D. Hotchkiss

Hotchkiss, Henry D.

Henry DeWitt Hotchkiss was born in Albany, New York on July 2, 1856. He received a private school education and ...
James W. Houghton

Houghton, James W.

Justice Houghton also sat on the bench of the 3rd Department; more information can be found HERE. Born September 1, ...
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George L. Ingraham

Ingraham, George L.

George Landon Ingraham was one of the first Associate Justices of the Appellate Division First Department at its formation in ...
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Marcy L. Kahn

Kahn, Marcy L.

Associate Justice Marcy L. Kahn graduated with an A.B. with honors from Stanford University in 1972 and received her J.D ...
Bentley Kassal

Kassal, Bentley

In June of 2009, on the 65th anniversary of D-Day, Bentley Kassal was awarded France's highest honor, the French Legion ...
E. Michael Kavanagh

Kavanagh, E. Michael

Justice Kavanagh also sat on the bench of the 3rd Department; more information is available HERE. E. Michael Kavanagh was ...
Theodore R. Kupferman

Kupferman, Theodore R.

Justice Theodore R. Kupferman was known as the Great Dissenter of the Appellate Division, First Department. According to The New ...
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John S. Lambert

Lambert, John S.

Justice Lambert also sat on the bench of the 4th Department; more information can be found HERE. Born in Johnsonville, ...
Myles J. Lane

Lane, Myles J.

Prior to his career in the law, Myles J. Lane, a standout athlete at Dartmouth, played football, baseball and hockey ...
Frank C. Laughlin

Laughlin, Frank C.

Justice Laughlin also sat on the bench of the 4th Department; more information can be found HERE. It was said ...
Alfred D. Lerner

Lerner, Alfred D.

Justice Lerner also sat on the bench of the 2nd Department; more information can be found HERE. Justice Alfred D ...
Jonathan Lippman

Lippman, Jonathan

In 2009, Judge Lippman was appointed as the Chief Judge of the State of New York. See his full biography ...
Vincent A. Lupiano

Lupiano, Vincent A.

Upon Justice Vincent A. Lupiano's induction into the New York State Supreme Court, his father, Dominick Lupiano, who had been ...
J. Robert Lynch

Lynch, J. Robert

J. Robert Lynch was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 1, 1921. He and his family later moved upstate, ...
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Daniel E. Macken

Macken, Daniel E.

Born in 1905, Daniel E. Macken received his law degree from Syracuse University Law School in 1928. He was in ...
Bernard J. Malone

Malone, Jr., Bernard J.

Justice Malone also sat on the bench of the 3rd Department; more information can be found HERE. Bernard J. Malone, ...
Arthur Markewich

Markewich, Arthur

In 1976, Justice Arthur Markewich was the justice presiding on the panel of Appellate Division judges that disbarred Richard M ...
George D. Marlow

Marlow, George D.

George D. Marlow was born on June 8, 1941, in New York City. He graduated from St. Lawrence University in ...
Francis Martin

Martin, Francis

"Confidence of the public in our judiciary can be maintained only so long as justice is administered swiftly, fairly and ...
Angela M. Mazzarelli

Mazzarelli , Angela M.

For the Honorable Justice Mazzarelli, the consummate female judge “is highly intelligent, a great lawyer, and most importantly, a compassionate ...
John V. McAvoy

Mcavoy, John V.

The judicial career of Justice John V. McAvoy was a long one, spanning 29 years or half his lifetime, as ...
Francis D. McCurn

Mccurn, Francis D.

Justice McCurn also sat on the bench of the 4th Department; more information can be found HERE. Francis D. McCurn ...
Owen McGivern

Mcgivern, Owen

From his election to the State Assembly in 1939, Owen McGivern was known for his strong, persuasive and witty public ...
Sheila Abdus-Salaam

Mcguire, James M.

James M. McGuire was born on July 3, 1953 in Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Fordham University in 1975 and ...
Chester B. McLaughlin

Mclaughlin, Chester B.

In 1917, Judge McLaughlin was appointed, and later elected, to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE. It ...
James B.M. McNally

Mcnally, James B. M.

The motto "In God We Trust" is displayed over the bench of every judge in the State of New York ...
Edgar S.K. Merrell

Merrell, Edgar S. K.

Justice Merrell also sat on the bench of the 4th Department; more information can be found HERE. Edgar Sanford Keen ...
Nathan L. Miller

Miller, Nathan L.

In 1913, Judge Miller was appointed to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE. Judge Miller also sat ...
E. Leo Milonas

Milonas, E. Leo

E. Leo Milonas was born on October 23, 1936, in New York City, the son of a Greek immigrant who ...
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Moskowitz, Karla

Justice Karla Moskowitz is a 1966 graduate of Columbia Law School. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, ...
Francis T. Murphy

Murphy, Francis T.

Francis Timothy Murphy was born in the Bronx, New York, on April 21, 1927. After serving in the U.S. Navy ...
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Eugene L. Nardelli

Nardelli, Eugene L.

Born in Italy in 1934 to an American mother, Justice Eugene L. Nardelli later moved with his family to the ...
Robert E. Noonan

Noonan, Robert E.

Justice Noonan also sat on the bench of the 4th Deparment; more information can be found HERE. Robert E. Noonan ...
Emilio Nunez

Nunez, Emilio

Justice Emilio Nunez was a pioneer in New York's judicial system. He was the first Hispanic judge in New York ...
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Morgan J. O'Brien

O'Brien, Morgan J.

Justice O'Brien also sat on the bench of the 2nd Department; more information can be found HERE. Morgan J. O'Brien ...
James O'Malley

O'Malley, James

Born September 15, 1874 on a farm near Medina, New York to Michael and Bridget Whalen O'Malley, Justice O'Malley attended ...
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Alfred R. Page

Page, Alfred R.

Born on October 7, 1859 in Carlinville, Illinois, Justice Alfred Rider Page attended primary school in Vermont. In 1874 his ...
Alton B. Parker

Parker, Alton B.

In 1898, Judge Parker was elected to the Court of Appeals as Chief Judge. See his full biography HERE. Alton ...
Edward Patterson

Patterson, Edward

As reported in the New York Times, September 3, 1900, "To the well-earned reputation of Justice Patterson for purity, learning, ...
David W. Peck

Peck, David W.

Justice David Warner Peck played a leading role in court reform in the 1940s and 1950s. He oversaw the state's ...
Eugene A. Philbin

Philbin, Eugene A.

It was said of Justice Eugene Ambrose Philbin that he has "by his opinions and work as a judge, erected ...
Joseph M. Proskauer

Proskauer, Joseph M.

Justice Proskauer was born on August 6, 1877 in Mobile Alabama to Alfred and Rebecca L. Proskauer. His family were ...
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Benjamin J. Rabin

Rabin, Benjamin J.

Benjamin J. Rabin was born in Rochester, New York on June 3, 1896. He attended public schools and thereafter went ...
Dianne T. Renwick

Renwick, Dianne T.

Presiding Justice Dianne Renwick is a lifelong resident of the Bronx. She is a graduate of Cornell University and Benjamin ...
Nelson S. Roman

RomáN, Nelson Stephen

Beginning his career as a police officer and eventually being appointed by the President of the United States as a ...
Ernst H. Rosenberger

Rosenberger, Ernst H.

Prior to his distinguished career on the bench, Justice Ernst Rosenberger was active in the civil rights movement during the ...
David Ross

Ross, David

Early on, David Ross gained some notoriety as a bantamweight boxer in the East Bronx. His political style was rooted ...
Israel Rubin

Rubin, Israel

Israel Rubin was born on December 14, 1926. He graduated from St. John's University in 1949 and received his law ...
William Rumsey

Rumsey, William

Justice Rumsey also sat on the bench of the 4th Department; more information can be found HERE. Born October 18, ...
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Leonard H. Sandler

Sandler, Leonard H.

Leonard H. Sandler was born on October 16, 1926, in the Bronx and moved with his family to the Lower ...
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Saxe, David B.

Born on December 30, 1942 David B. Saxe was raised and educated in The Bronx, New York where he attended ...
Francis M. Scott

Scott, Francis M.

Born in 1848 in New York City, to Thomas and Eleanor Augusta Scott, Justice Scott graduated from City College of ...
Clarence J. Shearn

Shearn, Clarence J.

Clarence John Shearn was born in Leeds, Massachusetts in 1869. As a young man he graduated from Cornell University in ...
Henry L. Sherman

Sherman, Henry L.

It was said of Justice Henry L. Sherman that "He was one of the outstanding jurists of the day ...
Bernard L. Shientag

Shientag, Bernard L.

In a Letter to the Editor of the New York Times upon the passing of Justice Shientag, Mr. James McGurrin ...
Samuel J. Silverman

Silverman, Samuel J.

Samuel Joshua Silverman was born in Odessa, Russia, on September 25, 1908. He and his family emigrated to New York ...
George Bundy Smith

Smith, George Bundy

In 1992, Judge Smith was appointed to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE. A Freedom Rider and ...
Walter Lloyd Smith

Smith, Walter Lloyd

Justice Smith also sat on the bench of the 3rd and 4th Departments; more information can be found HERE and ...
Ellis J. Staley Jr.

Staley, Jr., Ellis J.

Justice Staley also sat on the bench of the 3rd Deparment; more information can be found HERE. Ellis J. Staley, ...
Aron Steuer

Steuer, Aron

It was said of Justice Aron Steuer that he "had an intellect clear, formidable and with a fine cutting edge ...
Harold A. Stevens

Stevens, Harold A.

In 1974, Judge Stevens was appointed to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE. The first African American ...
Joseph P. Sullivan

Sullivan, Joseph P.

The son of a New York City Corrections Officer and a first generation American, Justice Joseph P. Sullivan has the ...
John W. Sweeny, Jr.

Sweeny, Jr., John W.

Associate Justice John W. Sweeny, Jr. is known for his focus, reliability, and unwavering dedication to treating all attorneys, litigants, ...
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George Tilzer

Tilzer, George

George Tilzer was born on September 17, 1899, in New York City. He received his law degree from New York ...
Peter Tom

Tom, Peter

Justice Peter Tom’s career spanned over 30 years from his appointment as a Housing Court Judge to his position as ...
Alfred H. Townley

Townley, Alfred H.

Alfred H. Townley was born in upstate New York in 1876 and came to New York City as a young ...
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Irwin Untermyer

Untermyer, Irwin

Irwin Untermyer, son of another famous lawyer, Samuel Untermyer, was born on February 2, 1886. A native New Yorker, he ...
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Francis L. Valente

Valente, Francis L.

Upon the death of Justice Francis L. Valente, Bernard Botein, the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division First Department paid ...
John Van Voorhis

Voorhis, John Van

In 1953, Judge Van Voorhis was appointed to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE. Justice John Van ...
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Robert F. Wagner

Wagner, Robert F.

Born in Nastatten, Germany on June 8, 1877 to Reinhard and Magdalene Schmidt Wagner, Justice Wagner immigrated to the United ...
Richard W. Wallach

Wallach, Richard W.

Born in 1927, Justice Wallach was raised in New York City and educated at the Fieldston School, where he was ...
Isidor Wasservogel

Wasservogel, Isidor

Isidor Wasservogel was best known for conducting the inquiry into the activities of ambulance-chasing lawyers and accident claim agents in ...
Milton L. Williams

Williams, Milton L.

Justice Milton L. Williams was born in Augusta, Georgia on November 14, 1932. His family moved to New York City ...
Pardon C. Williams

Williams, Pardon C.

Justice Williams also sat on the bench of the 4th Department; more information can be found HERE. "In the thousand ...
G. Robert Witmer

Witmer, G. Robert

Justice Witmer also sat on the bench of the 4th Department; more information can be found HERE. G. Robert Witmer ...
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Paul J. Yesawich Jr.

Yesawich, Jr., Paul J.

Justice Yesawich also sat on the bench of the 3rd Department; more information can be found HERE. Paul J. Yesawich, ...
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