Brooklyn Boro

Judges and court employees strut down the runway during BHM fashion show

March 1, 2018 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
The Brooklyn courts closed out its 20th anniversary of Black History Month celebrations by its annual fashion show extravaganza. Pictured here is Hon. Wavny Toussaint. Eagle photo by Rob Abruzzese
Share this:

The Brooklyn court system just wrapped up its 20th anniversary of Black History Month and as part of its annual tradition it closed it out with a fashion show extravaganza where judges and court employees ditched their uniforms for the latest trends.

“We welcome each and every one of you to our 20th year,” said Justice Deborah Dowling when she welcomed the audience of over 100 people who packed the lobby of the Supreme Court, Civil Term.

Black History Month (BHM) in the Brooklyn courts goes back further than 20 years, but it’s been 20 years since the celebration became a month long. Justice Dowling gave credit to former chair of the Black History Month Committee, Izetta Johnson, for making the annual tradition what it is.

“Our visionary, Izetta Johnson, had various programs before that, but they weren’t month long programs,” said Dowling. “In her vision, she determined that it’s important to have a month-long series of programs and we have built on that.”

Dowling also singled out retired justices Hon. Yvonne Lewis and Hon. Lewis L. Douglass, who were long-standing co-chairs of the BHM Committee.

“We have their shoulders to stand on because without them and Izetta, we wouldn’t be here today,” Dowling said.

The fashion show started 20 years ago, but the first few years it opened, rather than closed Black History Month. Lewis explained that it got a much bigger reaction once it was moved to Feb. 28 because, she said, it felt more like a celebration of the entire month than it did when it was held on Feb. 1.

This year’s event also honored June Farrow for her work with the BHM committee and Justice Dowling and her Co-chair Leah Richardson presented Farrow with a plaque.

Once the formalities were out of the way, Justice Robin Sheares, or the “Fashion Diva Commentator” as Dowling referred to her, served as the master of ceremony while judges, clerks, court reporters, secretaries and court officers from Brooklyn’s various courts strutted down the runway.

The models all wear fashion created by local designers including Noni, Viola Jefferson, Moshood, The Fashion Fields and Tribal Truth Collections by Brenda Brunson-Bey with hats designed by Merrill Matthews.

Subscribe to our newsletters


Leave a Comment


Leave a Comment