National Association of Women Judges honors two during annual dinner

June 10, 2015 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Hon. Rosemarie Montalbano, Hon. Joy F. Campanelli, Hon. Matthew D'Emic, Hon. Patricia DiMango, Hon. Lawrence Knipel and Susan Iannelli. Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese. For more photos from this event, visit BrooklynArchive.com

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The New York Chapter of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ) held its annual dinner at the Water’s Edge in Queens on Tuesday where it honored Judges Victoria Graffeo and Betty Williams.

“The mission of NAWJ is very simple — to empower, to inspire, to teach and to serve — and this year’s dinner marks a culmination of activities and programs that fulfill this mission,” President Hon. Kathy J. King said. “This has been a very busy and productive year, and I look forward to the support of all of you as we continue to fulfill our mission.”

Justice Graffeo was not in attendance to receive her award, but that did not stop any of the speakers from praising her. Hon. Sheila Abdus-Salaam accepted the award, a Tiffany crystal bowl inscribed with the NAWJ logo, on Graffeo’s behalf.

“Judge Graffeo is a paragon of excellence in advancing the administration of justice and someone who stands for the principles of judicial fairness and equality that animate the NAWJ,” Hon. Jonathan Lippman, chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals, said in a statement read by Hon. King. “Vicky Graffeo is a truly spectacular judge.”

Judge King presented a second Tiffany bowl to Judge Williams and said, “I along with many in this room, are beneficiaries of Judge Williams’ sacrifice, energy and activism. Betty has proven herself to be ready willing and able to help others, and I am so honored to call her a friend and colleague.”

After she received her award, Williams presented three students — Toluwani Roberts, Kya Lewis and Cinque Lipscomb — with the Anne and Emmett Scholarship Award on behalf of the NAWJ. The students wrote essays about social justice.

Hon. Patricia DiMango, a former Brooklyn judge and current star of Judge Judy’s new show “Hot Bench,” closed the evening with a keynote speech. She started by recognizing the award recipients and talked about the phone call that brought her to Hollywood. She closed her speech by acknowledging all of the influential female judges in the room and how important mentorship is in creating a strong female presence behind the bench.

“This room is filled with role models and mentors,” DiMango said. “It could be Judge Graffeo and her ascension to the New York State Court of Appeals or Judge Williams, who spearheaded the women’s prison program gaining her national recognition for her efforts.

“If we’re lucky, we’ll have had an opportunity to be both the mentored and the individual who is the mentor, and in this way, we will continue the cycle of shattering the glass ceiling.”