Judge Willie Thompson blazed a trail in NYC

Despite the fact that Judge William “Willie” Thompson retired from the bench in 2001, he remained a major presence in the New York City legal community up to the day he died.

His impact in his early years was felt by the paths that he blazed, but those later years will be remembered for the dozens of lawyers and judges whose careers he helped along the way.

“Every judge of color that sat in Civil, Supreme or the Appellate Division came in contact in one way or another with Willie,” said Justice Sylvia Ash. “He felt like it was his obligation to mentor us because there were so very few mentors at the time.”

“He helped quite a few people over the years,” said Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix. “He’s had his hand in the ascension of so many people’s careers in big and small ways. He was such an important figure that if he pulled you aside or offered you advice, you always paid attention to his message. And if he didn’t help you directly, many of the things helped a lot of attorneys of color just because he led by example.

“He was so instrumental in so many careers,” Hinds-Radix continued. “He was even instrumental in helping former [District Attorney] Ken Thompson.”

For those who appeared before him, Thompson could be both charming and very serious. When he served as presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, attorneys needed to be especially prepared. That position was one of the biggest pride and joys of his career, and he was always mindful about the importance of being the first black judge on that bench.

“I appeared before him on many occasions, and he was tough,” said Hon. Alan Scheinkman, the current presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department. “He was always incredibly well prepared, incredibly practical and had a way of cutting to the heart of every matter. He didn’t have a high tolerance for indirection. He was straightforward, he came right at you. He expected you to respond in kind.”

Justice Scheinkman said that he never considered Thompson a mentor, except to say that Thompson’s impact on the Appellate Division, Second Department, is still felt 18 years after he retired.

“I think the way he conducted himself, the influence that he had on particularly minority attorneys is a role model is something that has always stayed with the judges in our court,” Scheinkman said. “We have a much more diverse bench today and his influence certainly helped that. I know that he is a real role model to my colleagues. We always think of him.”

Justice Sylvia Ash is one of the many judges on whom he had a more direct impact. The two met when she was considering running for Civil Court judge, and by the end she said that he was like a father to her.

“I first met him when I was running for Civil Court, and someone told me that I had to meet the ‘guru’ of the legal profession,” Justice Ash said. “He took an instant liking to me and we remained close friends ever since.

“Especially when I decided to run for Supreme Court, he encouraged me and got behind me to run,” Justice Ash continued. “He invited me to his office to sit down and talk and told me the reasons why I should run, why he believed that I would win if I ran. He basically told me that I owed it to my community and people of color, especially women, to run to be a role model and set an example for them. Whatever doubts I had, he was so positive and clear that it was the right thing for me to do that I had no doubts.”

Judge Thompson, who was known for being in his office promptly by 7 a.m. every day right up until he died, continued to mentor people until the very end of his life. Even at the age of 94, he would often drive himself to lobster dinners with other judges where he would discuss issues before the court or local Brooklyn history.

“I enjoyed those monthly dinners because he was a historian,” said Justice Ash. “He had a wealth of knowledge about politics, the judiciary and just life in general. His mind was as sharp as a tack. I learned so much from him and what I admired the most about him is his memory. He would remember dates, times, places, names and personal anecdotes about individuals he knew even 40, 50 or 60 years ago.”

Justice Thompson’s impact was so enormous that even though family and friends wanted to host his memorial at the Appellate Division courthouse, the venue was simply too small. Instead, a ceremony will be held at Borough Hall at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17.