WWBA Dec 2017 - Jan 2018 Newsletter

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
An Interview with Honorable Daniel D. Angiolillo
Susan L. Pollet
Chair of the Archive and
Historian Committee
Q: You have been a long
time member of the WWBA.
Can you please tell us why
you joined and detail the
contributions of the WWBA
in the Westchester legal
community.
A: Susan, first I would like
to thank you and the
Westchester Women’s Bar
Association for the honor of
being interviewed for this
month’s newsletter. The
simple answer to your first
question is- Karen Bell. She
invited me to join the
Women’s Bar. Karen was
serving as law guardian (attorney
for the child), for two
teenage brothers on one of
my Integrated Domestic
Violence cases in the early
2000’s when at some point
during the case she asked
if I was a member of the
Women’s Bar. In response
to my answer she said you
need to join and then extended
an invitation. I
made the right decision and
joined. The Women’s Bar
provides an invaluable network
in the legal community
for its members, especially
for those that aspire
to judicial service. The Bar
expands opportunities for
women and advances the
status of its members in the
profession. The members
assist and promote each
other in many ways- legal
positions, referrals, awards,
judicial positions or even a
simple phone call to a law
clerk seeking information.
Judges in Westchester support
the Women’s Bar. By
the way, Karen’s advocacy
“Before being elected as a
Westchester County Judge I
served eight years as a law clerk
to the Hon. Kenneth Lange.
There I learned how to be a
non-advocate, in other words,
learned how to be objective by
giving each side an opportunity
to be heard, and by observing the
judge’s patience, fairness and
compassion.”
on that case was extraordinary.
I admired her as an
attorney and as a person,
and miss her presence at our
meetings and dinners.
Q: What changes have you
seen in the legal community
in Westchester since you first
started practicing law?
A: The legal community in
Westchester is more diverse
today. There are certainly
more women and people of
color in the practice of law in
Westchester. In March 1979
when I began my service at
the District Attorney’s Office
in Westchester County there
were less than 10 women
ADA’s and just two Black
Americans, one being the
Hon. Joseph West. We have
happily improved those statistics
since then. In my early
career, there was no such
thing as dress down Fridays
and I remember being
scolded by the Administrative
Judge, Hon. Joseph
Gagliardi, for wearing tassel
loafers. Suits and white shirts
were required for the men
and women were expected
to wear dresses or suits, but
no pants. A lot has changed
since then. I enjoyed the camaraderie
in the DA’s office,
whether it was playing on the
DA’s softball team or going
to Patrick’s Pub after work.
But I enjoy now having seen
the legal community grow in
important and positive ways
since I entered the ranks.
Q: Please tell us about your
legal career, how it developed
over time, and what led you
serve on the bench.
A: I was practicing law with
my father and his partner
Barry Kriesberg when afforded
the opportunity to join
the staff of District Attorney
Carl Vergari. I was seeking
courtroom experience and
what better place than the
DA’s office. I accepted a
three year commitment and
stayed six and half years. In
1984 there were two openings
on the Westchester
County Court and the Ad-
Hon. Daniel D. Angiolillo
ministrative Judge, the same
sartorial AJ, summoned me
to his office and encouraged
me to seek the nomination
for one of the
County Court positions. But
for his support and guidance
I don’t think I would
have ever had the confidence
to seek a judicial
position. I eventually received
the nomination to
run for County Judge in
1993, after nine years of
perseverance. Before being
elected as a Westchester
County Judge I served eight
years as a law clerk to the
Hon. Kenneth Lange. There
I learned how to be a nonadvocate,
in other words,
learned how to be objective
by giving each side an
opportunity to be heard,
and by observing the
judge’s patience, fairness
and compassion. My 20
years on the superior court
started at the County bench,
designated Acting Justice of
the Supreme Court, and
then elected to the Supreme
Court in 1999 followed by
appointments to the Appellate
Term Ninth and Tenth
continued on page 8 ➥
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
Page 7