History in the First Department: An All-Woman Bench

Thursday, January 15, 2009 marks the first time in First Department History
that the entire panel hearing argument at the Appellate Division, First Department,
was comprised of women.

Associate Justices Angela M. Mazzarelli, Karla Moskowitz, Dianne T. Renwick
and Helen E. Freedman all took the bench today in what we look forward to seeing
regularly.

However, gleefully commemorating the occasion was one of our favorite feminists,
Presiding Justice Jonathan Lippman, who was just nominated by Governor Paterson
as our next Chief Judge.

Justice Lippman spoke warmly and enthusiastically about the milestone we've reached.
His constant support for women in our profession, and in the judiciary, was
apparent as he lauded his colleagues and wished them well in this historic event.

Justice Lippman then left the First Department bench, and it was, of course,
business as usual for the First Department.