WWBA October 2016 Newsletter

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○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Gender Fairness Committee Celebrates Women’s History Month Margaret Corchado The Ninth Judicial District Committee to Promote Gender Fairness in the Courts recognized the winners of its Annual High School Essay Contest at a breakfast held on May 13, 2016, in celebration of Women’s History Month. Supreme Court Justice Terry Jane Ruderman, Chair of the Committee, presented the awards. The generosity of various professional organizations and bar associations, including the Westchester Women’s Bar Association and the Westchester Women’s Bar Association Foundation, enabled the committee to award monetary prizes to the winning students. In the freshman/sophomore category, Mina Lee from Edgemont Junior/Senior High School won first prize and Connor Shea from Iona Preparatory School won second prize. In the junior/senior category, Lydia DeFusto from Goshen High School won first prize and Cameron Dunbar from The Ursuline School won second prize. The essay topic about which these students were asked to opine was: “A recent article in the New York Times titled ’Millennial Men Aren’t the Dads They Thought They’d Be’ highlights how men from the millennial generation aspire to be hands-on fathers, but end up taking on the more traditional role of bread-winner once they have children. Please read the article and express your views.” After a careful and considerate selection process, the winning students read their essays to the more than 50 assembled guests. Those in attendance included State Supreme Court Justices Linda S. Jamieson, Orazio R. Bellantoni, Mary H. Smith, Bruce E. Tolbert and Charles D. Wood, Family Court Judge Janet C. Malone, and County Court Judge Susan M. Capeci. Also in attendance were representatives of various professional organizations and bar associations, including Claire Gutekunst, Esq., President-Elect of the New York State Bar Association. The committee anticipates that this contest and awards breakfast will be held again next year and is hoping for even greater participation from schools in the Ninth Judicial District. ◗ Legal Services of Hudson Valley CLE Trains Pro Bono Attorneys on Name Changes and Educates on Transgender Issues Marian Genio and Judith Zirin-Hyman A training entitled “Name Change: Adult, Infant & Transgender”, held on June 15, 2016 at Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, was presented to 24 current and prospective pro bono volunteers. It was one of many presentations in a robust Pro Bono program that includes CLE sessions on a variety of substantive areas. Through these presentations, LSHV seeks to educate and sensitize our legal community to diversity issues, while at the same time recruit and train volunteer attorneys to represent indigent clients. The June 15th program not only prepared attorneys to represent clients seeking name changes, but also included education on transgender sensitivity. It was introduced by Christopher Oldi, the LSHV staff attorney spearheading our LGBTQ Project. He works with indigent LGBTQ clients who, in addition to having other legal issues, often face discrimination. For his efforts, he was recently recognized by the Westchester County Board of Legislators, who declared June 22, 2016 “Christopher Oldi Day”. The headline speaker at the CLE was Byrgen Finkelman, an attorney from Singerlands, New York, whose practice focuses on name changes for transgender individuals throughout New York State. As co-founder of the group Affirming Transgender Rights (ATR), Byrgen has been both an advocate and activist, helping to get legislation passed that protects transgender people against discrimination. Accompanying Byrgen was Renate Hartman, a transgender individual and advocate who discussed issues related to name changes and also educated the participants on transgender issues in general. Hearing firsthand about her personal experiences was helpful in the discussion of this sensitive and timely issue. While the issue of gendered bathrooms seems to have occupied the bulk of both legislative and news focus on transgender rights as of late, the emphasis at this event proved much broader. continued on page 11 ➥ Hon. Linda S. Jamieson, Mina Lee, Connor Shea, Hon. Terry Jane Ruderman, Lydia DeFusto, Cameron Dunbar, and Claire Gutekunst Renate Hartman, Judith Zirin-Hyman, Byrgen Finkelman, Mona A. Cushnie Walker, Christopher Oldi, Marian Genio Page 6 Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ An Interview with Robin Carton Susan L. Pollet Chair of the Archive and Historian Committee Q. Tell us when you first became involved with the WWBA and why? A. It feels like I have always been involved with and committed to the WWBA, but it was my dear friend Lonya Gilbert who inspired and encouraged me to take a more active role. My participation blossomed into leadership positions and that route has truly changed my life. I am so honored to be on the list of Past Presidents of the WWBA, as I regard these women as truly outstanding role models. Q. Why is a women’s bar association still necessary? A. The mission of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association includes promoting justice for all, regardless of gender, and advancing the social, economic and legal status of women through the law. Notwithstanding the strides that have been made, the problems related to gender inequality are deeply entrenched and women and girls continue to be adversely impacted. The strength and beauty of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association is that its membership and resources can be uniquely focused on advancing and empowering women and girls to improve their lives and, thereby, educate and enrich our society. Q. What were the highlights of your Presidency? A. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to serve as President of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association, and “There are many paths, but if you choose one you believe in, you will be enriched by the journey, whether or not the road ends where others would call success.” each day of my term was a joy. The most special moments of my Presidency were the times that individual members reached out to me to say that they were moved by the message in my President’s Column or to tell me that they felt informed, acknowledged, or included in the work of the WWBA. Q. Were there any efforts left unfinished; what would you want to see the WWBA do in the future? A. I have every confidence that Susan Edwards Colson, the new President of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association, will develop innovative and brilliant projects that I never even considered. The WWBA is in great hands! Q. Tell us about your legal career, and your commitment to the area of family law. A. My private practice has primarily focused on family and matrimonial law, collaborative divorce, divorce and custody mediation, adoption, and guardianship. For more than 25 years, I have been appointed by the Family and Supreme Courts in Westchester and Putnam Counties to serve as attorney for the child. I serve as President of the Law Guardian Association of Westchester County, an organization composed of attorneys dedicated to effective child advocacy. I am a member of Westchester Women’s Bar Association News various professional organizations and their family law and matrimonial sections, and participate in countless committees, projects, and programs dedicated to educating attorneys and litigants about family dispute resolution and best practices in family and matrimonial law litigation. Q. What advice do you have for new lawyers coming into the profession? A. There are many paths, but if you choose one you believe in, you will be enriched by the journey, whether or not the road ends where others would call success. Q. What do you feel are the most pressing legal issues impacting women and children today? A. In our present politically charged environment, it is particularly important to vigilantly protect the advances that have been made on behalf of women and girls. Each of us must work aggressively to strengthen that progress and to unwaveringly challenge any diminution of this growth. Q. What would you like to accomplish professionally going forward? A. I am always mindful of Albert Einstein’s statement that “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” Although I strive for mastery, my Robin Carton true goal is to continue to experience wonder and to explore. Q. Tell us about your family, and how you have managed the work/life balance all these years. A. I’m married to my law partner, David Rosoff, and my daughter, Amanda Fried, is our treasured associate. It is a true Family Law practice, which means that we discuss other families during our own family time. Not so balanced, but it “works” for us. Q. How do you spend your time when you are not practicing law? A. In the precious, but few, interludes between court, clients, and motion papers, I enjoy being a “maker.” In particular, I like to sew clothes, and I find it particularly satisfying to design and create a garment from a formless bolt of fabric. However, given that practicing law leaves little time for artistic pursuits, I try to incorporate imaginative and creative dispute resolution in my law practice and my work with families. ◗ Page 7
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WWBA October 2016 Newsletter

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