Women in the legal profession must intentionally advocate for those who come after them, Presiding Justice Dianne Renwick of the Appellate Division, First Department told an audience Monday. "Active mentoring is an absolute must," the justice said. "Doors will not simply open for other women by our shared presence." Renwick's comments were made in a keynote address at the New York City Bar Association's commemorative event in honor of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Women's History Month. The program was hosted in collaboration with the New York Women Judges Association. Renwick said she stood on the shoulders of the women judges who came before her—as well as the Black male judges—and implored those to encourage women and girls interested in the legal profession, and offer guidance when possible. "While I may be the first, I want to ensure that I'm not the last," she said of her position as the first Black woman to serve as a presiding justice of the First Department. She then cited a statement once made by O'Connor in 2012 on the 30th anniversary of her appointment to the nation's top court. "It's alright to be the first to do something, but I didn't want to be the last woman on the Supreme Court," Renwick said, quoting O'Connor. "If I took the job and did a lousy job, it would take a long time to get another woman." Renwick's remarks were followed by a panel discussion between Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Judge Eunice Lee, Sullivan & Cromwell partner Julia Malkina, and former New York State Bar Association President Sherry Levin Wallach. The discussion was moderated by Associate Judge Jenny Rivera of the New York State Court of Appeals. Acting Supreme Court Justice Marica Hirsch, Associate Judge Shirley Troutman of the New York State Court of Appeals, and NYCBA President Susan Kohlmann also spoke. In addition to their roles on the bench, Hirsch is the president of New York Women Judges Association, while Troutman serves as co-chair of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission.