Hon. Ingrid Joseph installed as a Brooklyn Supreme Court justice

January 16, 2019 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Hon. Ingrid Joseph, surrounded by family members, is sworn in as a justice of the Kings County Supreme Court by Hon. Mark Partnow (left) during a ceremony at St. Francis College. Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese

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Hon. Ingrid Joseph officially became a Brooklyn Supreme Court justice when she was sworn in during an installation ceremony held at St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights on Tuesday.

Justice Joseph was surrounded by family as her former boss, Hon. Mark Partnow, performed the official ceremony in front of roughly 150 judges, lawyers, court employees and other family and friends.

“When we had to make selections this year in the County Executive Committee, it was unanimous that [Justice Joseph] be moved up to the position of justice of the Supreme Court,” said Hon. Frank Seddio, the leader of the Brooklyn Democratic Party. “That is significant — because it’s not easy in these times where many people don’t agree.”

Justice Joseph, a native Brooklynite who graduated from Prospect Heights High School, John Jay College and New York Law School, has returned to the same Supreme Court where she served as an acting justice from 2012 until 2017.

She left last year to replace Justice Reginald Boddie, who was elevated to the Supreme Court last year, as the supervising judge of the Kings County Civil Court. Judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo has replaced Justice Joseph as the supervising judge of the Civil Court.

District leader Olanike Alabi hosted the ceremony on Tuesday. Saint Thomas Jacques performed the Pledge of Allegiance, Wendy Gilgeous sang the national anthem and the black national anthem, and Rev. Rene John performed the invocation and benediction. Ingrid Lewis-Martin presented Justice Joseph with a citation on behalf of the Brooklyn Borough President.

The group of speakers included Hon. Frank Seddio, former Councilmember Dr. Una S.T. Clarke, Helene Blank, Hon. Lawrence Knipel, Gregory Cerchione, Charles Small and Rudyard F. Whyte.

“I’ve known Judge Ingrid for 30 years or so, and I’m overcome with pride to the point of tears,” said Whyte. “You epitomize everything I think of when I think of what a judge should be.

“Over the years I’ve watched you dispense justice with fairness, evenness, compassion and — a word not heard often in the courtroom — love. You are a credit to this country, to this state and to this nation. It is immigrants like you who make America great.”

Many of the speakers praised Justice Joseph’s humility, which she demonstrated by playfully shaking her head throughout Dr. Clarke’s speech as the former councilmember spoke about the judge moving up to the U.S. Supreme Court one day.

Prior to joining the bench, Justice Joseph worked as a principal law clerk, primarily to Hon. Nicholas Clemente and then to Hon. Mark Partnow for approximately six years. It was Partnow who swore her in nine years ago when she was elected to the Civil Court bench, and he beamed as he had the opportunity to install her into the same court in which he now sits.

“Ingrid is one of the most compassionate and caring individuals that I know,” Justice Partnow said. “She is respected as a lawyer and — more importantly — as a person. She recognizes that she is dealing with people who need to be listened to, understood and appreciated. Ingrid has a great temperament, great knowledge of the law and unquestionable integrity.”