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How the Kings County American Inn of Court came to Brooklyn: Part Two

Chuck Otey's Pro Bono Barrister

June 8, 2015 By Charles F. Otey, Esq. Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Marsha Steinhardt. Eagle photo by Rob Abruzzese
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Inn’s Goals: Professionalism, Collegiality, Sharing Expertise and Tradition With Incoming Barristers

It took plenty of work and patience for the Kings County American Inn of Court founders to win the approval of the National Inn Board and, at the same time, recruit “barristers, benchers and masters” to their ranks.

But in September 2002, under the leadership of then-Justice Edward Rappaport, the inn’s first session was held at Kings Supreme Court, 360 Adams St. Present, along with scores of jurists and lawyers, were the other inn founders — Justices Gerard Rosenberg, Marsha Steinhardt and Abraham Gerges.

Since then, the Kings Inn has staged more than 120 CLE-accredited sessions involving hundreds of jurists, barristers and law students.

In last week’s “Pro Bono Barrister,” we told something about the ancient inns of court, which have grown to be quite large and successful — as well as legendary — over the last 800 years.

Among the questions the Kings founders had to face were: How closely to the ancient inns could the Kings Inn be modeled? Could yet another bar association succeed in Brooklyn where several other very credible associations — the Brooklyn Bar, Kings Columbian Lawyers, Bay Ridge Lawyers — were already functioning? In which ways would the Kings Inn differ — i.e., what could it offer that the other, existing legal organizations could not?

A good answer to this last question came from Justice Sylvia Ash, an inn master, who said, “I think the main reason for the inn of court’s success in Brooklyn is the great congenial network of attorneys and judges in Brooklyn. Many current inn members have been with the organization since its inception and its founding members have been passionate about recruiting a diverse group of judges and lawyers who have stayed on through the years. As a result, we have dynamic CLE presentations that are as entertaining as they are informative. Finally, because of the camaraderie, our social group get-togethers are always fun, fancy and fantastic.”

Incoming President Justice Arthur Schack echoed the points made by Justice Ash, noting that the inn offers “professionalism, collegiality and an emphasis on sometimes dramatic courtroom re-enactments, highlighting essential points of law with an emphasis on the rewards of serving our profession and ensuring the newer lawyers appreciate the vital role the law plays in preserving our democracy.”

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In the Beginning: “Details Upon Details” Had to Be Worked Out

To get to the point where it is today, the Kings Inn founders and early allies put their hearts into the effort.

“There were ‘details upon details’ to be resolved,” said Hon. Rosenberg.

They spent a year or so working and planning with the American Inn’s Hal Braff, a Wisconsin University roommate of the Brooklyn jurist. The Kings Inn was officially chartered in 2001. But, due to the “details” and an appropriate period of recruitment, the first qualifying session was not staged until September 2002.

A lot of travel was involved. To acquire an inn charter, the founders, aided by Executive Director Jeff   Feldman, had to visit existing inns, learn how they functioned and see how much the American inns mirrored the goals and practices of the ancient inns of London.

“We started out by selecting pupillage teams,” Justice Steinhardt said. “Actually, we had no great difficulty recruiting members. The inn concept was so popular that the founders soon had to increase our original projected numbers. Today, the inn has almost 100 active members.”

Former Justice Rappaport served as the first inn president for an extended term and says that “in keeping with themes created by Justice Burger, we have sought to present actual courtroom scenes enacted by experienced attorneys, giving many newer attorneys their first taste of courtroom combat.”

“When word got out that we were adopting some popular London inn concepts,” retired Justice Rosenberg said, “the inns became the topic of the courthouse. Some potential members actually asked us if we would wear the traditional white wigs required for London barristers in court. That idea didn’t get too far.”  

* * *

Members Call on Experience, Imagination for ‘Productions’

Here are some of the illustrative and educational “shows,” including team leaders, that the inn has offered in the past year or so:

• “Decisions That Make (Or Break) the Case” — Justice Arthur Schack, Hon. Edward Rappaport and Jon Besunder.

• “Stop & Frisk: From Jay-Z to Judge Scheindlin” — Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Judge Joanne Quinones and Larry DiGiovanna.

• “It’s a Wonderful Profession” — Acting Justice Miriam Cyrulnik and Joseph Rosato.

• “Oral Advocacy: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” — Hon. Cyrulnik and attorney Rosato.

President Dave Chidekel notes that new barristers, in particular, benefit from the inn presentations.

“Our young leaders really learn from watching top-notch lawyers in actual courtroom scenes,” he said.  “In addition, each member becomes part of a team and has the opportunity to act out a significant role. Our inn is a vital and growing organization because of its commitment to the exploration of different areas and topics in law and because it facilitates easy and cordial social interaction between judges and attorneys that benefit each member. The wide range of CLE presentations by different member groups keeps members fresh, learning the joys and pitfalls of different areas of law other than our specialty areas. Each member improves by observing and learning from the other members of the inn.”

Immediate past inn president is Justice Ellen Spodek. Among those serving as inn masters are Justice Carl Landicino, Judge Joanne Quinones, Hon. Barry Kamins, Appellate Division Justices Cheryl Chambers and Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Hon. Miriam Cyrulnik, Hon. Gloria Cohen Aronin, Joseph Rosato, Jon Besunder, Justice Sylvia Ash, Andrea Bonina, Victoria Lombardi, Steve Harkavy and Steve Goolnick.

Inn executive director is Jeffrey Feldman. Lucinda DiSalvo is inn administrator

 

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