September 9, 2008

NOMINEES SOUGHT FOR 2008 RUTH G. SCHAPIRO AWARD

Award honors Association members who have made noteworthy contributions to addressing the concerns of women

ALBANY—The New York State Bar Association is seeking nominations for its annual Ruth G. Schapiro Award, which is given to a female or male member of the Association who has made a noteworthy contribution to addressing the concerns of women.

The award was developed and is administered by the Committee on Women in the Law in honor of its first chair, Ruth G. Schapiro. The committee’s initial report, developed in 1987 under Schapiro’s guidance, has served as a springboard for subsequent Association reports and actions on issues affecting not only women in the profession, but the public at large. These issues include domestic violence, child abuse, bias, health and gender equity. Through her leadership, the committee instituted educational programs and publications for the public and the profession.

“Ruth Schapiro’s work as chair of the Committee on Women in the Law continues to make an indelible impact upon the legal community and the lives of all women,” said Taa R. Grays of New York(MetLife), chair of the Committee on Women in the Law. “The committee is proud to carry on Schapiro’s legacy of helping women by honoring those individuals committed to her vision.”

Current members of the Committee on Women in the Law are not eligible to receive the award. The award will be presented at the January 30, 2009 meeting of the Association’s House of Delegates.

The Hon. Judith S. Kaye, Chief Judge of the State of New York, was the first recipient. Past honorees were Fern Schair, Senior Vice-President, American Arbitration Association; Maryann Saccomando Freedman, Past President of the New York State Bar Association, currently with Cohen & Lombardo, PC; the Hon. Sondra Miller, retired Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department; the late Hon. M. Dolores Denman, formerly Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department; the Hon. Betty Weinberg Ellerin, former Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department, currently with Alston & Bird LLP; retired Bay Shore practitioner Anne Mead; Hon. Rachel Kretser, Albany City Court, Criminal Part; the late Joan L. Ellenbogen, former New York City practitioner; Hon. Kristin Booth Glen, Surrogate’s Court , New YorkCounty; posthumously to former Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke; M. Catherine Richardson, Past President of the New York State Bar Association and retired private practitioner; Professor Eileen R. Kaufman, Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center; Denise E. O’Donnell, Commissioner, NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, and Assistant Secretary for Criminal Justice; Catherine J. Douglass, Executive Director, inMotion; Professor Rhonda Copelon, CUNY School of Law; posthumously to the late Edith I. Spivack, former Assistant Corporation Counsel of the New York City Department of Law; and the Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Matrimonial Matters.

The deadline for nominations is October 10, 2008. Nominations should be directed to the Committee on Women in the Law, New York State Bar Association, One Elk Street , Albany , NY 12207, faxed to 518-463-8527, or e-mailed to cclayton@nysba.org. Additional forms can be obtained by calling 518-487-5561.

The 74,000-member New York State Bar Association is the official statewide organization of lawyers in New Yorkand the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. Founded in 1876, NYSBA programs and activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice system for more than 130 years.

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