This past year was an interesting one.

State and federal courts in Foley Square drew divorcing Trumps, Harvey Weinstein, Joseph Percoco, Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen. The trials of El Chapo and Pharma Bro played out at Cadman Plaza instead.

New citizens were sworn in at federal court in Brooklyn, judicial portraits were hung in Nassau courts and Supreme Court justices visited the city often for New York City Bar Association events and law school graduations.

Lawyers embraced their inner garage band and rocked out for charity, law school graduates accepted their diplomas with their new babies in tow and court officers marched in the shadow of the World Trade Center, sadly recalling those who were lost on Sept. 11.

And if you ever worried that New York State courts were going to the dogs, you'd be partially correct. Ellie, a long-haired Dachshund who belongs to Judge Gerald Worth, often greets visitors at the courthouse in the town of Wilton.

In Nassau County, Barney sits quietly under the bench when Judge Howard Sturim, a diabetic, is in the courtroom. Barney is trained to alert the judge when sugar level changes endanger his health.

Happy holidays!  We're looking forward to 2019 and continuing to be an important part of New York's legal community.