Judith Kaye
Encyclopedia
Judith S. Kaye is a retired New York judge who served as Chief Judge
of New York
from March 23, 1993 until December 31, 2008. She was the first woman to occupy the State Judiciary's highest office.
. She holds a B.A. from Barnard College
(1958) and an LL.B from New York University School of Law
(cum laude; 1962). She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1963.
at Sullivan & Cromwell
. She subsequently moved to Olwine, Connelly, Chase, O'Donnell & Weyher (a now-defunct law firm) until her appointment to the Court of Appeals
.
, a non-profit think tank that although independent of the court system, serves as the judiciary's research and development arm.
As Chief Judge, she also served as:
Kaye retired at the end of 2008, after reaching the state's mandatory retirement age of 70. She gave her farewell speech
on November 12, 2008. Governor Paterson nominated New York State Supreme Court Justice Jonathan Lippman
as her successor on January 13, 2009; the nomination required confirmation by the New York State Senate.
at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
in New York City. On March 11, 2010 Andrew Cuomo
, New York's attorney general, appointed Kaye as an independent counsel to investigate Governor David Paterson
's alleged violation of ethics laws, due to Cuomo's conflict of interest
.
She had powers to bring criminal charges to investigate various charges against the governor.
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
from March 23, 1993 until December 31, 2008. She was the first woman to occupy the State Judiciary's highest office.
Early life and education
Kaye was born in Monticello, New YorkMonticello, New York
Monticello is a village located in the Town of Thompson in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 6,512 at the 2000 census. It is the seat for the Town of Thompson and the county seat of Sullivan County...
. She holds a B.A. from Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
(1958) and an LL.B from New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
(cum laude; 1962). She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1963.
Legal career
She began her career in private practice in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at Sullivan & Cromwell
Sullivan & Cromwell
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is an international law firm headquartered in New York. The firm has approximately 800 lawyers in 12 offices, located in financial centers in the United States, Asia, Australia and Europe. Sullivan & Cromwell was founded by Algernon Sydney Sullivan and William Nelson...
. She subsequently moved to Olwine, Connelly, Chase, O'Donnell & Weyher (a now-defunct law firm) until her appointment to the Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
.
Tenure as Chief Judge
Under Judge Kaye's leadership, New York State was considered a national leader in court reform efforts and in establishing problem-solving courts. Working with the Fund for the City of New York, she helped established the Center for Court InnovationCenter for Court Innovation
The Center for Court Innovation is a non-profit think tank headquartered in New York that helps courts and criminal justice agencies aid victims, reduce crime and improve public trust in justice....
, a non-profit think tank that although independent of the court system, serves as the judiciary's research and development arm.
As Chief Judge, she also served as:
- Co-Chair of the "Commission on the American Jury" of the American Bar AssociationAmerican Bar AssociationThe American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
(2004–05) - Chair of the "Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children"
- Founding Member and Honorary Chair, "Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert" (JALBCA)
- Member of the Board of Editors, New York State Bar Journal
- Trustee, "William Nelson CromwellWilliam Nelson CromwellWilliam Nelson Cromwell was an American attorney active in promotion of the Panama Canal and other major ventures.He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised there by his mother, Sarah M. Brokaw, a Civil War widow...
Foundation"
Kaye retired at the end of 2008, after reaching the state's mandatory retirement age of 70. She gave her farewell speech
Farewell speech
A Farewell speech or farewell address is a speech given by an individual leaving a position or place. They are often used by public figures such as politicians as a to the preceding career, or as statements delivered by persons relating to reasons for their leaving...
on November 12, 2008. Governor Paterson nominated New York State Supreme Court Justice Jonathan Lippman
Jonathan Lippman
Jonathan Lippman is an American jurist and currently Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals.-Early life and education:Lippman is a Manhattan native...
as her successor on January 13, 2009; the nomination required confirmation by the New York State Senate.
Later life
Kaye is now of counselOf counsel
Of counsel is often the title of an attorney who is employed by a law firm or an organization, but is not an associate or a partner. Some firms use titles like "counsel," "special counsel," and "senior counsel" for the same concept...
at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates , founded in 1948, is a prominent law firm based in New York City. With over 2,000 attorneys, it is one of the largest and highest-grossing law firms in the world. Forbes magazine calls Skadden "Wall Street's most powerful law firm"...
in New York City. On March 11, 2010 Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Mark Cuomo is the 56th and current Governor of New York, having assumed office on January 1, 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 64th New York State Attorney General, and was the 11th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development...
, New York's attorney general, appointed Kaye as an independent counsel to investigate Governor David Paterson
David Paterson
David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
's alleged violation of ethics laws, due to Cuomo's conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
.
She had powers to bring criminal charges to investigate various charges against the governor.
Notable Opinions
- On July 6, 2006, Kaye authored a dissent in an omnibus appeal of four same-sex marriageSame-sex marriageSame-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
disputes (including Hernandez v. Robles) in which the majority ruled that the state constitution "does not compel recognition of marriages between members of the same sex". Kaye's dissent admonished that while New York state has a tradition of upholding equal rights, "the court today retreats from that proud tradition".
Writings
She authored numerous publications—particularly articles dealing with legal process, state constitutional law, women in law, professional ethics and problem-solving courts. She has written and lectured frequently about problem-solving courts.- "Delivering Justice Today: A Problem-Solving Approach" in, Yale Law & Policy Review, vol. 22, 2004
- "Making the Case for Hands-On Courts", Newsweek, October 11, 1999