Judge White highlighted the importance of adapting to the hybrid model that emerged during the pandemic, balancing in-person trials and intakes with the efficiency and accessibility of virtual conferences.

Before her judicial tenure, Judge White dedicated 25 years to the Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Division, culminating as the attorney in charge of the Bronx Trial Office. Her career path was influenced by her early work in a grant-making foundation, a transformative mentorship with a retired civil rights lawyer, which eventually led her to pursue law at New York University, and her rich background, including an initial interest in acting and theater in Chicago.

“I didn’t think I started out coming to this profession,” Judge White admitted. “I started in Chicago studying acting, and I moved here to do theater. I was working part-time in a grant-making foundation just to make money, and an excellent civil rights lawyer who was retired and working at the foundation became a mentor and suggested I go into law.”

During the event, Judge White discussed the broad spectrum of cases handled by the Kings County Family Court, emphasizing its status as one of the busiest family courts in the nation. She stressed the court’s focus on viewing each family holistically, given the often-interconnected nature of various legal challenges they face.

Addressing the impact of COVID-19, Judge White explained how the court has managed to overcome initial backlogs and adapt to a hybrid operation model that accommodates the diverse needs of litigants, from those with physical disabilities to individuals who cannot afford to miss work for court appearances. This adaptive approach has proven successful, leveraging the benefits of technology to enhance accessibility and efficiency in the court system.

“We never shut down, but initially, we were only able to accommodate emergency requests,” Judge White said. “We were entirely virtual for a year and a half, so now we have a mix. Most trials are presumably in person, most intake is in person, but we have learned how valuable it is to make certain things hybrid like conferences.”

The event also featured insights from Stephanie Pearl, court attorney referee, who elucidated the court’s mediation program, emphasizing its speed, accessibility, and the role of mediation in facilitating dialogue and potential agreement between parties. Ryan Darshan, deputy chief clerk at the Kings County Family Court, further elaborated on the resources available to the public for legal assistance and information, highlighting the various programs designed to support litigants navigating the legal system.

“Our program is court-referred; however, everyone can request mediation,” Pearl said. “You can ask for your cases to come to mediation. Our program is citywide and free for the litigants. Once a judge refers a case to us, we assign a mediator within 24-48 hours, so it is a fast-moving process.”

Judge White concluded the session with a call for more family attorneys to join the ranks, underlining the constant demand and critical role these professionals play in the family court system. She also noted the positive developments under the new chief judge aimed at alleviating the burdens on overburdened and under-resourced courts like hers.

“We need more attorneys,” Judge White said. “If anyone on this call is interested in being a family attorney, we constantly need more. It’s a need, and it creates a challenge when you need an attorney at that moment. We have attorneys from intake on the panel every day.”