First Black Chief Judge Wilson honored at Londel’s in Harlem
The Judicial Friends Association, an organization of judges of color throughout New York State, honored Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals Rowan D. Wilson at a jazzy event at Londel’s Soul Food Restaurant in Harlem last week.
A California native, Wilson has lived a life of firsts throughout his legal career. In 1992, he was the first partner of color at the Cravath, Swaine & Moore law firm, a major private practice firm in New York. He is currently the first Black person to hold the chief judge position in the state.
“The thing that has disappeared is the qualification that you have to be a white establishment male to have the job,” said Wilson. “That’s what I hope, and time is ticking.”
Promoting diversity and addressing the impact of institutional racism throughout the state and city court system is a primary mission for the Judicial Friends Association. Supreme Court Judge Cheryl Gonzales, president of the association, was delighted to honor Wilson.
“He’s personable and approachable. Really an authentic person,” said Gonzales about Wilson. “The tenor of the whole court system has changed. Morale has improved. The administration will always have its tension with the people, but for the most part, it is just a different place in terms of transparency of what’s going on.”
Chief Administrative Judge of the New York State Unified Court Joseph A. Zayas, the first Latino to hold his position, who was appointed by Wilson, said the administrative judge position was not something he wanted because he was happy in his former role in the appellate division, but he was moved by Wilson’s leadership and vision to go for it. “I think the world of him—brilliant, smart, has all the right instincts about the direction our court should go in. Humble, collaborative,” said Zayas of Wilson. “In my view, he’s the best chief judge New York State has ever had.”
Most of the other judges at the event had similar comments about Wilson’s performance as chief judge so far.
Food and drinks were served courtesy of Londel’s Soul Food Restaurant (2620 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, Harlem).
Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member who writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.
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