Supreme Court judges host holiday party for court employees of Brooklyn

December 13, 2018 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The Kings County Supreme Court held its annual holiday party for court employees on Wednesday. Pictured from left: Kim Smalley, Grace Machuca and Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix. Eagle photo by Rob Abruzzese

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The Brooklyn Supreme Court held its annual holiday party at the courthouse at 360 Adams St. on Wednesday that is hosted by the judges for all of the court employees.

It’s become an annual three-hour event where employees all shuffle into and out of the Surrogate’s Court for food, holiday music and cheer. It’s the court’s way to do what it can to keep morale up among its employees.

“This started with a conversation between me and the administrative judge, Hon. Lawrence Knipel, and Chief Clerk Charles Small,” said Marc Levine, who helps to organize the parties each year. “I suggested that we needed something to boost morale in the building and I suggested a holiday party. We used to have them every year, but there hadn’t been one in over 12 years so they thought it would be a great idea.”

Due to budget constraints, the court is not able to give employees, even the most exemplary employees, meritorial raises. So court leaders will often look for small ways to let their employees know that they are appreciated.

“We really needed the morale booster,” Levine said. “We hadn’t gotten raises in years at that point. The budget cutbacks about 10 years ago really hurt us. You can’t reward people, we’re a government agency. We can’t give raises, but we can acknowledge people and do things like this to let them know they’re cared for.”

From left: Hon. David Vaughan, Marc Levine and Hon. Mark Partnow.

Shawnna Robb (left) and Giovanna Fontana.

Nicola Chambers (left) and Nydia Gonzalez.

From left: Hon. Reginald Boddie, Hon. Kathy King, Dejana Perrone and Henry Norris.

From left: Sandy Levine, Yoseph Goldstein and Marc Levine.

From left: Yvonne Corion, Marguerite Payne and Joanne Fergerson.

Hon. Richard Velasquez (left) and Tamara Ortiz.

Court officers from left: Jackie Grego, Roland “King” James, Val Maloney, Lt. Eban Smith, Tanisha Outlaw, Sonia Navarro, Bibi Mohabier, Javier McCormack, Sue Carradi and Stanisha West.

Marc Levine and Judge-elect Jill Epstein. Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese

Levine said that the annual party has gotten so popular in the last few years that people started asking him this past summer if the court would host it again. He said people have been making food suggestions and requests for the past few months.

“It’s really been incredible to see everyone coming together to celebrate like this,” Levine said. “It really makes it feel like a family, and it was great to see the wonderful team of employees, about 20, who helped me put this event together.”

The list of people who contributed to this year’s party includes James Blain, Tamara Boadus, Melissa Coleman, Rob Dellevas, John Fiumara, Doreen Gaeta-Milella, Jackie Grego, Sandy Levine, Sherise Lewis, Danyale Love, Val Maloney, Javier McCormick, Ana Moreno DeJesus, Tanisha Outlaw, Mary Ellen Pascone and David Polk.

“Of course, we also give a special thanks to the Surrogate Court judges, Hon. Margarita Lopez Torres and Hon. John Ingram, for letting us use their courtroom this year and in past years for the party.”