Brooklyn Boro

Modern Courts honor late Hon. Theodore T. Jones

May 21, 2014 By Charisma L. Miller, Esq. Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Screen Shot 2014-05-21 at 10.21.56 AM.png
Share this:

Court reformers and New York’s legal community gathered at Bryant Park Grill Monday evening to celebrate the accomplishments of those dedicated to bringing an often arcane justice system into the modern age and to remember the legacy of the late New York State Court of Appeals Justice Theodore T. Jones.

“What a terrific supporter of the judiciary the Fund for Modern Court has been,” New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman said of the hosting organization. The Fund for Modern Courts (the Fund), founded in 1955, is a private, nonpartisan organization created to improve the administration of justice in New York State. Its most recent effort has been to bring awareness to the lack of and need for additional family court judges.

At its annual award program, the Fund acknowledged E. Leo Milonas for his work on the bench as well as in the public and private sector. “Leo is unique,” said Lippman as he introduced his longtime friend and former colleague. Milonas received the John J. McCloy Memorial Award for his contributions to improving the administration of justice in New York. “Leo possesses the best of the legal profession; he understands the irony of the human condition,” Lippman observed. Milonas and Lippman enjoyed a long legal career as colleagues when Milonas, a former criminal judge, served as New York State Chief Administrative Judge before returning to private practice. During his time on the bench, Milonas was a part of notable court reform including the creation of Commercial Divisions for New York’s Supreme Courts.  “Leo understood you had to fight for the public interest,” said Lippman. “Leo is a great court reformer, a giant of the profession, and he enjoys the practice of law.”

Milonas spent time thanking his wife, Helen, and reflecting on his most difficult decisions on the bench “The most important decisions to me are at arraignment,” Milonas opined. “You don’t know if the defendant did the crime or not, but you, as the judge, will give him a prison sentence depending on the bail you set. Everything is harder in prison.” 

Manhattan Federal Judge Paul Crotty presented former New York City Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo with the Career Public Service Award. “Cardozo is creative and innovative. He has engaged in the pursuit of justice with fairness and practicality,” said Crotty.

Crotty spoke of Cardozo’s 12 years as corporation counsel, “serving as the city’s chief advocate longer than anyone,” an unintentional reference to former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s surprisingly successful bid for a third term in office. Cardozo, now a partner at Proskauer Rose LLP, acknowledged his successor, Zachery Carter, a former United States Attorney for the Eastern District. 

“There is a need for a well-functioning judicial system as well as the diversity of the judiciary,” Cardozo noted in his acceptance speech. “We must enlist citizens of all backgrounds to strengthen the judicial system,” Cardozo said as a call to action for the Fund members and evening’s attendees. 

Former Chief Judge Judith Kaye reflected on the life of her late colleague, Theodore T. Jones. “I wish I had the pleasure of introducing Ted Jones as the next speaker, but sadly we have the celebration of the life of Ted Jones,” Kaye said with somber enthusiasm. She shared of a memory of the last time she saw Jones, and how he was wearing a bow-tie she’d given him that belonged to her late husband. “Jones was dedicated. He had personal humility and an effervescent good spirit,” Kaye said.

Subscribe to our newsletters


Leave a Comment


Leave a Comment