Brooklyn Bar honors employee of 44 years during Judiciary Night

April 14, 2014 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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Judges, lawyers and court employees packed the Brooklyn Bar Association on Thursday night for Judiciary Night, an event which celebrates Brooklyn judges as well as their collaboration with the bar association.

“Welcome to Judiciary Night at the Bar Association,” said Andrew Fallek, president of the bar. “This is always a lovely evening where we can get together and celebrate the partnership the judges and lawyers of Brooklyn share. The courthouses in Brooklyn are always the hardest working in the entire country to it gives us a good chance to relax together for a change.”

The Brooklyn Bar also used the night as an opportunity to say goodbye to Marie Alfano, a staff member that has been at the association since 1969.

“Marie Alfano is moving to Florida after 44 years as the de facto face of this organization,” Fallek said. “She kept our ship running very well for 44 years. Congratulations and thank you for your dedicated service from 1969 right up until April of 2014. You really were an integral person in helping to make the Brooklyn Bar run smoothly and you truly will be missed.”

Alfano was presented with a Lifetime Service Award by the Bar Association.

“To me doing this on judiciary night, in front of a bunch of judges, I thought it might be a tad bit intimidating,” Fallek said. “But (Executive Director Avery Okin) told me, ‘Don’t worry, the judges won’t be intimidated.'”

After Alfano was honored with speeches and two standing ovations, judges from the various courthouses throughout Brooklyn got up to welcome the new judges appointed to their respective court houses and others were thanked for their service.

“We have to keep this short because the Rangers are playing tonight and I told Marie that she would be home before the puck drops,” Fallek joked.