The Historical Society of the New York Courts maintains biographies of retired Appellate Division, Second Department Associate Justices and retired and sitting Presiding Justices, which are updated infrequently. For biographies of the current jurists, please visit the Second Department’s website.
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Adams, Thomas A.
A native of Long Island, NY, Justice Thomas A. Adams was born on January 17, 1948 in Mineola and raised ...
Adel, Frank F.
Justice Frank F. Adel was born in 1885 in New York. A graduate of Brooklyn Law School, he was admitted ...
Aldrich, Raymond E.
Justice Raymond E. Aldrich, the son of Elbert and Melissa Aldrich (nee Finn) was born September 28, 1888 in Poughkeepsie, ...
Altman, Myriam J.
"An immigrant who reached the top ranks of her profession" (Saxon). Justice Myriam J. Altman was born Myriam Jarblum on ...
Angiolillo, Daniel D.
Daniel D. Angiolillo presently serves as jurist-inresidence at Pace University Law School teaching constitutional law seminars in Election Law, and ...
Austin, Leonard B
Judicial Offices Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department Appointed March 19, 2009 by Gov. David A. Patterson; retired ...
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Balkin, Ruth C
Judicial Offices Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department Appointed December 22, 2006 by Gov. George E. Pataki; retired ...
Balletta, Jr., Vincent R.
Justice Vincent R. Balletta, Jr. was born on July 7, 1927 in Brookyln and grew up on Long Island. He ...
Bartlett, Willard
In 1906, Judge Bartlett was appointed to the Court of Appeals. See his biography HERE ...
Bedlock, George
Justice George J. Beldock was born in 1903 in Poland, where he lived until the age of two when he ...
Belen, Ariel E.
Justice Ariel E. Belen graduated from Brooklyn College in 1978 and earned his J.D. with a specialization in International Legal ...
Benjamin, A. David
"He became active in the Republican Party's Brooklyn organization early in his career as a lawyer, establishing himself as an ...
Blackmar, Abel E.
Justice Abel E. Blackmar was born in Newark, NY in 1852. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1874 and received ...
Boyers, Seymour
Justice Seymour Boyers was born on October 9, 1926 in Queens, NY. He graduated from Samuel J. Tilden High School ...
Bracken, Lawrence J.
Justice Lawrence J. Bracken was born on June 12, 1931 in Hempstead, NY. He graduated from Roslyn High School in ...
Bradley, George B.
Justice George B. Bradley was born on February 5, 1825 in Greene, NY. From 1872 to 1873 he was a ...
Brennan, Arthur D.
Justice Arthur D. Brennan was born on August 29, 1899 in Mount Vernon, NY. He graduated from Mount Vernon High ...
Brown, Richard
Justice Richard A. Brown was born in Brooklyn and grew up in the Cambria Heights neighborhood of Queens, NY. He ...
Brown, Charles F.
"While occupying the seat upon the Court of Appeals bench, Justice Brown . . . wrote the prevailing opinion in ...
Burr, Joseph A.
Justice Joseph A. Burr was born in Brooklyn in 1850, a descendant of Peter Burr, once a Chief Justice of ...
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Carni, Edward
Edward D. Carni graduated from SUNY Cortland in 1982 with a BA in Political Science. He earned his Juris Doctor ...
Carr, William J.
Speaking to graduates at the St. Francis Xavier's College 1901 commencement, Carr said: "There can be no true success at ...
Carswell, William B.
Justice William B. Carswell was born on January 8, 1883 in Edinburgh, Scotland to David Bruce and Ann Brown Carswell ...
Christ, Marcus G.
Justice Marcus G. Christ was born on April 7, 1900, the son of Philip J. Christ, a Supervisor of the ...
Close, Frederick P.
Justice Frederick P. Close was born in 1875 in South Colton, St. Lawrence County. He was educated at the State ...
Cohalan, Jr., John P.
Justice John P. Cohalan Jr., born in 1907, was raised in New York City and educated at LaSalle Military Academy ...
Cohen, Jeffrey A.
Judicial Offices Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department Appointed December 9, 2010 by Gov. David A. Patterson; retired ...
Copertino, John
Justice John Copertino was born in Manhattan and raised in Queens, where he worked in his father's fish store as ...
Covello, Joseph
JUDICIAL OFFICES Associate Justice, Appellate Division Second Judicial Department August 2005 to September 2011 Associate Justice, Appellate Term Ninth and ...
Cozier, Barry A.
Justice Barry A. Cozier earned a B.A. degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1971 ...
Crane, Stephen G.
Justice Stephen G. Crane earned a B.S. degree from Cornell University in 1960 and a J.D. degree from Cornell Law ...
Cullen, Edgar M.
In 1900, Judge Cullen was appointed to the Court of Appeals by Governor Theodore Roosevelt. See his full biography HERE ...
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Damiani, Vincent D.
Justice Vincent D. Damiani was raised in Brooklyn and earned a B.S. degree from New York University in 1934 and ...
Davis, Rowland L.
Justice Davis also sat on the bench of the 3rd and 4th Departments; more information can be found HERE and ...
Dickerson, Thomas A.
Judicial Offices Associate Justice, Appellate Division, Second Department 2006-2017 Justice, New York State Supreme Court 2003-2017 Westchester County Court Judge, ...
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Eiber, Geraldine T.
Justice Geraldine T. Eiber earned her J.D. from the New York University School of Law and worked in private practice ...
Eng, Randall T.
Judicial Offices Presiding Justice - Appellate Division, Second Department Appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo October 1st, 2012 Associate Justice - ...
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Feuerstein, Sandra J.
Justice Sandra J. Feuerstein was born in 1946, the daughter of Immigration Judge Annette Elstein. After earning a B.S. from ...
Fisher, Steven W.
Justice Steven W. Fisher was born on May 19, 1946 in Manhattan and lived most of his life in Queens ...
Florio, Anita R.
Justice Anita R. Florio earned degrees from Manhattanville College in 1958 and Fordham University School of Law in 1963, the ...
Friedmann, William D.
William D. Friedmann graduated from Hunter College of the City University of New York before earning his law degree from ...
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Gaynor, William J.
Justice William J. Gaynor was born in Whitestown, Oneida County, NY in 1851 to a farming family. He attended the ...
Gibbons, David T.
Justice David T. Gibbons was born in Brooklyn. He earned degrees from St. John's University and St. John's University School ...
Goldstein, Gloria
Justice Gloria Goldstein earned a B.A. degree from Brooklyn College in 1953 and graduated first in her class from Brooklyn ...
Goodrich, William W.
Justice William W. Goodrich was born on August 23, 1833 in Havana, NY. He graduated from Amherst College in 1852 ...
Gulotta, Frank A.
Justice Frank A. Gulotta studied law at St. John's University Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1932 ...
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Hagarty, William F.
Justice William F. Hagarty was born in 1877 in Dayton, Ohio and moved to Brooklyn at the age of 11 ...
Hall, L. Priscilla
Judicial Offices March 2009 - 2018 - Associate Justice, Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department February 2008 to March 2009 - ...
Hallinan, James T.
Justice James T. Hallinan was born in New York on June 1, 1889. He earned his law degree from New ...
Hart, Edward J.
Justice Edward J. Hart earned both his undergraduate and law degrees at St. John's University. Before joining the bench, he ...
Harwood, Stanley
Justice Stanley Harwood was born in Brooklyn. He served in the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II, then earned ...
Hatch, Edward W.
Justice Hatch also served on the bench of the 1st Department; more information can be found HERE. Justice Edward W ...
Hawkins, Joseph F.
Justice Joseph F. Hawkins, a native of Poughkeepsie, NY, was born in 1916 and attended St. Peter's grammar and high ...
Hill, Barron L.
Justice L. Barron Hill earned a law degree from Syracuse University Law School and began practicing in Southold, Long Island ...
Hinds-Radix, Sylvia O.
Judicial Offices Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department Appointed November 5, 2012 by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, redesignated January ...
Hirschberg, Michael H.
Justice Michael H. Hirschberg was born on April 12, 1847 in Newburgh. He attended Newburgh Free Academy and at the ...
Hooker, Warren
Justice Warren B. Hooker was born on November 24, 1856 in Perrysburg, Cattaraugus County, NY. He was educated in public ...
Hopkins, James D.
Justice James D. Hopkins studied at Columbia College before earning a law degree from Columbia University School of Law in ...
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Jaycox, Walter H.
Justice Walter H. Jaycox was born on September 3, 1863 in Wassaic, Dutchess County, NY. Following the death of his ...
Jenks, Almet F.
Justice Almet F. Jenks was born on May 21, 1853 in Brooklyn. His father, Grenville T. Jenks, was a lawyer, ...
Johnston, John B.
Justice John B. Johnston was born on July 10, 1882 in Glasgow, Scotland. His family immigrated to Brooklyn in 1886 ...
Joy, Daniel W.
Justice Daniel W. Joy graduated from the State University of New York at Albany in 1952 and Brooklyn Law School ...
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Kapper, Isaac M.
Justice Isaac M. Kapper was born around 1864. He earned the money for his tuition at New York Law School ...
Kelby, Charles H.
Justice Charles Hendre Kelby was born in New York City on August 7, 1870. He was educated at New York ...
Kelly, William J.
Justice William J. Kelly was born on April 13, 1860. He attended St. Joseph's Parochial School and Public School 9, ...
Kleinfeld, Philip M.
Justice Philip M. Kleinfeld was born on June 19, 1894 in the Lower East Side. He graduated from New York ...
Kooper, Sybil Hart
Justice Sybil Hart Kooper was born in Brooklyn around the year 1925, the daughter of Walter R. Hart, a State ...
Krausman, Gabriel M.
Justice Gabriel M. Krausman was educated at Brooklyn College and New York University, earning a B.S. degree with honors in ...
Kunzeman, Joseph J.
Justice Joseph J. Kunzeman was born around the year 1928 and educated at Queens College and St. John's University Law ...
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LaSalle, Hector D.
Judicial Offices Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, Brooklyn, New York - Appointed by Governor Andrew M ...
Latham, Henry L.
Justice Henry Jepson Latham was born on December 10, 1908 in Brooklyn and raised in Queens. He was educated at ...
Lawrence, Charles
Justice Charles B. Lawrence was born around the year 1920. He graduated from City College in 1941 and Brooklyn Law ...
Lazansky, Edward
Justice Edward Lazansky was born on December 9, 1872, the son of Bohemian immigrants who had arrived in the United ...
Lazer, Leon D.
Justice Leon D. Lazer earned a B.S. from the City College of New York in 1942. He served for over ...
Lerner, Alfred D.
Justice Lerner also sat on the bench of the 1st Department; more information can be found HERE. Justice Alfred D ...
Leventhal, John M.
Judicial Offices Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department Appointed January 25, 2008 by Gov. Eliot Spitzer; redesignated January ...
Lewis, Harry E.
Justice Harry E. Lewis was born in New York around the year 1880 to Leopold and Emma Lowenthal Lewis. He ...
Lifson, Robert A.
Justice Robert A. Lifson graduated from Huntington High School in 1967 and the State University of New York at Albany ...
Luciano, Daniel F.
Justice Daniel F. Luciano was born around the year 1931 and raised in New York City. He graduated from Brooklyn ...
Lunn, Robert J.
Justice Lunn also sat on the bench of the 4th Department; more information can be found HERE. Justice Robert J ...
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Maccrate, John
Justice John MacCrate was born on March 29, 1885 in Dumbarton, Scotland, the son of a blacksmith. The family immigrated ...
Mangano, Guy James
Justice Guy James Mangano graduated from St. John's University School of Law in 1955. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor ...
Manning, David F.
Justice David F. Manning was born around the year 1857 in Brooklyn, where he lived his entire life. He practiced ...
Margett, Charles
Justice Charles Margett was born on September 5, 1907 in Brooklyn. He graduated from Eastern District High School in 1925 ...
Martuscello, M. Henry
M. Henry Martuscello was born on September 27, 1908 in Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York. He was educated at St ...
Mastro, William F.
Judicial Offices Associate Justice, Appellate Division Second Department Acting Presiding Justice December 2011 - October 2012 and January 2021- May ...
Mccarthy, William E.
Justice McCarthy also sat on the bench of the 3rd Department; more information can be found HERE. Justice William E ...
Mcginity, Leo F.
Justice Leo F. McGinity graduated from St. Francis Xavier High School and Georgetown University. He received his law degree from ...
Miller, Sondra
Justice Sondra Miller graduated from Wellesley College in 1950 and Harvard Law School in 1953, as part of the law ...
Miller, Nathan L.
In 1913, Judge Miller was appointed to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE. Judge Miller also sat ...
Miller, Howard
Justice Howard Miller graduated from Brooklyn College in 1957 and New York University School of Law in 1961. He was ...
Mills, Isaac N.
Justice Isaac N. Mills was born on September 10, 1851, in Thompson, Windham County, Connecticut. His family had come from ...
Mollen, Milton
Justice Milton Mollen was born in Brooklyn and educated at Samuel J. Tilden High School and the St. John's University ...
Munder, Fred J.
Justice Fred J. Munder was born around the year 1903 in Sunnyside, Queens. In 1929, Munder was appointed to the ...
Murphy, Charles E.
Justice Charles E. Murphy was born around the year 1895 in Trenton, New Jersey. He graduated from Rider College and ...
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Niehoff, James F.
Justice James F. Niehoff was born in Queens and graduated from St. John's University School of Law in 1951. In ...
Nolan, Gerald
Justice Gerald Nolan was born in Yonkers around the year 1891, the son of Dan C. Nolan, publisher of the ...
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O'Brien, Morgan J.
Justice O'Brien also sat on the bench of the 1st Department; more information can be found HERE. Justice Morgan J ...
O'Brien, Cornelius J.
Justice Cornelius J. O'Brien was born on November 3, 1931 in New York. He graduated from Fordham University in 1954 ...
O'Connor, Frank D.
Justice Frank D. O'Connor was born on December 20, 1909 in Manhattan to an Irish immigrant family and grew up ...
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Pette, Nicholas M.
Justice Nicholas M. Pette was born around the year 1891. Prior to his career on the bench, he served as ...
Pizzuto, Vincent
Justice Vincent Pizzuto was born around 1922 in Manhattan and lived in Brooklyn for most of his life. He earned ...
Pratt, Calvin E.
Justice Calvin E. Pratt was born on January 23, 1828 in Princeton, Massachusetts. He was educated at the district school ...
Prudenti, A. Gail
The Honorable A. Gail Prudenti was appointed Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts of New York State, by Chief Judge ...
Putnam, Harrington
Justice Harrington Putnam was born in 1851 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. He graduated from Colby College in 1870, studied at Heidelberg ...
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Rabin, Samuel
In 1974, Judge Rabin was appointed to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE ...
Rich, Adelbert P.
Justice Adelbert P. Rich was born in Cato, New York on May 16,1860. His father and grandfather were both attorneys ...
Ritter, David S.
Justice David S. Ritter is a native of Middletown, Orange County. He earned degrees from Union College in 1956 and ...
Roman, Sheri S.
Judicial Offices Associate Justice, Appellate Division, Second Department Appointed July 2009 by Gov. David A. Patterson; redesignated January 1, 2019 ...
Rosenblatt, Albert M.
In 1989, Judge Rosenblatt was appointed to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE ...
Rubin, Isaac
Justice Isaac Rubin was born in Mount Vernon around the year 1914. He earned degrees from New York University and ...
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Santucci, Fred T.
Justice Fred T. Santucci earned degrees from Adelphi College in 1955 and New York Law School in 1957. He then ...
Scheinkman, Alan D.
Judicial Offices Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, Brooklyn, New York - Appointed by Governor Andrew M ...
Schmidt, Frederick G.
Justice Frederick G. Schmidt was born around the year 1886 and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. He began his political career ...
Scudder, Townsend
Justice Townsend Scudder was born on July 26, 1865 in Northport, Long Island, a descendant of Captain John Dickinson of ...
Seeger, Albert H. F.
Justice Albert H. F. Seeger was born on February 20, 1859 in Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany and came to the U.S ...
Sewell, Albert H.
Justice Sewell also sat on the bench of the 3rd Department; more information can be found HERE. Justice Albert H ...
Sgroi, Sandra L.
Judicial Offices Associate Justice, Appellate Division Second Department Appointed October 1, 2009 by Gov. David A. Patterson; retired January 24, ...
Shapiro, J. Irwin
Justice J. Irwin Shapiro was born in Brooklyn around the year 1905 and earned degrees from New York University and ...
Smith, Nancy E.
Justice Nancy E. Smith earned degrees from Allegheny College in 1976 and Vermont Law School in 1980. She was admitted ...
Sneed, Charles W. U.
Justice Charles W. U. Sneed was born on August 13, 1881 in Newburgh, NY. He was educated at public schools ...
Spatt, Arthur D.
Justice Arthur Donald Spatt, a native of Brooklyn, earned his law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1949. He was ...
Spolzino, Robert A.
Justice Robert A. Spolzino earned degrees from Georgetown University in 1980 and St. John's University School of Law in 1983 ...
Stapleton, Luke D.
Justice Luke D. Stapleton was born on December 11, 1869 in Brooklyn. He graduated from the St. James Pro-Cathedral in ...
Sullivan, Thomas R.
Justice Thomas R. Sullivan was born around the year 1926. He graduated from Villanova College in 1949 and Fordham University ...
Suozzi, Joseph A.
Justice Joseph A. Suozzi was born in Potenza, Italy. His father served in the U.S. Infantry and became a naturalized ...
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Taylor, Jr., George H.
Justice George H. Taylor, Jr. was born on April 22, 1873 in Westport, Connecticut. Educated at public grammar schools, he ...
Thomas, Edward B.
Justice Edward Beers Thomas was born on August 4, 1848 in Cortlandville, NY. He graduated from Yale College in 1870, ...
Thompson, William C.
Justice William C. Thompson was educated at Franklin K. Lane High School and Brooklyn College before earning his law degree ...
Titone, Jr., Vito J.
In 1985, Judge Titone was appointed to the Court of Appeals. See his full biography HERE ...
Tompkins, Arthur S.
Justice Arthur Sidney Tompkins was born on August 26, 1865 in Schoharie County, NY. He was educated at public schools ...
Townes, Sandra L.
Justice Sandra L. Townes earned degrees from Johnson C. Smith University in 1966 and Syracuse University College of Law in ...
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Ughetta, Henry L.
Justice Henry L. Ughetta was born on September 20, 1902 in Brooklyn. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Fordham ...
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Weinstein, Moses M.
Justice Moses M. Weinstein was born Morris Weinstein on July 8, 1912, the son of a tailor. He grew up ...
Wenzel, Jr., Henry G.
Justice Henry G. Wenzel Jr. was born around the year 1889 in Manhattan. He was educated at public schools and ...
Woodward, John M.
Justice Woodward also sat on the bench of the 3rd Department; more information can be found HERE. Justice John Woodward ...
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Young, Addison J.
Justice J. Addison Young was born on September 14, 1866 in Aquebogue, Long Island. He was educated at Franklinville Academy ...