Pathway to the Bench: Episode 1: A Discussion with Judge Timothy Driscoll

In this episode of “Pathway to the Bench: A Discussion with Judge Timothy Driscoll,” Lindsay Powell, a civil litigator at Wilson Elser, speaks to Judge Driscoll, of New York, about his pathway to the bench, how his background shaped his view of the law, and the importance of passion in the pursuit of the law. Judge Driscoll also shares what it takes to excel as an attorney, as well as tips for lawyers considering a career in public service. Timothy S. Driscoll is a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. Judge Driscoll serves in the Nassau County Commercial Division, as well as the Appellate Term for the 9th and 10th Judicial Districts. He is also the co-chair of the Chief Administrative Judges working group on electronic discovery. He is a member of the Chief Judges Advisory Council on Commercial Litigation in New York State, and serves as co-chair of the Subcommittee on Alternative Dispute Resolution. In addition to his judicial responsibilities, Judge Driscoll has been an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School since 1998, and a teaching team member at the Harvard Law Schools Trial Advocacy Workshop since 2003. He is also an adjunct associate professor at Nassau Community College, where he was among the first group of the College’s faculty to receive the New York State Education Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching. Prior to taking the bench in January 2008, Judge Driscoll served as Deputy Nassau County Executive for Law Enforcement and Public Safety from July 2004 to December 2007. In that position, Judge Driscoll oversaw all of the public safety and law enforcement agencies in the County, including the Police, Fire Marshal, Probation, Sheriff, Office of Consumer Affairs, Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, Medical Examiner, and Office of Emergency Management. Judge Driscoll was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of New York from November 2000 to July 2004, and an Assistant District Attorney in Nassau County from September 1996 through November 2000. Lindsay Powell works as a civil litigator at Wilson Elser in McLean, Virginia. Lindsay represents businesses in all aspects of civil litigation. Lindsay practices in Virginia and DC. Prior to entering private practice, Lindsay worked in the aviation arena as an attorney in the Office of the Chief Counsel for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). She is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Washington and Lee University School of Law. Beyond her practice, Lindsay serves as a Business Law Fellow for the American Bar Association (2022-2024).