Historical Society of the New York Courts

As part of our education committee initiatives, Hon. Barry Kamins (Ret.), a Society trustee and education committee member, visited the Columbia Secondary School in Manhattan this week to talk with middle school students who are currently reading the play “12 Angry Men.” Judge Kamins used the play to discuss criminal trials and jury service in New York City, while he provided different perspectives on the case based on his previous experiences as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, and a judge. He was delighted to speak with the students and answer their excellent questions. We’re looking forward to more class visits like this one throughout the school year and beyond! #Civics #Education #12AngryMen #HSoftheNYCourts #NYSCourts #NYSJudges #NYSLawyers #NYSHistory #NYCHistory #NYHistory #NYLegalHistory #LegalHistory #AmericanHistory #History

Charlotte Smallwood Cook didn’t set out to make history. She just wanted to practice law. But in 1949, when she became the first woman elected District Attorney in New York State, she did both. Cook grew up in upstate New York and attended Cornell Law School—an uncommon path for a woman at the time. Her decision to pursue law wasn’t made lightly. In an era when women lawyers were still a rarity, she carved a place for herself through determination and a deep commitment to justice. In a recorded interview with the Historical Society of the New York Courts, Cook described how people questioned her choice and doubted her abilities—but she never let that stop her. As part of our #WomensHistoryMonth programming, we’re proud to spotlight Cook’s story through our Oral History Project, which preserves the voices and experiences of New York’s legal figures in their own words. Cook’s reflections are candid and inspiring: from her early education and professional struggles to her groundbreaking election in Wyoming County. Her story is just one of many in the Society’s rich oral history archive. These firsthand accounts offer a powerful way to understand the evolution of the legal profession in New York—especially through the lives of women and other trailblazers who changed the field from the inside out. Explore Charlotte Smallwood Cook’s story and access her oral history at: https://lnkd.in/dksgGhMt #DistrictAttorney #WHM #WomensHistoryMonth2025 #Education #Civics #OralHistory #UpdateNY #WyomingCounty #HSoftheNYCourts #NYSCourts #NYSJudges #NYSLawyers #NYSHistory #NYCHistory #NYHistory #NYLegalHistory #LegalHistory #AmericanHistory

Educators, are you teaching the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire this #WomensHistoryMonth? That tragedy happened on March 25, 1911 – and its lessons are as relevant today as they ever were. The Historical Society of the New York Courts offers a free, downloadable lesson plan about the 1911 fire — a moment that changed New York labor law forever. Designed for high school students, the resource includes primary documents, court cases, and activities that bring the fire’s legal legacy into the classroom. The Triangle Fire killed 146 workers, most of them immigrant women and girls, who were trapped behind locked doors on the upper floors of a Manhattan garment factory. The tragedy shocked the nation and exposed unsafe working conditions and a lack of legal protections for laborers — especially women. Public outrage spurred investigations, legislation, and a new wave of labor activism. The lesson plan explores the fire’s aftermath, including the manslaughter trial of the factory owners and the long-term legal reforms that followed — from workplace safety regulations and fire codes to workers’ compensation laws. Students analyze how the law responded, where it fell short, and what changed. They also consider how the event helped fuel the broader fight for women’s rights and protections in the workplace. This resource is just one of many the Society provides to support civic learning in classrooms across New York. It’s part of our mission to connect legal history to today’s students — and to help educators make complex issues real, relevant, and rooted in New York’s past. Download the lesson plan at: https://lnkd.in/erSJMRtP #TriangleFire #WHM #WomensHistoryMonth2025 #Education #Civics #LessonPlan #HSoftheNYCourts #NYSCourts #NYSJudges #NYSLawyers #NYSHistory #NYCHistory #NYHistory #NYLegalHistory #LegalHistory #AmericanHistory

If you’ve ever seen the iconic 1951 Saturday Evening Post cover showing a July 4th bandstand in front of a stately courthouse, you’ve seen the Delaware County Courthouse. Nestled in the village green of Delhi, it’s one of the best-preserved examples of 19th-century courthouse architecture in the state —and the latest in a long line of courthouses that tell the story of law and justice in Delaware County. Formed in 1797, Delaware County held its first court sessions in a tavern owned by Gideon Frisbee, with jurors deliberating under a butternut tree. The first purpose-built courthouse was completed in 1799—at a cost of $2,000—but was rarely used and later authorized to double as a tavern. It burned in 1820, prompting the construction of a second courthouse that would witness one of the most explosive legal events in the state’s history. In 1845, amid rising tensions over New York’s lingering manorial land system, Anti-Rent protesters—some dressed as Native Americans—clashed with authorities in Andes. The death of Under-Sheriff Osman Steele led to mass arrests: 94 men indicted for murder, 148 for lesser crimes. While two men were sentenced to death, both sentences were commuted, and in 1847, newly elected Governor John Young—an Anti-Rent candidate—pardoned all the remaining prisoners. The current courthouse, designed by Isaac G. Perry and completed in 1871, anchors the Delaware County Courthouse Square Historic District, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Perry later oversaw construction of the New York State Capitol. The complex includes not only the courthouse and clerk’s office, but also the 1820 courthouse, the former jail, and surrounding civic buildings. Delaware County’s legal legacy includes state high court judges like Amasa J. Parker, William Murray, and Isaac H. Maynard. Even future Chief Justice of the United States Charles Evans Hughes had early ties here, teaching school in Delhi before beginning his legal career. ??: Wikipedia, Delaware Co. Historical Association #CourthousesOfNY #DelawareCounty #HSoftheNYCourts #NYSCourts #NYSJudges #NYSLawyers #NYSHistory #NYCHistory #NYHistory #NYLegalHistory #LegalHistory #AmericanHistory #History

Samuel A. Talcott, New York’s 16th Attorney General, served from 1821 to 1829 — a period of political transformation and legal growth in the state. Born on December 31, 1789, in Hartford, Connecticut, Talcott came from a lineage of public service: his grandfather, Joseph Talcott, was a Colonial Governor of Connecticut. He graduated from Williams College in 1809 and was admitted to the bar in 1812. After beginning his practice in Lowville, he soon relocated to Utica and later New Hartford, where his legal reputation flourished. Talcott’s legal mind earned him recognition among the most prominent political figures of the day, including the powerful Albany Regency, with which he was closely aligned. His appointment as Attorney General at the age of 31 placed him at the center of major legal developments in the state. He argued frequently before New York’s Supreme Court and Court of Chancery and appeared successfully before the U.S. Supreme Court in Inglis v. Sailors’ Snug Harbor, where he argued complex issues of trusts and perpetuities against Daniel Webster. Despite his brilliance, Talcott’s tenure ended abruptly in 1829 when he was pressured to resign due to “irregular habits” — a period term suggesting struggles with alcohol. He continued to practice law in New York City and remained respected in legal circles until his death on March 19, 1836. His legacy lived on through his sons: John Ledyard Talcott, a justice of the New York Supreme Court, and Thomas Grosvenor Talcott. At a meeting of the New York Bar on the day of his death, colleagues described him as a man of “distinguished talent, profound learning, and finished scholarship,” whose contributions brought lasting honor to New York’s legal profession. #AttorneysGeneral #NYAG #AlbanyRegency #SCOTUS #NYSupremeCourt #CourtOfChancery #HSoftheNYCourts #NYSCourts #NYSJudges #NYSLawyers #NYSHistory #NYCHistory #NYHistory #NYLegalHistory #LegalHistory #AmericanHistory #History

JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT! By popular demand, we’ve extended the deadline for the #LawDay Art Contest to March 21st! Once again, with our friends at the New York State Unified Court System's Office for Justice Initiatives, we’re hosting our #LawDay2025 art contest. We’ve featured some of the art of last year’s winners in previous posts, but in case you need inspiration, we thought we’d share a few selections from recent winners. This art contest is open to any New York high schoolers and we hope you’ll enter or share it with a young person in your life! This year’s Law Day theme The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One. All submissions must be received by March 21, 2025. The winner will be announced on May 1, 2025. Learn more today: tinyurl.com/lawdayny #Art #ArtContest #LawDay #Civics #Education #HSoftheNYCourts #NYSCourts #NYSJudges #NYSLawyers #NYSHistory #NYCHistory #NYHistory #NYLegalHistory #LegalHistory #AmericanHistory #History

We conclude #CivicLearningWeek looking back on a class visit from our NY courts judges and attorneys! ? Last spring, Justice Inga O'Neale, a Society member, and her Court Attorney Natasha Delille, who is a member of our Young Lawyers Committee, gave the presentation: "Breaking Limitations: Pathways to the Bar and Bench" at Bard High School Early College in Manhattan. ? They spoke with students about overcoming challenges and persevering, and they shared their personal experiences, challenges faced and overcame in their journeys in their careers in the law. ? Their personal stories inspired and captivated the young minds in class, while teaching them important lessons about the role the judiciary plays in our lives. ? Here’s to more class visits like this one coming soon – stay tuned! ? Photos: Selfie with Students - Ms. Delille (front) and Judge O'Neale (back, right); Judge Inga O'Neale; Court Attorney Natasha Delille; Judge O'Neale and Ms. Delille talking with a student ? #Civics #Education #HSoftheNYCourts #NYSCourts #NYSJudges #NYSLawyers #NYSHistory #NYHistory #NYLegalHistory #LegalHistory #AmericanHistory #History

When Chief Judge Judith Kaye started to ask about the state courts’ history, she realized something surprising — despite the state judiciary’s long history, it was not widely documented or well known. Interest grew among judges, lawyers, and scholars, and in 2002, it all came together with the founding of the Society. As we continue to mark #NationalCivicLearningWeek, we recognize just how vital that mission remains. Understanding our legal history isn’t just an academic pursuit — it’s key to strengthening democracy and civic engagement. The Society works to bridge that gap through public programs, publications, and digital resources that connect New Yorkers to the courts’ lasting impact. One of the Society’s most valuable resources is its Oral History Project, which preserves the firsthand accounts of judges, attorneys, and legal figures who shaped New York’s legal landscape. These interviews offer rare insights into landmark cases and judicial decision-making, creating a living history of the courts. Those looking to dive deeper into legal history, the Society’s Judicial Notice journal provides in-depth articles. This publication is widely respected for its scholarship and analysis, making complex legal history accessible and engaging for a broad audience. Everyone can explore a wealth of online materials that bring New York’s judicial history to life. From the interactive timeline of New York’s courts to detailed profiles on past Chief Judges, these resources make it easy to see how legal decisions continue to shape the world today. Beyond digital content, the Society hosts public programs, lectures, and classes, bringing legal history into real-world discussions. What started as Chief Judge Kaye’s vision has grown into an indispensable resource for scholars, students, and citizens alike. Civic education begins with knowing where we’ve been — so let’s keep learning. Explore more at history.nycourts.gov. #CivicLearningWeek #Civics #Education #JSK #ChiefJudgeKaye #JudgeKaye #HSoftheNYCourts #NYSCourts #NYSJudges #NYSLawyers #NYSHistory #NYCHistory #NYHistory #NYLegalHistory #LegalHistory #AmericanHistory #History

What does it mean to truly understand the law? At the Historical Society of the New York Courts, we believe that civic education isn’t just about memorizing legal principles — it’s about seeing how the law impacts real lives. That’s why we’re proud to highlight National #CivicLearningWeek, a time to emphasize why legal history matters and how it shapes the world around us. In 2019, we reflected on the Society’s mission by bringing together a number of our friends and supporters to discuss the importance of our civil education work. We highlight here the words of a few of these leaders devoted to civic education: the Hon. Jonathan Lippman, Hon. Denny Chin, and Dean Troy McKenzie. Each of them has long championed efforts to make the law accessible, to ensure that the next generation knows the stories of how we arrived here. Chief Judge Lippman’s work to promote equal access to justice, Judge Chin’s dedication to telling the story of landmark cases, and Dean McKenzie’s commitment to preparing the next generation of legal minds, all reflect the Society’s belief that understanding the past strengthens our democracy. Through public programs, judicial reenactments, educational resources, and digital archives, we bring New York’s legal history to life — connecting students, educators, and the public to the very foundation of our justice system. Civic learning isn’t just for the classroom; it’s for every New Yorker who wants to understand how the law shapes their rights, responsibilities, and future. As we mark this week, we reaffirm our commitment to making legal history engaging, relevant, and real — because when we understand where we’ve been, we’re better prepared to shape where we’re going. Watch the full video on our YouTube! https://lnkd.in/gEK38aD #Civics #Education #HSoftheNYCourts #NYSCourts #NYSJudges #NYSLawyers #NYSHistory #NYCHistory #NYHistory #NYLegalHistory #LegalHistory #AmericanHistory #History

We continue celebrating Civic Learning Week at the Society! One of our core missions is to promote education about the New York Courts and the Rule of Law through classroom visits and?outreach to New York students. For example, in June, the Hon. Judy H. Kim (Acting Justice of the Supreme Court, New York County), one of our Trustees and a member of our Education Committee, spoke with students during her visit to the High School for Law and Public Service, a public school in Manhattan. Justice Kim, who is the first Korean American elected judge in New York State, talked with the students about her background, legal career, path to the bench, and judicial philosophy, as well as answered their excellent questions. Educators – sign up for a classroom visit here https://lnkd.in/ekqESC3h #CivicLearningWeek?#Civics?#Education #HSoftheNYCourts?#NYSCourts?#NYSJudges?#NYSLawyers?#NYSHistory?#NYCHistory?#NYHistory?#NYLegalHistory?#LegalHistory?#AmericanHistory?#History