By Hon. Marsha L. Steinhardt (Ret.)
At the 2024 Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York’s (“WBASNY”) annual Convention, during the Installation Ceremony of President Marea L. Wachsman, several friends and colleagues were invited to say a few words. Amongst this illustrious group was the Honorable Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, former Corporation Counsel of the City of New York and former Second Department, Appellate Division Associate Justice. Her Honor, as always, was warm, welcoming, and wise. She spoke of the “glass ceiling,” breaking it little by little to ensure that more women would be in the courtroom, on both sides of the bench. In particular, when she told the assembled audience that “when a woman leaves a job, her replacement should be another woman,” her remarks resonated with me, a recently retired Supreme Court Justice in Kings County, New York.
One of the many perks of being on the bench is the opportunity to work with a Law Assistant. The daily contact, the conversations, and the back and forth between Judge and Assistant (or Law Secretary as the position was previously known and is now known as a Court Attorney), more likely than not, do not exist outside of the law. My Law Assistants (and during my thirty-year career on the bench, there were many) sat in on trials, settlement conferences, and oral arguments on “Motion Day.” My Law Assistants also helped draft decisions and, perhaps most challenging, assisted with preparing complicated, multi-page jury verdict questions submitted after complicated, lengthy medical malpractice trials.
Employment with a sitting judge is not necessarily easy. In addition to a voluminous amount of work, the daily contact between everyone in Chambers must proceed on an even keel. This is equally true for the Courtroom Staff—the Clerk and Court Officers who ensure the seamless operation of the Part. When the interaction between the participants works, the situation is ideal.
You may ask yourself, what does working in the Court system have to do with more women lawyers, more women judges, or making cracks in the glass ceiling? And where do Justice Hinds-Radix’s insights fit in?
Legacy is defined as “something that is passed on.” “A legacy may come from one’s character, reputation, and the life you lead – setting an example for others and guiding their futures.” Perhaps a simplified definition might be: (a) providing mentoring and giving good advice; (b) extending friendship when needed; and (c) giving a slight nudge in the right direction at the right time. Also included in my definition of legacy is encouraging a Court Officer to attend law school and advising a lawyer about running for office.
Retirement is not only a time to pursue new adventures but is also a time to reflect. Looking back on my life, I am overjoyed to note that six women who worked with me became Judges, either currently or will start in January 2025. They are listed in alphabetical order:
Hon. Erin Cochran Daly – January 7, 2025, Florida Circuit Court
Hon. Sharen Hudson – Acting Supreme, Kings County; nominee for Supreme Court, 2024
Hon. Connie Mallefre-Melendez – Supreme Court, Kings County
Hon. Alexis Riley – Nominee for Civil Court, Kings County, 2024
Hon. Gina Lopez Summa – Court of Claims Part A, Central Islip
Hon. Wavny Toussaint – Supreme Court, Kings County
I worked with Erin and Sharen when each was in uniform and worked as Court Officers. Each knew far more than I did. Connie, Wavny, Alexis, and Gina each worked as my Law Assistants for several years, and all were incredible. They taught me as much as I taught them. All six were my Court family, and I could not have had a successful career on the bench without any one of them. Finally, and most importantly, I realized I followed Justice Hinds-Radix’s instructions! I ensured that “when a woman leaves a job, her replacement should be another woman,” and I did it six times. My legacy lives on in these Judges.