On August 29, 2024, Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson designated Hon. Albert M. Rosenblatt as the first Historian of the New York State Unified Court System.
In this position, Judge Rosenblatt is tasked with encouraging and coordinating the preservation and cataloging of records of historical value located within the offices of the county clerks; encouraging research about the New York Courts to increase knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of its unique history; and advising the court system’s leadership with regard to preserving matters of historical significance to the New York Courts. He also serves as a liaison between the Society and the court system. In addition to this inaugural position, Judge Rosenblatt co-founded the Society with then-Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye and also serves the Society’s President Emeritus and Legal History Scholar, a position named after him.
Judge Rosenblatt has served as the Dutchess County District Attorney; a Dutchess County Court Judge; a New York State Supreme Court Justice; an Appellate Division, Second Department, Associate Justice; the Chief Administrative Judge of the New York State Courts; and an Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. A distinguished scholar, he has authored numerous books and articles related to the history of the New York Courts and the law, including, most recently, The Eight: Lemmon Slave Case and the Fight for Freedom, Dutch Influences on Law and Governance in New York. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Law School.
As a scholar with a deep and abiding passion for legal history, Judge Rosenblatt is keenly aware of the degree to which our past informs our future. That is why we must focus our efforts on preserving, and promoting greater public understanding of, the rich historical heritage of New York’s courts and legal system. I can think of no one more dedicated or capable than the incomparable Judge Rosenblatt to guide us in this important endeavor—an integral part of the court system’s ongoing work to foster civic education and engagement. I am delighted to announce his appointment to this important new post.
Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson