When Milton Tingling became New York County clerk almost one year ago, he not only was the first black or first former judge to hold the position—he also was the first new clerk in almost half a century.

But while he began his tenure under the long shadow of Norman Goodman, who served from 1969 until he retired last year at age 91, Tingling is undaunted by the challenges facing the office and is determined to update many time-honored ways of doing business.

The 62-year-old said he understands that certain functions have become entrenched. But as an attorney and a former judge, he said he isn't satisfied when the answer to why something is done a certain way is, “that's the way we've always done things.”