Brooklyn Women’s Bar Secretary Thompson honored as new attorney
NEW YORK — The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) will honor some of its notable members in the upcoming weeks, including some from the local Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association (BWBA) chapter.
Brooklyn attorney and BWBA recording secretary Joy Anastasia Thompson won the new lawyer award, and Brooklyn Law School graduate Deborah Scalise, a former Kings County prosecutor, was honored for her contributions to her chapter.
Fittingly it was Court of Appeals Judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick who was chosen to be honored with the Judith S. Kaye Access to Justice Award, an award named for Hon. Ciparick’s former chief judge.
The awards will be presented at the WBASNY Annual Convention at the Turning Stone casino in Verona, N.Y., on the first weekend of June.
The 2012 WBASNY Award Recipients are:
Joan L. Ellenbogen Founders Award
Winner: Yolanda L. Rudich, Esq. (Staten Island)
This award is given to a distinguished member of the bar whose acts exemplify the essence of
justice, thereby demonstrating a harmony with the founding principles of WBASNY, for a singular
outstanding achievement, longstanding significant involvements or a lifetime of constancy of
purpose in advancing the status of women in society and the law.
Marilyn R. Menge Award
Winner: Deborah A. Scalise, Esq. (Westchester)
This award is given to an outstanding member of WBASNY who has made valuable and significant
contributions to a chapter or the statewide organization. The award is named in honor of a
member whose work, wherever she was needed in WBASNY, ensured its early success and
who was a founding member of the Capital District Chapter.
Hanna S. Cohn Pro Bono Award
Winner: Anita L. Pelletier, Esq. (Rochester)
This award is given to a WBASNY member for contributions to the provision of pro bono
legal services to the community in which the member practices, beyond the recipient's
employment responsibilities.
Doris S. Hoffman Outstanding New Lawyer Award
Joy Anastasia Thompson, Esq. (Brooklyn)
This award is given to a WBASNY member who, as of the Dec. 31 prior to the convention at
which the award will be presented, has been a member of the bar for not more than five (5) years,
and who has made outstanding achievements within the profession, outstanding contributions
within the WBASNY member's community, or both. The award is named in honor of WBASNY's
1994-1995 President, who encouraged new lawyers to become active contributors to their
profession and community and showed them how to do so.
Stephanie E. Kupferman Juvenile Justice Award
Diane B. Withiam (Finger Lakes)
Established and endowed by the Honorable Theodore R. Kupferman in 1999, and named in honor
of WBASNY member, Stephanie E. Kupferman, this award is given to a WBASNY member who has
shown outstanding achievement in legal matters involving juveniles over a period of three or
more years, as a prosecutor, defense counselor or law guardian.
Judith S. Kaye Access to Justice Award
Hon. Carmen B. Ciparick (New York)
This award honors a member who demonstrates the core values to which former Court of
Appeals Chief Judge Kaye steadfastly adhered in order to ensure that there would be equal
access to justice and that justice was carried out, in part, through service, good will and
professionalism. Those eligible for consideration are WBASNY members who are current or
former State or Federal public sector employees, including, but not be limited to, members of
the judiciary, prosecutors, public defenders, county attorneys, I8-b counsel, CJAs, etc.
Doris S. Hoffman Medal
Winner: Hon. Rosemary S. Pooler (Central New York)
This medal is given to a WBASNY member who has demonstrated exceptional
leadership and service to women lawyers in New York State.
May 15, 2012 - 2:38pm
