May 5, 2011
CHIEF JUDGE LIPPMAN AND STEPHANIE GENDELL RECEIVE
STATE BAR’S HOWARD A. LEVINE AWARD FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE AND CHILD
WELFARE
ALBANY—Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman and Stephanie Gendell of
New York City were honored with the prestigious 2011 Howard A. Levine
Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare by the New
York State Bar Association Committee on Children and the Law.
The award, presented on May 4th at the State Bar Center in Albany,
recognizes individuals who have done outstanding work protecting and
promoting the rights of New York’s children.
“Through presenting the Levine Award, we recognize two of
New York’s finest advocates, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman and
Stephanie Gendell. They are both working tirelessly to promote reforms
that better serve and protect our children, while ensuring that our
juvenile justice system lives up to its proud history” said
Professor Merrill Sobie of White Plains (Pace University School of Law).
“On behalf of the committee, I am so pleased to honor two
champions for justice.”
Judge Lippman was appointed chief judge by Governor Paterson on
January 13, 2009 and confirmed by the New York State Senate on February
11, 2009. He has received wide acclaim for his concern for juvenile
offenders and call to transform the juvenile justice system. He served
as chief administrative judge from 1996-2007.
Gendell is the associate executive director of the Citizens’
Committee for Children of New York, Inc. She has practiced in the field
of child welfare for nearly 15 years. She previously served as
vice-chair of the New York City Bar’s Council on Children and
chaired its legislative subcommittee.
Past winners of the Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile
Justice and Child Welfare include State Senator Velmanette Montgomery
(D-Brooklyn), chair of the Senate Committee on Children and the
Families; Gladys Carrión, commissioner of the New York State Office
of Children & Family Services; Hon. Eugene F. Pigott, Jr., associate
judge of the New York State Court of Appeals; Assemblywoman Helene E.
Weinstein; and Hon. Judith S. Kaye, retired Chief Judge of the New York
State Court of Appeals.
The 77,000-member New York State Bar Association is the
largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. It was founded in
1876.
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