Courts and Law

Pro Bono Barrister: Justice D’Emic gets plaudits along with key post

March 31, 2014 By Charles F. Otey, Esq. Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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There have been some big changes in management of our criminal courts over the past year and some pleasant surprises. When Chief Administrative Judge for Criminal Matters Hon. Barry Kamins was elevated to a high position at the Office of Court Administration, the word went forth that he would be succeeded by Justice Patricia DiMango, whose performance in a special “blockbuster” part in Criminal Bronx resulted in a drastic reduction of  one of the most congested calendars in the nation.,

But then Justice DiMango was called to even more fame, and hopefully, fortune. The Bay Ridge, Brooklyn-born and bred jurist made headlines across the country when TV “Chief Judge” Judy Scheindlin announced that this very commanding  and articulate woman was indeed ready for prime time!  

A new television show would be created inspired by Justice DiMango’s style and success with the appropriate title of “Hot Bench.” (For the uninitiated, “Hot Bench” signifies an ultra-busy, intensive courtroom and has nothing to do with the image of the jurists involved.)

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This surprising turn of events resulted in this vital position being awarded to highly respected Justice Matthew D’Emic.

A Brooklyn Law School grad, the Hon. D’Emic left private practice to become law secretary to the late Hon. Ron Aiello, then administrative judge for the Second Judicial District, in 1993. He was appointed to the Court of Claims as an Acting Supreme Court Justice in 1996 and reappointed in 2005.

Justice D’Emic was assigned to groundbreaking Kings County Mental Health Court, where he focused on the troubling issues surrounding domestic violence and mental health. He’s generously shared his expertise with a number of professional journals such as the Health Care Journal, the Psychiatric Journal and numerous others.

He’s donated his time to important works related to his court duties such as Daytop Village, The Mercy Home for Children and The Guild for Exceptional Children in Bay Ridge. He still finds time to play guitar in a band that performs throughout southwest Brooklyn.

Due to all these achievements and involvements it was no surprise that he was saluted this past Sunday at the Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Here’s what Appellate Division Presiding Justice A Gail Prudenti had to say about this much-admired former community organizer: “Justice D’Emic is an esteemed jurist and dynamic leader whose keen vision and exceptional work ethic have been instrumental to the success of the groundbreaking Kings County Mental Health Court, over which he has presided since its historic opening 12 years ago.

“Judge D’Emic’s admirable qualities, coupled with his strong management abilities and broad and deep knowledge of the criminal justice system, make him ideally suited to take on this challenging judicial assignment, overseeing one of the busiest criminal courts in the country.”

 


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