Throughout history, women in the legal profession have broken barriers to forge paths of excellence and leadership. In honor of Women’s History Month, New York Law School (NYLS) is celebrating our remarkable alumnae who have risen to judgeship in New York courts and beyond, demonstrating groundbreaking achievements in the legal field.
The trailblazing contributions of these women serve as an inspiration to future generations of legal leaders. All of these judges are immortalized in NYLS’s Hall of Judges, a tribute to NYLS alumni who have risen to judgeship. View photos from the 2024 Hall of Judges Ceremony and Reception.
HON. FLORENCE ZIMMERMAN ’41
One of the first women to graduate from NYLS, Hon. Florence Zimmerman ’41, served as an attorney for the NYC Rent and Housing Administration before being appointed a NYC Civil Court Judge in 1971 by Mayor John Lindsay. Judge Zimmerman served as President of the New York Women’s Bar Association from 1961 to 1962, making her the first of only two NYLS alumnae to hold this position.
HON. SYBIL HART KOOPER ’56
In 1975, Hon. Sybil Hart Kooper ’56 became the first NYLS alumna elected as a Supreme Court justice. She was appointed to the New York State Appellate Division, Second Department, by Governor Mario Cuomo in 1985, serving until 1991. In 1992, the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association (BWBA) established the Sybil Hart Kooper Award to recognize the valuable and significant contributions of outstanding BWBA members. A champion of women’s rights, Justice Kooper’s career highlights include:
- Becoming the first female member of the Metropolitan Trial Lawyers Association
- Co-founding and serving as President of the National Association of Women Judges
- Serving as a member of the New York Task Force on Women in the Courts, which investigated gender bias in courtrooms
HON. SHEILA LEVITTAN ’56
Hon. Sheila Levittan ’56 was the first NYLS alumna to hold a judgeship, appointed to the NYC Civil Court in 1969 and the Criminal Court in 1970 by Mayor Lindsay. She later served as a New York State Supreme Court Justice from 1974 to 1991. During World War II, Justice Levittan participated in the Office of Strategic Services in Paris, London, and Germany.
HON. JUDITH SHEINDLIN ’65
Before Hon. Judith Sheindlin ’65 became the famous “Judge Judy,” she served on the bench of the NYC Family Court. She was first appointed by Mayor Ed Koch in 1982 and ascended to Supervising Judge of the Court’s Manhattan Division in 1986. Check out our in-depth interview with Judge Sheindlin.
HON. JOAN B. CAREY ’66
Just two years after graduating from NYLS, Hon. Joan B. Carey ’66 became an Assistant District Attorney in Queens County, where she later made history as the first woman to serve as Bureau Chief of any District Attorney’s Office in the city. In 1997, Judge Carey received the President’s Special Award from the New York Women’s Bar Association. Past honorees include Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sandra Day O’Connor, Judith Kaye, Governor Ann Richards, and Anita Hill. Judge Carey’s judicial appointments include:
- Judge of theNYC Criminal Court, 1978; Supervising Judge, 1979
- Supreme Court Justice by Designation, New York County Supreme Court, Criminal Term
- Judge of the Court of Claims, 1987
- Administrative Judge of the New York County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, 1993
- Administrative Judge of the NYC Criminal Court, 1995
- Deputy Chief Administrative Judge of all NYC courts, 1996
- Administrative Judge of the New York County Supreme Court, Civil Branch, 2009
HON. LORRAINE MILLER ’68
An expert on housing law, Hon. Lorraine Miller ’68 was a lifelong advocate for affordable housing. In addition to helping develop city-aided apartment projects, Justice Miller drafted the legislation that created the NYC Housing Court in 1973 and was subsequently appointed as Judge of the Court. She was later appointed a justice of the Supreme Court in 1991.
HON. CAROLYN DEMAREST ’72
Hon. Carolyn Demarest ’72 served as Assistant Chief of the Appeals Division of the NYC Corporation Counsel before being appointed to the NYC Family Court by Mayor Koch in 1985. Five years later, Governor Cuomo appointed her to the Kings County Supreme Court, where she subsequently won reelection twice. Justice Demarest was one of two jurists designated to develop the Court’s Commercial Division and served as its Presiding Justice from its inception in 2002 through 2016.
HON. UTE LALLY ’72
A German immigrant, Hon. Ute Lally ’72’s judicial career began in 1986 when she was elected as a judge for the Nassau County District Court. After a decade of service, she was elected to the Nassau County Supreme Court in the 10th Judicial District. Justice Lally received many honors throughout her career, including:
- The Governor’s Award for Excellence in 2000
- The Officer’s Cross of Merit, First Class, from the Federal Republic of Germany in 2001
- The Woman of the Year Award from the Fraternal Order of Court Officers in 2007
- The Woman of the Year Award from the NYC Fire Fighters Steuben Association in 2008
HON. JANICE VOLKMAN ’75
Shortly after graduating from NYLS, Hon. Janice Volkman ’75 co-founded a women-run law firm that took cases from a constellation of organizations such as Women Organized Against Rape, Women Against Abuse, and the Women’s Law Project. Judge Volkman later worked for the Veteran’s Administration and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission before becoming a federal Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration.
HON. SARAH S. CURLEY ’77
Hon. Sarah S. Curley ’77 was the first woman appointed to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona in 1986 and the first woman to hold the position of Chief Bankruptcy Judge. Judge Curley also served as an officer, director, and board member of the National Association of Women Judges. In 2023, she received the American Inns of Court Bankruptcy Distinguished Service Award.
HON. KATHRYN FREED ’77
While she was a student at NYLS, Hon. Kathryn Freed ’77 was inspired to explore government. She went on to serve as counsel for the New York State Assembly’s Committees on Higher Education, Authorities and Commissions, and Environmental Protection before joining the New York City Council in 1992. Her judicial career began in 2004 when she became a judge for the NYC Criminal Court. She was appointed Acting Justice of the New York County Supreme Court in 2012.
HON. JUDITH REICHLER ’77
In the mid-1980s, Hon. Judith Reichler ’77 helped draft what eventually became New York State’s Child Support Standard Act, which redefined child support in the state. She subsequently became Director of the New York State Commission on Child Support and joined Judith S. Kaye’s Family Violence Task Force.