Hon. Judith S. Kaye (Ret.), Chair
Appointed by Governor Paterson
Term ends 3/31/13
John A. Cirando
Appointed by Assembly Minority Leader Kolb
Term ends 3/31/13
Ruth W. Friendly
Appointed by Chief Judge Kaye
Term ends 3/31/12
Janet M. Kassar
Appointed by Governor Pataki
Term ends 3/31/10
Elena H. Kiam
Appointed by Governor Spitzer
Term ends 3/31/11
Gerald B. Lefcourt
Appointed by Speaker Silver
Term ends 3/31/10
Alan Mansfield
Appointed by Senate Minority Leader Smith
Term ends 3/31/12
Hon. E. Leo Milonas (Ret.)
Appointed by Chief Judge Lippman
Term ends 3/31/13
Margaret S. Morton
Appointed by Chief Judge Lippman
Term ends 3/31/14
Richard P. Nathan
Appointed by Chief Judge Kaye
Term ends 3/31/11
Sarah Ramos
Appointed by Governor Paterson
Term ends 3/31/12
David M. Schwartz
Appointed by Temporary President of the Senate Bruno
Term ends 3/31/11
Counsel
Stephen P. Younger, Counsel
Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP
1133 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036-6710
Phone: 212-336-2685
Fax: 212-336-2222
Email: spyounger@pbwt.com
John J. Halloran, Jr., Deputy Counsel
Speiser Krause Nolan & Granito
Two Grand Central Tower
140 East 45th Street, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10017-3144
Phone: 212-661-0011
Fax: 212-953-6483
Email: jjh@speiserkrause.com
Norman W. Kee, Assistant Counsel
Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP
1133 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036-6710
Phone: 212-336-2261
Fax: 212-336-1231
Email: nkee@pbwt.com
Katrina E. James, Assistant Counsel
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Four Times Square
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-735-3239
Fax: 917-777-3239
Email: katrina.james@skadden.com
Stuart A. Summit, Senior Counsel
Phillips Nizer LLP
666 Fifth Avenue, 29th Floor
New York, New York 10103
Phone: 212-841-0715
Fax: 212-262-5152
Email: ssummit@phillipsnizer.com
Commissioner Biographies
Hon. Judith S. Kaye (Ret.): Judge Kaye served as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of the State of New York, and Chief Judge of the State of New York, until her retirement on December 31, 2008. After several years in private practice, in 1983 Judge Kaye was appointed as an Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals by Gov. Mario Cuomo, becoming the first woman to serve on New York's highest court. Chief Judge Kaye worked to improve the jury system, and established community courts and other "problem-solving" approaches to issues in the courts involving drug addiction, mental health, and domestic violence. Judge Kaye is currently Of Counsel to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. A native of Monticello, New York, Judge Kaye attended Barnard College and New York University School of Law.
John A. Cirando: John Cirando is a partner of the law firm of D.J. and J.A. Cirando, Esqs., in Syracuse, New York. He served as Chief Assistant District Attorney in the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office and was a member of the United States Army, Judge Advocate General Corps. He has served as Chairperson of the New York State Bar Association's Committee on County Courts and Public Relations Committee, and as Secretary and member of the Board of Directors of the Onondaga County Bar Association. He has taught as an adjunct professor of law at Syracuse University College of Law and authored the 2004-2005 Survey of Criminal Law in New York State for the Syracuse University Law Review. He is general counsel for Vera House, Inc., and in 2005, received the Sister Mary Vera Recognition Award. He is a member of the NYS Law Revision Commission. He received his B.A. from St. Bonaventure University and his J.D. from S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo, School of Law.
Ruth W. Friendly: Ruth Friendly is vice president and senior editorial director of Fred Friendly Seminars,Inc., continuing the work initiated by her husband, Fred Friendly. Starting in 1980, she worked with her husband creating and expanding the Columbia University Media & Society Seminars to promote constructive dialogue on complex contemporary issues. Ms. Friendly has served as executive producer, producer, editor, and researcher on more than 80 hours of Seminars programming for PBS. Ms. Friendly has also produced over 300 non-televised seminars for medical, legal, judicial, educational, governmental and civic groups across the country. Prior to 1980, Ms. Friendly taught for seventeen years in the Scarsdale public school system. She received her B.A. from Smith College and her M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Janet M. Kassar: Janet Kassar is supervisor of the Estates, Tax and Accounting Departments at Connors and Sullivan, P.C., and President of Mayo Realty Co., Inc. Prior to moving to New York, Ms. Kassar was a title insurance agent and was Vice President of a land title company in Louisiana. Ms. Kassar is or has been involved in a number of community activities including Habitat for Humanity, the Rotary Club, the Dyker Heights Civic Association, and the Louisiana Choral Foundation. Ms. Kassar is a graduate of Centenary College of Louisiana, and attended McNeese State University.
Elena H. Kiam: Elena Hahn Kiam is an owner of lia sophia, the leading direct seller of fashion jewelry, where she is Senior Vice President in charge of Marketing. Ms. Kiam previously worked for 15 years at J.P. Morgan in corporate finance and private banking/asset management. Ms. Kiam is the Treasurer and a Board Member of Dress For Success, a nonprofit organization that helps low-income women transition into the workforce. She also serves on the boards of the 92nd Street Y, the Nightingale-Bamford School and Children for Children. Ms. Kiam is a graduate of Harvard University.
Gerald B. Lefcourt: Gerald Lefcourt is a criminal defense lawyer based in New York City. Mr. Lefcourt serves on the Magistrate Selection Committee of the Southern District of New York, and served for several years on the Criminal Advocacy Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Mr. Lefcourt is past president of the National Association of Criminal Lawyers, a founder of the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and founder and past president of the New York Criminal Bar Association. Mr. Lefcourt is a graduate of New York University and Brooklyn Law School, and holds an LL.M. from New York University School of Law.
Alan Mansfield: Alan Mansfield chairs the litigation practice of the New York office of Greenberg Traurig, LLP and serves on the firm's executive committee. Mr. Mansfield handles complex civil litigation and white-collar criminal matters, representing clients in diverse industries in matters ranging from product liability to corporate and securities to defamation and fraud. Mr. Mansfield is a former Chair of the Board of Directors of MFY Legal Services, Inc., and continues to serve on MFY's Board. He graduated from Brown University and Duke University School of Law.
Hon. E. Leo Milonas (Ret.): Judge Milonas has had twenty-six years of judicial experience, including service as an associate justice of the Appellate Division, First Department and as the Chief Administrative Judge of the State of New York. Judge Milonas is a past president of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and serves or has served on numerous other judicial advisory committees. Judge Milonas is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and is currently a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.
Margaret S. Morton: Margaret Morton is the Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, where she formerly served as General Counsel. Ms. Morton manages day-to-day operations of the City's funding for the not-for-profit cultural field. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Morton served in several government counsel positions, including the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, the New York City Mayor's Office of Public Safety, and the New York State Unified Court System, where she also managed the Human Resources Department. Ms. Morton is a graduate of Barnard College and Georgetown University Law Center.
Richard P. Nathan: Dick Nathan recently retired from his position as co-director of the Rockefeller Institute of Government and Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the State University of New York at Albany. Prior to joining SUNY-Albany, Dr. Nathan was a professor at Princeton University. Dr. Nathan previously served in the federal government as assistant director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, deputy undersecretary for welfare reform of the U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare, and director of domestic policy for the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (The Kerner Commission). Dr. Nathan is a graduate of Brown University and Harvard University.
Sarah Ramos: Biography forthcoming.
David M. Schwartz: David Schwartz began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Kings County before entering private practice in 1997. Mr. Schwartz is currently a partner in the law firm of Gerstman Schwartz, LLP, where he practices primarily white-collar defense litigation. Mr. Schwartz is a member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Inspector General Management Advisory Board, a member of the Board of Directors of New York Javits Convention Center Operating Corporation, and a trustee of the Brooklyn Bar Association. Mr. Schwartz is a graduate of Tulane University and Touro Law School. |
