When Justice Joseph S. Levine gaveled the Kings Civil Term Forum to order last week in the packed 11th floor boardroom, he had some vital matters on the agenda.
First, there were his positive remarks — “We’ve never had a more responsive administrative judge” — as he introduced recently appointed Administrative Judge Ariel Belen. Belen, in turn, graciously acknowledged the work of Justice Levine in again organizing the popular session where jurists and barristers review matters of common interest in the local civil courts.
Then, there was the upbeat report of Justice Donald S. Kurtz, who, barristers agree, is doing an exceptional job of running the “Up Front Parts and Jury Selection,” which comprise the busiest section of the courts here.
Due credit was also given to Justice Allen Hurkin-Torres, who has been known to take a firm hand in dealing with trial calendars while still being mindful of the realities trial attorneys face when they attempt to gather all of the witnesses and parties essential to a fair and impartial trial.
And all in attendance were pleased as Justice Belen welcomed back the very talented Chief Civil Clerk Tom Kilfoyle.
But it was a unique Brooklyn moment when Justice Levine announced an upcoming hiatus with which only Kings lawyers are familiar: the “Summer Kosover.”
What’s a “Summer Kosover”? For those who don’t know — which mainly includes lawyers who haven’t picked a jury or tried a case in Kings County over the past 30 years — it’s the summer period when trials are halted so that lawyers may have a “date certain” to schedule their vacations. It’s named after the irrepressible lawyer who lobbied for it over the last two decades — the dapper Irwin Kosover, who was present and smiling in the boardroom when Justice Levine disclosed, to appropriate fanfare, that the break would be in effect the weeks of Aug. 20 and Aug. 27.
“There were many years when lawyers picking juries here in Kings County were faced with the knotty dilemmas inherent in conducting trials in the hottest days of summer when witnesses — in particular, medical experts who often charge a small fortune for their time in court — are reluctant to offer their testimony,” explains barrister Kosover. “In addition, we as lawyers found it impossible to spend summer vacations with our families because our schedules were so unpredictable.”
Encouraging Jurists to Join
In Civil Term Discussions
A.J. Belen made it clear that he would encourage jurists to attend and take part in future sessions of the Civil Term Forum. “It’s important that we get together in a collegial atmosphere to exchange views on how best to serve those who come before us,” he said.
Among other members of the bench there were Justices Gerald Held, Anthony Cutrona, Lawrence Knipel, Mark Partnow, Ira Harkavy, Arthur Schack, Carolyn Demarest, Martin Schneier and Jack Battaglia.
Offering invaluable insights into the challenges faced by trial lawyers were a number of leading lawyers led by Helene Blank, Andrea Hill, Bernie London, Steve Harkavy, Manny Romero, Mark Longo, Larry DiGiovanna, Rob Rosenberg and Judy Livingston.
Credit Borough President Marty Markowitz and Brooklyn press veteran Mike Armstrong with staging one of the most insightful and informative programs in Brooklyn’s recent history last Saturday, with what was billed as ‘Neighborhood Day At Borough Hall.”
The theme was “Brooklyn Rising — The Roots of Modern Brooklyn History, a Look at Brooklyn’s Comeback Years, the ’70s and ’80s.”
With due respect to one panel which contained a number of solid daily press and academic figures, it was the unmatched eloquence of moderator Pete Hamill and the experienced insights of panel member Dennis Holt, of the Eagle, which really made this day so special for those of us who were living and writing in Brooklyn then.
Pete Hamill, whose extemporaneous opening remarks on how the ’60s actually set the stage for the ’70s and ’80s, had the unmistakable rhythm and affection for the borough typical of one of his finest newspaper columns — led the day’s final discussion, which was televised live by BCAT-TV. Sharing the dais in the ornate Borough Hall courtroom were the delightful state Sen. Velmanette Montgomery; community leader Salvatore “Buddy” Scotto; Steve Hindy, the founder of Brooklyn Brewery; and Prof. Jerome Krase of Brooklyn College.
Earlier in the day, Dennis Holt struck us as being the most authentic member of a panel titled “We Were There,” which included Michael Powell of The New York Times, Doug Tsuruoka of Investors Daily and JoAnne Wasserman of the Daily News, moderated by Thomas Stewart of Channel 13.
Why? It was interesting to hear how citywide dailies approach coverage of Brooklyn neighborhoods. As they pointed out with understandable pride, some of these excellent writers do indeed live in Brooklyn. But Dennis’ familiarity with topics of local interest — involving neighborhoods as varied as Bedford Stuyvesant, Gravesend, Bay Ridge, and of course Downtown — has a sense of immediacy and perspective that dailies seldom match.
Put another way, Dennis had the “home team” advantage. Not only does he live here, but so does the newspaper he writes for. Mike Armstrong shares this distinction. Before going to work for former Borough President Howard Golden — whose achievements were graciously acknowledged by Borough President Marty Markowitz — Mike was the founder and publisher of the Brooklyn Phoenix, an excellent local weekly that was appropriately named to describe the period when much of Downtown Brooklyn was almost literally rising — Phoenix-like — from the ashes of municipal decay.
This was the third program in a worthwhile series. We suggest that Mike and his friends schedule another session, which might, for instance, highlight the politics of the ’70s and ’80s, when a Brooklyn congressman named Hugh Carey rose to become governor of New York. And lest we forget, it wasn’t long thereafter that a one-time Court Street lawyer, Mario Cuomo, succeeded his fellow Brooklynite in Albany.
Can Courts Be ‘Friends’
With The Media?
“The Courts and the Media–Friends or Foes?” This will be the very timely topic explored by a panel headed by Justice Marsha Steinhardt and Helene Blank, when the Kings County Inn of Court holds its next Continuing Legal Education-accredited session, at 6 p.m. May 22, in the ceremonial courtroom at 320 Jay St.
Based on the way some newspapers have reflexively — often unfairly — reported on developments at bench and bar, the Inn discussion — which continues a tradition of the ancient English Inns where young barristers gathered with veterans to discuss the evolving law — will have a lot of material to deal with.
Other Inn officers include President-elect Steven Finkelstein; Counselor Neil Jon Firetog, administrative judge of the Kings County Criminal Courts; Treasurer Helene Blank; and Secretary Justice Gerard Rosenberg. The president emeritus is former Justice Edward Rappaport. The immediate past president is Mark Longo.
Inn administrator Marie Lattanzi, secretary to Justice Rosenberg, advises that dinner will be served during the evening, so members should register in advance. She also points out that while most Inn meetings are held at 360 Adams St., the venue on May 22 is shifted to the new courthouse at 320 Jay St.
PRO BONO BARRISTER is a weekly column dedicated to telling about the good that lawyers do. Send your comments or suggestions to this writer care of this newspaper or to COTEYESQ@aol.com.
Notice: Readers seeking legal representation on a Pro Bono Publico basis should not contact this columnist. Rather, they should seek out the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project at 718-624-3894.
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
All materials posted on brooklyneagle.com are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published, broadcast, posted on Gotham Gazette.com or any other blog without written permission, which can be sought by emailing arturc@att.net.
Main Office 718 422 7400
