Catholic Lawyers’ celebration pays tribute to retired Appellate Justice Robert Miller
Retired Associate Justice, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department Robert Miller receives the award of Special Recognition from Yolanda Guadagnoli, Esq., president of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Brooklyn. Photo: Mario Belluomo/Brooklyn Eagle
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — The Catholic Lawyers Guild of Kings County, a professional organization of attorneys and judges that promotes fellowship among Catholic members of the bench and bar, held its annual Shrove Tuesday mass and get-together on Feb. 17.
At the event, retired Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, Robert Miller was honored for his outstanding service within the legal community.
Appointed to the Appellate Division in 2010, Miller served on panels reviewing appeals from trial courts across Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley. Prior to that role, he was elected as a Supreme Court justice in Brooklyn in 2007.
From left: James McHugh, Hon. Rosemarie Montalbano, William Neri, Esq., and Bruno Codispoti, Esq. Photo: Mario Belluomo/Brooklyn Eagle
The mass portion of the yearly celebration was held at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, 19 Sidney Pl., and conducted by the Very Rev. Father Patrick Keating, Esq.
The Brooklyn Bar Association office at 123 Remsen St. became the backdrop for the festivities after the mass.
A mentor and advisor
Yolanda Guadagnoli, Esq., president of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Brooklyn, recognized and thanked Miller for his continued support and service to the guild.
“I met Judge Miller when he first took the bench in one of the city parts,” Guadagnoli recalled. “We had the best conversation, and when I was leaving, he said he would never forget my name, as his mother was named Yolanda as well.”
Guadagnoli called Miller a mentor and advisor to many. “The impact you have made on the Brooklyn legal community has been immeasurable,” she said. “You are a true legal academic and a man of faith. You treat everyone fairly and with kindness — qualities that we all look for in a jurist.”
Miller has been a Guild member for many years and is on the executive committee. He is typically the first to participate in any event the organization hosts, Guadagnoli said.
“You have provided sound advice and guidance to the Guild, and we are so thankful for your unending support,” said Guadagnoli. “You truly are an inspiration to us all.”
Before joining the bench, Miller had a distinguished career in private practice, including partnerships at Reed Smith and Parker Duryee Rosoff & Haft, where he focused on complex civil litigation. Miller earned his juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center and his bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College.
During his judicial career, Miller also served on the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, contributing to statewide oversight of judicial ethics. He retired from the bench in 2025 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age for New York judges.
Yolanda Guadagnoli, Esq., and Dean Delianites, Esq. Photo: Mario Belluomo/Brooklyn Eagle
A day of self-examination and introspection
Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, which kicks off Lent in the Christian calendar, is sometimes still used for self-examination and introspection.
The holiday eventually acquired the character of a carnival or festival in many places and is often celebrated with parades. It’s also a day when many indulge in rich foods, such as pancakes, before the Lenten fast begins.
Incidentally, “Shrove” comes from the old word “shrive,” meaning to confess sins. Traditionally, people would confess and receive absolution before Lent.
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