HSoftheNYCourts Podcast

The Historical Society of the New York Courts is pleased to introduce its new Rule of Law podcast series. This season, the series seeks to highlight a variety of important, influential, and inspiring individuals in New York legal history, including lawyers, jurists, advocates, and leaders in the legal profession. This inaugural episode of the series is entitled “Abolitionism & Advocacy in New York.” The episode features Hon. Albert M. Rosenblatt (ret.) and Professor Sarah L. H. Gronningsater in conversation, with Professor Paula C. Johnson as moderator. Drawing on their own research and scholarship, Judge Rosenblatt and Prof. Gronningsater discuss how various actors worked together in 19th century New York to fight for freedom and the abolition of slavery, and how their efforts led to changes in New York law and to successful legal challenges in New York courts. Check out the links to learn more about the podcast episode's participants and their work: Professor Paula C. Johnson, Professor of Law and Director of the Cold Case Justice Initiative at Syracuse University College of Law https://law.syracuse.edu/deans-faculty/faculty/paula-c-johnson/ Professor Sarah L. H. Gronningsater https://live-sas-www-history.pantheon.sas.upenn.edu/people/faculty/sarah-l-h-gronningsater and her book, The Rising Generation: Gradual Abolition, Black Legal Culture, and the Making of National Freedom https://www.pennpress.org/9781512826326/the-rising-generation/ Hon. Albert M. Rosenblatt (ret.) https://history.nycourts.gov/biography/albert-martin-rosenblatt/ and his book, The Eight: The Lemmon Slave Case and the Fight for Freedom https://sunypress.edu/Books/T/The-Eight. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this episode are those of the participants and do not reflect any opinions or policies of the Historical Society of the New York Courts.

At his death, the 96 year-old Albert Sprague Bard had occupied the landmarked Broad Exchange Building for six decades after becoming the structure's very first tenant. Within those hallowed walls, Bard hatched statewide legislation known as the "Bard Act" which gave New York's communities the legal right to regulate aesthetics — and crucially, protect historic buildings and neighborhoods through New York City's Landmarks Law. In this special episode of Wrecking Ball, author and historian Anthony C. Wood rejoins host Adrian Untermyer to discuss the ever-persistent and oft-eccentric Bard as portrayed in Wood's new biography, Servant of Beauty: Landmarks, Secret Love, and the Unimagined Life of an Unsung New York Hero. Complete with joyful asides about everything from Robert Moses to Cold War spycraft to obscure railroad corporate lore, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who ever wondered how New Yorkers built a modern city that also managed to include its past.

In 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican candidate, won the presidential election against Democrat Samuel J. Tilden. The outcome, however, was one of the most controversial in U.S. history because Tilden won the popular vote and the result of declaring Hayes as the winner was only finalized after months of dispute, earning the accolade of “the Fraud of the Century” by Tilden’s supporters and some historians. In this podcast episode, host Hon. Helen E. Freedman is joined by Author Roy Morris, Jr., Professor Manisha Sinha, and Jerry Goldfeder, Esq., to unpack the facts and drama of the 1876 election, explore the political climate of the era, and draw thought-provoking connections to more recent national elections.

Host Eric van der Vort, Ph.D., speaks with retired judge Richard A. Dollinger about his Judicial Notice Issue 18 article, which explores two strikingly different figures from the early 20th century: a powerful GOP machine boss from Buffalo who became a federal judge and a Russian immigrant from Rochester known as the “high priestess of anarchy.” Though John R. Hazel and Emma Goldman never met, their lives intersected twice in the wake of President William McKinley’s assassination by Leon Czolgosz. Judge Dollinger unpacks their parallel stories during a pivotal era in America’s rise as a global power—an age of transformation in law, politics, and culture. Buckle up—this episode is full of unexpected twists and turns! Part of our podcast series Chatting with the Authors of Judicial Notice.

Wrecking Ball Series Episode 5 In this fast-paced episode of our podcast series Wrecking Ball, host and creator Adrian Untermyer, Esq. discusses the present and future of historic preservation advocacy in New York with Andrew Berman, whose name is now shorthand for New York’s history-saving movement after leading the venerable Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (now “Village Preservation”) for a quarter-century — thereby earning his new nickname as “The ‘Cher’ of Preservation.” Berman describes his decades at the intersection of historic preservation, the law, and the great City and State of New York, beginning with his upbringing in the Bronx, continuing with his study of architectural history in school, and broadening into the world of politics and policy in his roles with New York City Councilman and State Senator Tom Duane. Untermyer and Berman also consider the ingredients of a successful preservation “stew” balancing economic growth and affordable housing with the elements of neighborhood character that make a place worth living. Also included in this installment are case studies of St. Vincent’s Hospital, the “Weathermen House,” and university expansions, together with a whopping two quotes in our beloved final segment, “Your Daily Ada Louise.” So get your OMNY card ready as we explore Greenwich Village’s vibrant preservation advocacy scene in 2025 and beyond!

Judicial Notice Editor in Chief Hon. Helen E. Freedman sits down with podcast host Dr. Eric van der Vort for a conversation on the subject of her Issue 18 article: Samuel Jones Tilden. The two discuss Tilden’s early years, his contributions to New York’s legal community (including breaking up Boss Tweed’s ring), and, of course, Tilden’s presidential bid in the 1876 election. The 1876 election was highly contested at the time — tune in to learn why!

Wrecking Ball Series Episode 4 The Empire State Plaza's white-and-gray silhouette dominates the skyline of New York's capital city. While the futuristic, stone-and-steel complex looks like it's been there forever, the Plaza has a twisted history covering politics, intrigue, and the Rockefeller Family's one-time dominance over civic and cultural life in New York State. In this episode, former Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge Margaret Cangilos-Ruiz (NDNY, Ret.) and architectural historian Carol H. Krinsky join host Adrian Untermyer to discuss the Empire State Plaza's origin story and legacy. Plus, urbanist Gina Pollara joins us for a special extended edition of "Your Daily Ada Louise." So climb aboard Princess Beatrix's ferry as we travel up the Hudson and learn how Governor Nelson Rockefeller's embarrassment led to demolition, rebirth, and the reshaping of modern Albany.

Inaugural Latino Judges Association Mendez v. Westminster Moot Court Project Discussion: The Gap In Bilingual Education, the Impact of Aspira v. BOE, and How the Landmark Mendez Case Inspired It All. In a special co-production of the Historical Society of the New York Courts podcast and Amici, the podcast program of the NYS Unified Court System, an insightful panel discusses with Host John Caher the growth of the Latino Judges Association, a little known case that ended school desegregation in California and set the stage for future civil rights victories, an upcoming moot court competition, and explores the differences between bilingual education and English as a Second Language (ESL). Three sitting judges – Supreme Court Justices Patria Frias-Colón and Wilma Guzman and Court of Claims Judge Linda Mejias-Glover – and Daniel O. Sierra of the Historical Society offer insight and perspective.

In this episode of Chatting with the Authors of Judicial Notice, Professor Mary Noé tells host Eric van der Vort, Ph.D. all about a murder committed in full view of a theatre full of witnesses in the early 20th century. The case is full of twists and turns, including escapes, extraditions, and major challenges for the courts to iron out. You won't want to miss this dive into New York's true crime history!

Manhattan’s High Line is one of the world’s great parks, with a rich history at the crossroads of historic preservation, the law, and the great City and State of New York. In this episode of Wrecking Ball, host Adrian Untermyer welcomes Jonathan Broder, former General Counsel of the Consolidated Rail Corporation (or “Conrail”) to recount Broder’s key role in the formation of the High Line as we know it today. In doing so, Untermyer and Broder offer a crash course in the intertwined histories of American railroading, government regulation, and urban rebirth. So put on your walking shoes as we explore the High Line’s long and quirky origin story — complete with urban cowboys, “pro-garbage” community boards, boxcars full of turkeys, and everything in-between!

Two of the articles in Judicial Notice Issue 18, the Society’s periodical publication, feature stories from the life of Benjamin N. Cardozo, once Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals and Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Host Eric van der Vort, Ph.D. welcomed authors Prof. John Q. Barrett and Henry "Hank" M. Greenberg, Esq., to discuss their pieces. Together, they explore lesser-known stories of Cardozo's life, emphasizing his sense of humor and his writing style. Tune in to gain fresh insights into Cardozo's life and legacy!

Lower Manhattan's Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse and Foley Square are now preserved and continue to define the aesthetic of justice in New York and the nation. But when the complex was still new, a greedy Chief Circuit Judge named Martin T. Manton orchestrated his campaign of judicial bribery from within the Courthouse's awe-inspiring halls — until the building itself served as an “inanimate character witness” in Manton’s downfall. On the second episode of the Wrecking Ball series, host Adrian Untermyer explores Manton's "justice racket" with attorney Gary Stein, author of the new book Justice for Sale, as they consider the power — and limitations — of using grand public buildings to inspire civic virtue.

In the premiere episode of Wrecking Ball — a new series featuring tales of preservation, the law, and the places New Yorkers love — host Adrian Untermyer welcomes author-historians Christina Greer and Anthony C. Wood to tell the raucous story of how ordinary people pulled together to craft New York City’s Landmarks Law, which safeguards historic buildings, neighborhoods, and landscapes to this day.

In the rough-and-tumble New York of a century and a half ago, enterprising lawyers like Paul Cravath and Samuel Untermyer invented the modern practice of corporate law – all while dastardly crooks grabbed headlines and forced innovations among the police who pursued them and the attorneys who prosecuted them. Author John Oller, Esq. spent years researching this distinctive crucible in New York’s legal history, which resulted in his two monumental books, White Shoe (2019) and Rogues’ Gallery (2021). In this spirited conversation with attorney and historian Adrian Untermyer, Oller brings legal figures like Roland Molineux, Rebecca Salome Foster, and Alexander S. “Clubber” Williams to light while sharing dozens of other unforgettable anecdotes from these formative years in the history of New York Law. This conversation was co-sponsored by the Woodlawn Cemetery Conservancy, which preserves, improves, and celebrates Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. Woodlawn is home to many of the legal figures mentioned in this program and in Oller’s two books, and Woodlawn’s Director of Historical Services Susan Olsen joins Oller and Untermyer for the latter portion to share her unique insights. The program was originally recorded as part of Woodlawn’s Tuesday Night Book Club on April 12, 2022. For further information about John Oller, and to learn how to purchase his books, please visit him online at www.johnollernyc.com. To learn more about host Adrian Untermyer, please visit www.adrianuntermyer.com. For additional details about the Woodlawn Cemetery Conservancy, including how to visit the gravesites mentioned in this program, visit www.woodlawn.org. 

This conversation with Henry M. Greenberg, Esq. and Hon. Albert M. Rosenblatt chronicles the steps then-Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye and Judge Rosenblatt took to create a historical society honoring the courts of the state of New York. From the moments that inspired its creation in the late 1990s to its ultimate inception in 2002 and beyond, learn about the people that laid the groundwork to found this institution, along with its unique projects, during the Society’s 20th Anniversary Season.

The late M. Dolores Denman was a true judicial trailblazer; among her feats, she was the first woman appointed as Presiding Justice of any Appellate Division Department. In this special episode of the Judicial Notice Podcast, host Hon. Helen E. Freedman gathers three of Judge Denman's colleagues and friends — Judge Richard C. Wesley, now of the Second Circuit; Judge Eugene F. Pigott, Jr., former Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals; and Judge Erin M. Peradotto, Associate Justice of the Fourth Department, over which Judge Denman presided — to reflect on Judge Denman’s judicial philosophy, her historic appointment to the Appellate Division, and her influence on the region and the judiciary as a whole, as well as her undeniable kindness and strong leadership.

In this episode, attorney and urbanist Adrian Untermyer discusses George McAneny’s sprawling legal legacy with historian Lucie Levine and preservationist Brad Vogel, Esq. George McAneny is sometimes called “the most influential New Yorker you never heard of.” Over decades of civic activism, McAneny had an incalculable impact on planning, zoning, and preservation laws in New York and across the nation. And through his various leadership posts, McAneny can claim responsibility for helping to build the New York County Courthouse, Foley Square, and many other landmarks across Gotham. For more information on George McAneny or to get involved with ongoing attempts to honor his legacy, please visit www.georgemcaneny.com. This podcast was produced by the Historical Society of the New York Courts in partnership with the New York Preservation Archive Project, the Friends of George McAneny, Archive on Parade, and the Hon. Milton Tingling, New York County Clerk. Lucie Levine is an author, historian, and founder of educational tour company Archive on Parade. To learn more, visit www.archiveonparade.com. Adrian Untermyer is an attorney, urbanist, and historian who fights for stronger cities and communities. To learn more, visit www.adrianuntermyer.com. Brad Vogel is an attorney, poet, and Executive Director of the New York Preservation Archive Project. To learn more, visit www.bjvogel.com.

Host William H. Hinrichs chats with the Historical Society of the New York Courts’ most recent Judith S. Kaye Teaching Fellow Lauren DesRosiers on her experience teaching the course American Immigration and New York State to high schoolers in the Queens and Lower East Side Bard High School Early College campuses. Bill and Lauren discuss the unique aspect of this partnership of teaching legal history and civics through the Society’s grant at BHSEC, the challenges of online teaching, how history can help us understand the current anti-Asian hate and violence around the country, and most important of all, the students that participated in this elective course. Bill H. Hinrichs is the Dean of Academic Life at Bard Early Colleges, and Lauren DesRosiers is a practicing immigration attorney, focusing on helping queer and trans immigrants seeking humanitarian relief.

In this episode, host David L. Goodwin talks with Paul DeForest Hicks about the incredible influence of Connecticut's Litchfield Law School on the bench and bar of New York State at the founding of the nation, and how Litchfield paved the way for Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and other leading law schools of today. Paul DeForest Hicks is the author of The Litchfield Law School: Guiding the New Nation, and contributed a piece on Litchfield to Issue 16 of the Historical Society’s journal Judicial Notice, out now to Society members.

Chris Kwok talks with Hon. Randall T. Eng about his remarkable life and career, marked by a series of firsts for the Asian American community. They reminisce about Judge Eng’s early days in Queens and China, how he became interested in the law, his rise in the legal profession to become the first Asian American Judge in all of New York State, and his years after retiring from the bench. The conversation juxtaposes his incredible achievements against the backdrop of increased anti-Asian hate and violence around the country. Mr. Kwok is a Mediator and Arbitrator at JAMS and a Board Member of the Asian American Bar Association of New York. Judge Eng is currently Of Counsel at Meyer Suozzi English & Klein P.C. and the former Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department. He is also Trustee Emeritus of the Society’s Board of Trustees.

Hon. Randall T. Eng and Hon. Lillian Wan share their personal experiences as Asian American judges overcoming challenges, and provide advice to Asian American attorneys on how they too can bridge the gap. Judge Wan is a Kings County Supreme Court Civil Term Judge and member of the Society’s Board of Trustees. Judge Eng is former Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, and currently Of Counsel at Meyer Suozzi English & Klein P.C. He is also Trustee Emeritus of the Society’s Board of Trustees.

In the United States Supreme Court, it's nine. In the United States Courts of Appeals, it's three. And in New York's Appellate Division, Second Department it's . . . four? Presiding Justice Alan D. Scheinkman talks about his article, adapted for Judicial Notice, which explores how the four-Justice appellate panel became the norm in the Second Department — and, briefly, in the First as well — and shares his thoughts on managing what is often called the busiest appellate court in the country. Justice Helen Freedman, Judicial Notice Editor in Chief, joins the discussion with insight on the First Department's practices.

Director of Bard College Institute for Writing and Thinking Dr. Erica Kaufman and Dean of Bard Early Colleges John Weinstein discuss the teacher and student initiatives we partner together to produce, including teacher workshops, the Harlem Law Program, and the Judith S. Kaye Teaching Fellowship, and the rich resources the Society provides. Erica and John also discuss lessons learned during the movement to remote teaching, and what they think is in store for the future.

Host Daniel F. Loud, a student at Columbia Law School, chats with Hon. Robert S. Smith, retired judge of the New York Court of Appeals, head of the appellate practice at Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman LLP, and former professor at both Columbia Law School and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, about his article in the Society’s journal Judicial Notice about Chancellor James Kent, one of New York’s first notable judges and the author of the Commentaries on American Law. They delve into Chancellor Kent’s views on judging, the body of “American law” that developed after the American independence, and what a judge’s role should be in changing the law. Along the way, Judge Smith also offers his views on the same issues and how judging has changed since Chancellor Kent’s time nearly two centuries ago.

William H. Hinrichs, Dean of Academic Life at Bard Early Colleges, speaks with Aaron Welt on his experience as the Judith S. Kaye Teaching Fellow at Bard High School Early College in Queens and Manhattan over the past three semesters. They chat about the importance of the Society’s grant to facilitate these civics courses that focus on the legal history of New York State, the positive effect it has on students who take the courses, and the benefits and challenges of virtual learning.

In this episode, Aisha Williams, National Director of School Culture, Great Oaks Charter Schools and a former NYC school leader of a Society partner school, chats with Jehan Senai Worthy about her experience as the Judith S. Kaye Teaching Fellow for the Society’s inaugural Harlem Law Program. The discussion delves into the successes and challenges of the program, the students feedback, and the future of education in the era of virtual learning.

Host Jacob Y. Chen, Partner at Dai & Associates, P.C., talks with Hon. Doris Ling-Cohan, a justice of the New York State Supreme Court currently assigned to the Appellate Term, First Department, about her experience as a pioneering Asian American judge in New York, and the challenges — and flat out racism — she faced on the road to and during her judgeship. Justice Ling-Cohan recounts remarkable and inspiring anecdotes from her career and offers insight on what's next for the Asian American community in the legal profession.

Historical Society of the New York Courts Trustees Dennis E. Glazer and Hon. Albert M. Rosenblatt trace New York’s relationship with slavery from the early days of the colony to the climate of the nation leading up to the Civil War. The episode culminates with an investigation into the Lemmon Slave Case itself. Affirmed by the Court of Appeals in 1860, the Lemmon Slave Case illustrates how NYS law was ahead of federal in finding that slaves brought into the State were not property. This went against the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision, decided three years earlier.

Host David L. Goodwin chats with Robert Pigott, general counsel of Phipps Houses, about his Judicial Notice profiles of Elihu Root and William M. Evarts, both national figures and prominent New York lawyers—one mostly remembered (Root) and one largely forgotten (Evarts). A native New Yorker himself, Bob discusses the spark that ignited his interest in history, and examines how we can learn a lot about larger-than-life figures through New York City real estate.

Before he was a Founding Father, Framer, Justice, or international diplomat, John Jay spent seven years in the trenches as one of New York's few practicing lawyers—appearing in court, collecting on debts, and working with clients. Host David L. Goodwin talks with Hon. Mark C. Dillon, Associate Justice of the NYS Supreme Court Appellate Division, Second Department, and Paul D. Rheingold, Esq., Founder of and Of Counsel at Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo & Plotkin LLP, about John Jay's early years, and how they influenced his role as a Justice and statesman.

David L. Goodwin, current member of the Board of Trustees of the Historical Society of the New York Courts, chats with Founder & President Emeritus of the Society — and Former Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals — Hon. Albert M. Rosenblatt about the importance of the preservation of court records, and how we have tragically lost details of historic NY events of national importance.