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Presiding Justice Alan Scheinkman among honorees at Law Secretaries Association dinner

April 20, 2018 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Nadine Johnson presented Presiding Justice Alan Scheinkman, of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, with the William Goodstein Memorial Award during the Association of Law Secretaries to the Justices of the Supreme and Surrogate's Courts of New York City’s annual awards dinner in Manhattan on Tuesday. Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo
Nadine Johnson presented Presiding Justice Alan Scheinkman, of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, with the William Goodstein Memorial Award during the Association of Law Secretaries to the Justices of the Supreme and Surrogate's Courts of New York City’s annual awards dinner in Manhattan on Tuesday. Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo
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Justice Alan Scheinkman, presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, only arrived in Brooklyn four months ago and he’s already proving to be popular in the legal community as he was among the honorees during Tuesday night’s annual dinner of the Association of Law Secretaries.

Scheinkman was honored alongside Hon. Rolando T. Acosta, the presiding justice of the Appellate Division, First Department, with the William Goodstein Memorial Award for distinguished service to the court.

When introducing Scheinkman, board member Nadine Johnson quickly pointed out that he started his career as a law secretary to Hon. Matthew J. Jasen in 1975. Scheinkman, who graduated from St. John’s University School of Law, also worked as counsel to the state Senate, as the Westchester County Attorney and was elected to the state Supreme Court, Ninth Judicial District, in 2007.

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“Justice Scheinkman is a scholar and a gentleman,” said Johnson, who is a member of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission. “He’s a fair but tough jurist who is exceedingly well respected by members of the bench and bar.”

Scheinkman remarked that he’s still awestruck with his promotion to his spot on the bench in Brooklyn and thanked the association for being the first in the city to honor him.

“I know that on the trial level, law clerks do a myriad of things,” Scheinkman said. “You have to deal with the lawyers, you have to deal with the litigants, the clerks, the staff and your employers. It’s a difficult job and it’s remarkable that you are all so affable this evening.”

Hon. Connie Mallafre Melendez, Hon. David Kirschner and Hon. Jeffrey Rosenblueth were recipients of the Judicial Gavel award; Julia Herd received the Faith O’Neal Memorial award; and Barbara H. Grcevic received the Joseph L. Forstadt Memorial award.

Grcevic, a Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association trustee who ran the Boston Marathon the previous day, joked during her speech that she was grateful to the restaurant, Battery Gardens in Manhattan, for having working elevators. In a more serious part of her speech, she spoke about the namesake of her award, Joseph Forstadt.

“Joe was a partner at [Stroock & Stroock & Lavan] and, together with Burt Lipshie, served as our association’s counsel for 40 years until he passed away last year. He was also a former law assistant and founder of this association. No one did more for this organization than Joe. He counseled many law clerks who got into trouble, made sure all law clerks whose judges were retiring had a job and attended all of our meetings.”

After the awards were given out, the election and installation of officers and directors was held. Hon. Raymond L. Bruce presided over the installation.

Cynthia Parache-Brito was installed as president; Kevin Morrissey, first vice president; Cassandra Johnson, second vice president; Steven Helfont, treasurer; Lauren Jones, assistant treasurer; Barbara Grcevic, secretary; and Derefim Neckles, assistant secretary.

PHOTO ABOVE: Front row from left: Steven Helfont, Cassandra Johnson, Barbara Grcevic, Cynthia Parache-Brito, Theresa Nuccio and Nadine Johnson. Back row from left: Louisa Chan, Connie Morales, Hasa Kingo, Joaquin Orellana, Richard Lazarus, Peter Lana, Raymi Ramseur, Derefim Neckles, Lauren Jones, Inga O’Neale and Kevin Morrissey. 


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