Ive been limiting FB posts to the situation in Israel and Gaza. However, I do feel comfortable sharing the following, because it means well for New York City -- and that means it is good for the world. We have received the wonderful news that our good friends from New York, the Principes, have something to be quite proud of. The Principes are modest, humble people, and so I want to share their news as well as a brief glimpse of who they are from our perspective. Tom Principe, a New York City attorney whose integrity and goodness is beyond compare, has been appointed to the Mayors Advisory Committee to the Judiciary. Tom was recommended by the Principes friend, a renowned New Yorker by the name of Randall T. Eng (Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division). Some say this is the most prestigious of the Mayors Advisory Committees, which also include the Advisory Committees on Homeland Security and People with Disabilities. I am greatly encouraged by New York Citys decision to appoint Tom. If his colleagues on the committee possess half of his discerning, upstanding character, the people of New York will benefit. Tom is married to a beautiful, intelligent and generous woman, Irene, who brings a unique spirit and joy to the world around her. The best of both of them, thoroughly mixed with (NOT GLITTER) her own brand of Principe passion (for the earth and its animals, for starters) is their fierce, determined, brilliant and beautiful daughter, Catherine -- the close childhood friend of my girls (the Principes lived behind us in Oyster Bay -- our climb over the fence friends). I guess you can tell that we love this family. One of my most poignant memories is when, inside the surreal tornado that swirled around us in the days and months after 9/11, Irene stood in our family room and told us that Tom wasnt back from his work assisting at Ground Zero. He was there for a long time -- both my husband and I cant even remember how long. We knew he was in the reserves. Now, after reading his bio (below) Ive learned that he has quite an impressive military background. Less than a month ago, when they learned we were going up to NY to finalize the girls college and apartment arrangements for fall, the Principes invited us to see the Mets play Atlanta. It was the first time wed been at Citi Field. I told the Principes that I was born in Jamaica Hospital and lived in the shadow of Shea (Stadium, the home of the Mets from 1964 through to 2008) as a child, in Jackson Heights. That night I was amused to learn that Tom lived in Jackson Heights as a child, as well. Now I am also very proud. Heres the press release issued by the Mayors Office of the City of New York: THE CITY OF NEW YORK OFFICE OF THE MAYOR NEW YORK, NY 10007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 25, 2014 MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS 16 MEMBERS TO THE MAYOR’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY NEW YORK—Mayor de Blasio today appointed 16 individuals to serve on the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. The Committee recruits, screens and recommends to the Mayor highly qualified, diverse and experienced candidates for judicial appointments to the New York City Criminal and Family Courts, as well as interim appointments to the elected Civil Court in the event of vacancies. The new members will work under the direction of Committee Chair Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick and Vice Chair Barry Cozier. Ciparick and Cozier were appointed to the Committee by Mayor de Blasio on July 17. “Each member of this diverse group of attorneys and legal experts brings a remarkable depth of legal experience and an unwavering commitment to justice,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I am thankful for their willingness to lend their guidance and expertise to my administration’s efforts to find and appoint the best possible candidates to preside over the City’s Criminal, Family and Civil Courts.” “Every day, the fates of thousands of New Yorkers are in the hands of Criminal, Family and Civil Court judges,” said Chair of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick. “I look forward to working with these 16 remarkable attorneys to ensure that those before our Courts receive a fair-minded and impartial administration of justice.” Newly appointed members of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary are: · Stacy Caplow, director of Brooklyn Law School’s Clinical Education Program, teaches criminal and immigration law and co-directs the Safe Harbor Project. · Christopher DiLorenzo practices family and personal injury law for his own firm, DiLorenzo & Rush, which he founded after working for the Legal Aid Society. · Richard Gutierrez is a trial attorney in State and Federal Court of the State of New York, where he manages all phases of criminal, personal injury, medical malpractice and civil rights cases. · Craig Kaplan became counsel to Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Krinsky & Lieberman, P.C. in 2006, where he specializes in the area of wills, trusts and estates. · Judge Judy Kluger is executive director at Sanctuary for Families and served as Chief Policy and Planning for New York State’s Unified Court System years from 2009 to 2014. · Chanwoo Lee practices criminal and family law for her own firm and is being reappointed by the Mayor today. Lee has served on the Committee since 2002, after years working at the Legal Aid Society. · Thomas Principe is a partner at Kramer, Diloff, Livingston & Moore and has an extensive background in criminal defense. · Marvin Ray Raskin has served on the Committee since 2007 while practicing at his own law firm, and has been a pre-eminent member of the Bronx County Bar Association for more than 35 years. · Crystal L. Screen is a solo practitioner in the Law Office of Crystal L. Screen, who specializes in family law and has served on the Committee since 2009. · Lisa Tsang works in private practice and has a J.D. from Boston University. · Judge Betty Weinberg Ellerin is senior counsel at Alston & Bird and was the first woman appointed as both the Deputy Chief Administrate Judge of the State of New York for the New York City Courts and Associate Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. · Derrick Cephas is a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges and has deep expertise in banking law, with past positions as CEO and President of Amalgamated Bank and former state banking superintendent. · Dennis Parker currently serves as director of the ACLU’s Racial Justice Program. · Sharon Stapel is the executive director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, the country’s largest organization dedicated to eliminating violence affecting the LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities. · Earl Ward is a partner at Emery Celli Brinkerhoff & Abady and is a career defense attorney and public defender who has worked for the Legal Aid Society, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, NYCLU and has served on the Civilian Complaints Review Board. · Milton L. Williams, Jr. is a partner Vladeck, Waldman, Elias & Engelhard and has vast experience in civil rights, commercial and financial law. The Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, Jonathan Lippman nominated four members; the Presiding Justice of the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division First Department, Luis A. Gonzalez nominated two members; the Presiding Justice of the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division Second Judicial Department Randall Eng nominated two members; and Dean of Brooklyn Law School, Nicholas Allard and Anthony W. Crowell, Dean of New York Law School each nominated one member. END OF MEMO BIOGRAPHY, THOMAS PRINCIPE Principe has been a partner at Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore, practicing in the specialty of personal injury and medical malpractice representing injured parties since April, 1989. He is a former Queens County Assistant District Attorney, rising to the position of Deputy Bureau Chief of the Supreme Court Trial Bureau. He then practiced as defense counsel in the field of medical malpractice/personal injury. A Brigadier General (Retired) in the New York Army National Guard, he was Staff Judge Advocate to 53rd Troop Command for 9 years, and served during our 9/11 National Disaster in that capacity. He retired in July 2006 after 33 years of service with the Legion of Merit, awarded by the United States Army and the Conspicuous Service Medal, awarded by the State of New York. Principe is a member of many professional associations and was Past-President of the St. John’s University School of Law Alumni Association. Here is the link to the committee member biographies in case of interest: nyc.gov/html/acj/html/about/about_us.shtml
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 23:46:36 +0000
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