First Openly Gay Judge on Top NY Court Is Sworn In
Paul Feinman on Wednesday was sworn in as an associate judge on the Court of Appeals, New York state's highest court, making him the first openly gay member and filling the vacancy created by the death of Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam last spring.
October 18, 2017 at 02:06 PM
6 minute read
ALBANY—Paul Feinman on Wednesday was sworn in as an associate judge on the state's highest court, making him the first openly gay member of the Court of Appeals.
Feinman, a former appellate justice in Manhattan, was nominated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June to fill the vacancy left after the death of Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam. Despite the packed courtroom and festive occasion, the events that led to the vacancy on the court were commemorated.
“Before we begin, we must remember that the vacancy that Judge Feinman fills today was not created with the normal passage of time, but with the sad passing of our friend, the Honorable Sheila Abdus-Salaam. She was a jurist known for the breath of her scholarship and her intellect as well as the warmth of her personality,” said Cuomo's top counsel Alphonso David.
Abdus-Salaam, the first black woman to serve on the state Court of Appeals, was found floating in the Hudson River by upper Manhattan in April. Roughly three months after her death, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner deemed it was a suicide caused by drowning.
In his speech to the courtroom, David used the opportunity to discuss the national political unrest and the importance of the state's judiciary.
“Although we gather here to celebrate this happy occasion, we gather here in a period of tumult and unrest politically, socially and culturally. Today we are often faced with paths of divisiveness and disruption, not collaboration and solutions,” David said.
“Our judiciary was built to help us navigate tumultuous times. When our ship is battered by storms of controversy, when waves of fear and anger and anxiety send us off course. When tides of emotion drives us from paths of reason, the Constitution of New York and the Constitution of the United states are the compasses that steer us forward,” David later added.
Feinman's swearing was received with a standing ovation and several whistles from members of the crowd as he began his 14-year-term.
“I am, to use a very good English word, verklempt,” Feinman said, a Yiddish word meaning to become emotional.
During his speech, Feinman talked about the importance of the leaders in the LGBT community and judges that “forged the path” for him.
“Without them, this day would not have been possible,” Feinman said. “And from this I understand that I have an obligation to those who come after me. In the words of Hillel, '”If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? And if not now, when?' Hillel's meaning was simple: Embrace the part of ourselves that make us unique, speak with our genuine voice, engage with society and on behalf of others and as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said, never forget the 'fierce urgency of now.'”
ALBANY—Paul Feinman on Wednesday was sworn in as an associate judge on the state's highest court, making him the first openly gay member of the Court of Appeals.
Feinman, a former appellate justice in Manhattan, was nominated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June to fill the vacancy left after the death of Judge
“Before we begin, we must remember that the vacancy that Judge Feinman fills today was not created with the normal passage of time, but with the sad passing of our friend, the Honorable
Abdus-Salaam, the first black woman to serve on the state Court of Appeals, was found floating in the Hudson River by upper Manhattan in April. Roughly three months after her death, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner deemed it was a suicide caused by drowning.
In his speech to the courtroom, David used the opportunity to discuss the national political unrest and the importance of the state's judiciary.
“Although we gather here to celebrate this happy occasion, we gather here in a period of tumult and unrest politically, socially and culturally. Today we are often faced with paths of divisiveness and disruption, not collaboration and solutions,” David said.
“Our judiciary was built to help us navigate tumultuous times. When our ship is battered by storms of controversy, when waves of fear and anger and anxiety send us off course. When tides of emotion drives us from paths of reason, the Constitution of
Feinman's swearing was received with a standing ovation and several whistles from members of the crowd as he began his 14-year-term.
“I am, to use a very good English word, verklempt,” Feinman said, a Yiddish word meaning to become emotional.
During his speech, Feinman talked about the importance of the leaders in the LGBT community and judges that “forged the path” for him.
“Without them, this day would not have been possible,” Feinman said. “And from this I understand that I have an obligation to those who come after me. In the words of Hillel, '”If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? And if not now, when?' Hillel's meaning was simple: Embrace the part of ourselves that make us unique, speak with our genuine voice, engage with society and on behalf of others and as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said, never forget the 'fierce urgency of now.'”
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
NOT FOR REPRINT
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
You Might Like
View AllTrending Stories
- 1The American Lawyer's Top Stories of 2024
- 2Semiconductor Component Maker Accused of Deceiving Investors About Market Downturn, Export Curbs
- 3Zuckerman Spaeder Gets Ready to Move Offices in DC, Deploy AI Tools in 2025
- 4Pardoning Jan. 6 Defendants May Send Bad Message About Insurrection, Rule of Law
- 5Looming Clash Over Abortion Pills Shows Overturning 'Roe v. Wade' Settled Nothing
Who Got The Work
Michael G. Bongiorno, Andrew Scott Dulberg and Elizabeth E. Driscoll from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr have stepped in to represent Symbotic Inc., an A.I.-enabled technology platform that focuses on increasing supply chain efficiency, and other defendants in a pending shareholder derivative lawsuit. The case, filed Oct. 2 in Massachusetts District Court by the Brown Law Firm on behalf of Stephen Austen, accuses certain officers and directors of misleading investors in regard to Symbotic's potential for margin growth by failing to disclose that the company was not equipped to timely deploy its systems or manage expenses through project delays. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton, is 1:24-cv-12522, Austen v. Cohen et al.
Who Got The Work
Edmund Polubinski and Marie Killmond of Davis Polk & Wardwell have entered appearances for data platform software development company MongoDB and other defendants in a pending shareholder derivative lawsuit. The action, filed Oct. 7 in New York Southern District Court by the Brown Law Firm, accuses the company's directors and/or officers of falsely expressing confidence in the company’s restructuring of its sales incentive plan and downplaying the severity of decreases in its upfront commitments. The case is 1:24-cv-07594, Roy v. Ittycheria et al.
Who Got The Work
Amy O. Bruchs and Kurt F. Ellison of Michael Best & Friedrich have entered appearances for Epic Systems Corp. in a pending employment discrimination lawsuit. The suit was filed Sept. 7 in Wisconsin Western District Court by Levine Eisberner LLC and Siri & Glimstad on behalf of a project manager who claims that he was wrongfully terminated after applying for a religious exemption to the defendant's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The case, assigned to U.S. Magistrate Judge Anita Marie Boor, is 3:24-cv-00630, Secker, Nathan v. Epic Systems Corporation.
Who Got The Work
David X. Sullivan, Thomas J. Finn and Gregory A. Hall from McCarter & English have entered appearances for Sunrun Installation Services in a pending civil rights lawsuit. The complaint was filed Sept. 4 in Connecticut District Court by attorney Robert M. Berke on behalf of former employee George Edward Steins, who was arrested and charged with employing an unregistered home improvement salesperson. The complaint alleges that had Sunrun informed the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection that the plaintiff's employment had ended in 2017 and that he no longer held Sunrun's home improvement contractor license, he would not have been hit with charges, which were dismissed in May 2024. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer, is 3:24-cv-01423, Steins v. Sunrun, Inc. et al.
Who Got The Work
Greenberg Traurig shareholder Joshua L. Raskin has entered an appearance for boohoo.com UK Ltd. in a pending patent infringement lawsuit. The suit, filed Sept. 3 in Texas Eastern District Court by Rozier Hardt McDonough on behalf of Alto Dynamics, asserts five patents related to an online shopping platform. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap, is 2:24-cv-00719, Alto Dynamics, LLC v. boohoo.com UK Limited.
Featured Firms
Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C.
(470) 294-1674
Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
(857) 444-6468
Smith & Hassler
(713) 739-1250