One new judge who got a lot of attention was Presiding Justice Alan Scheinkman, of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department. Scheinkman was formerly the administrative judge in Westchester County prior to his recent appointment to Brooklyn.

“This evening we have a special guest,” said Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix, who introduced Scheinkman. “When we were planning this event, we were hoping that we knew who the presiding justice in time for this event. Thankfully, the governor made that happen.

“He’s had a long illustrious career,” Hinds-Radix continued. “He started as a law clerk after he graduated from St. John’s Law School. He’s been a professor at the school and an adjunct at Pace and Rutgers [universities]. He’s well published and very active in his community. We are pleased to have him in the Second Department and to have him here with us this evening.”

Scheinkman admitted that it has been nearly 30 or 35 years since he took the subway to Court Street in Downtown Brooklyn, but said that he has familiarity with the borough because he has worked alongside administrative judges Hon. Lawrence Knipel and Hon. Matthew D’Emic, whom were his counterparts when he served as administrative judge in Westchester County.

“I can’t wait until the weather gets a little bit warmer so I can walk around Brooklyn Heights and see how beautiful it is,” Scheinkman said. “On Thursday, I came to Brooklyn by subway, I got off at Court Street and by the time I walked three blocks I was totally covered in snow and wet.”

Scheinkman talked about his plans for the court which include, among other things, a plan to start using e-filing in the appellate division. He explained that a pilot program will kick off in Westchester on March 1 and, if successful, it will expand to other parts of the state.

BWBA President Mirman also spoke about upcoming events including the bar association’s 100th Anniversary Gala that is coming up on April 16 at Brooklyn Law School’s Feil Hall. That event will feature a discussion with Hon. Dora Irizarry, Chief Judge of U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Hon. Shira Scheindlin, Public Advocate Letitia James and NYPD Chief Counsel Edna Wells Handy.

“While for many in the community, judges are a mysterious force with a name and face that we only see on election day, for me, as a practicing lawyer in the courts, I know that judges have an immediate daily effect on us protecting our access to justice and ensuring due process of law,” Mirman said. “The fact is, though, that all of us are in this together.”

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