The Suffolk County Bar Association’s Annual Judicial Swearing-In and Robing Ceremony was held on Monday, January 13 at the Van Nostrand Theatre of Suffolk County Community College’s Grant Campus in Brentwood. The ceremony was a formal induction of the eighteen newly elected and re-elected Suffolk County Supreme Court Justices, County Court Judges, Family Court Judges, and District Court Judges, who were welcomed with an incredible show of support from their colleagues, family and friends, and local dignitaries in this large auditorium. More than fifty of Suffolk’s judges – all donning their traditional black robes – were on hand to welcome their new colleagues.
The Honorable Andrew A. Crecca, District Administrative Judge, presided over the ceremony where each of the eighteen judges – a record number in Suffolk’s history – were individually honored by sponsors and officially took the oath of office. District Administrative Judge Crecca was himself one of the celebrated judges after he was re-elected in November to another term as Justice of the Supreme Court.
The Honorable Derrick J. Robinson (Ret.) delivered a powerful invocation and newly elected District Court Judge Hon. John B. Zollo sang a robust rendition of the National Anthem. The Chief Administrative Judge of the NYS Unified Court System, Hon. Joseph A. Zayas, was also in attendance and he addressed his colleagues: “We judges are blessed with an amazing vocation, where we actually are tasked with deciding what justice is and how are we going to dispense with it in every single case. It is one of the highest callings in all professions”, he said.
Patrick McCormick, Esq., President of the Suffolk County Bar Association, congratulated each of the members of the judiciary on their incredible accomplishment on behalf of the Association. Throughout the ceremony Mr. McCormick presented the judges with the long-standing tradition of their new black robes or ceremonial gavels for those who were re-elected.
Presented with their Judicial Robes: Hon. Alfred C. Graf, newly elected Supreme Court Justice, sponsored by his daughter Jean Mayer; Hon. Paul E. Hennings, newly elected Supreme Court Justice, sponsored by Patrick E. Byrne; Hon. Paul M. Hensley, newly elected Supreme Court Justice, sponsored by his wife Frances Radman Hensley; Hon. James F. Matthews, newly elected Supreme Court Justice, sponsored by Hon. Mark Cuthbertson, Huntington Councilman; Hon. Deanna D. Panico, newly elected Supreme Court Justice, sponsored by Peter Bee, Esq.; Hon. Peter R. McGreevy, newly elected County Court Judge, sponsored by Hon. Joseph A. Zayas, Chief Administrative Judge; Hon. Stuart P. Besen, newly elected Family Court Judge, sponsored by his children Stephanie and Alex; Hon. Christopher C. Brocato, newly elected Family Court Judge, sponsored by Richard Stafford, Esq.; Hon. Carl Copertino, newly elected Family Court Judge, sponsored by Joseph Barone, Esq.; Hon. Patricia M. Blake, newly elected District Court Judge, sponsored by Hon. Edward P. Romaine, County Executive; Hon. Paul L. Damato, newly elected District Court Judge, sponsored by his wife Rita and son Jimmy; Hon. Kenneth J. Lauri, newly elected District Court Judge, sponsored by Catherine Dominici, Esq.; Hon. Evan Tanenbaum, newly elected District Court Judge, sponsored by his father Hon. Melvyn Tanenbaum; Hon. John B. Zollo, newly elected District Court Judge, sponsored by Hon. Thomas W. Lohmann, Smithtown Councilman.
Presented with the Judicial Gavel: Hon. Andrew A. Crecca, re-elected District Administrative Judge, sponsored by his wife Donna J. Crecca; Hon. Philip Goglas, re-elected County Court Judge, sponsored by his son Philip Goglas, II; Hon. James A. McDonaugh, re-elected District Court Judge, sponsored by Brian Egan, Esq.; Hon. Eric Sachs, re-elected District Court Judge, sponsored by his children Taylor, Justin and Aidan.
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