‘Commitment to Excellence’ Awards given by Appellate Division, Second Department

November 17, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

The Appellate Courthouse for Second Judicial Department on Monroe Place in Brooklyn Heights. Eagle file photo by Rob Abruzzese

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Presiding Justice Hector D. LaSalle of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, on Wednesday announced the recipients of the Eleventh Annual Milton Mollen Commitment to Excellence Award.

This annual award, established in 2011, is named in honor of former Presiding Justice Milton Mollen to recognize the achievements and efforts of the employees of the Unified Court System within the Second Judicial Department who have demonstrated professionalism, dedication and extraordinary service to their court or agency.

The ceremony in the Brooklyn Appellate Courthouse on Monroe Place, which was presided over by Presiding Justice LaSalle and the associate justices of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, included remarks from Chief Administrative Judge, Hon. Lawrence K. Marks; the administrative judges in the judicial districts that comprise the Second Department; as well as former Presiding Justice Mollen’s son, Scott Mollen, Esq., who is himself an accomplished attorney, and several former associate justices of the Second Department and executive officers from the Office of Court Administration.

This year’s award recipients are: Eric Newton, case management coordinator, Kings County, Civil Matters (2nd Judicial District); Jasmjn Reyes-Finch, chief clerk III, Newburgh City Court (9th Judicial District); Angela Diliberti, chief clerk IV, Nassau County District County (10th Judicial District); Philip Gallo, Esq., associate court attorney, Suffolk County District Court (10th Judicial District); Eduardo Sanchez, associate court clerk, Queens County Supreme Court/Criminal Term (11th Judicial District); Tareska L. Gammons, associate court clerk, Richmond County Supreme Court (13th Judicial District); Linda A. Alfino, associate appellate court clerk (Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department); The Office of Attorneys for Children Program of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department led by Director Harriet R. Weinberger, Esq., and staff members Joana C. Eder, Esq., Nancy Guss Matles; Randy Bowens, Gregory Chickel, Lorraine Benton, Taneca Marksman and Shaherah Duval; and the members of New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services Custodial Personnel and Brooklyn Borough Rapid Response Team: Taslim Ayoola, Stephen Baptiste, William Crosland, Deborah Escalona, William Dupree, David Rankin, Jr., Michael Moore and Joshua Velez.

Presiding Justice LaSalle has also extended a special recognition to the following staff members of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department: Michael Kilfoyle, principal management analyst; Concepcion Rivas, Department of Public Safety; and Nicholas De Sena, Senior Appellate court clerk.

President Justice Hector D. LaSalle of the NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department. Photo courtesy of NYS Bar Association

In announcing this year’s award recipients, Presiding Justice LaSalle said, “The justices of the Appellate Division, Second Department are grateful to the recipients of this award for their hard work and dedication to the various courts and ancillary

agencies of the Second Judicial Department. The justices are appreciative of the award recipients’ exemplary service and commitment to the public we collectively serve.

“Our bench believes this year’s recipients truly embody the ideals of former Presiding Justice Mollen and our court could not be more proud of their respective service,” he added.

Presiding Justice LaSalle expressed his deepest appreciation to the members of the Executive Selection Committee, and, in particular, to its chairperson, Hon. Reinaldo E. Rivera, for their hard work in evaluating the nominations received and in choosing this year’s recipients.

In addition to Justice Rivera, this year’s Executive Selection Committee is comprised of Hon. Mark C. Dillon, Hon. Cheryl E. Chambers, and Hon. Betsy Barros, all of whom are

associate justices of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, and Maria T. Fasulo, acting clerk of the court.

He also acknowledged Martin Huynh and Thomas Loughlin from the Unified Court System’s Courtroom Modernization Initiative

Technology Team for their significant assistance with the transmission of this year’s program.