EDNY Day Sheds Light on the Work of the Federal Judiciary 

Brooklyn Law School hosted two dozen judges from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) on April 13, giving students an opportunity to hear lessons and stories directly from members of the federal bench in a daylong format that included classroom visits, luncheon talks, coffee break discussions, and at an evening town hall that included a networking reception.  

Members of the judiciary who spread out across the school for the day included all three EDNY chief judges, Chief District Judge Margo Brodie, Chief Magistrate Judge Vera Scanlon, and Chief Bankruptcy Judge Jil Mazer-Marino. There were EDNY Day lunch panel discussions on clerking, bankruptcy practice, criminal justice, and effective courtroom lawyering and the judges joined a robust Town Hall session with Joseph Crea Dean David D. Meyer where they discussed how AI is reshaping litigation in the courts.    

"EDNY Day solidifies the proud bond between the court and Brooklyn Law School, Meyer said. "Throughout the day, there were many lessons for students interested in the work of the federal judiciary. Students gained insights into multiple facets of the life of the law, perspectives on how doctrine and theory interact in practice, and insights into some of the significant contemporary challenges of judging."

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The Hon. Ramon E. Reyes Jr. ’92, a U.S. District Court Judge for the EDNY and a member of the Board of Trustees, helped organize the day, including collaborating with the dean and Professor Maryellen Fullerton on the Town Hall portion.

"Most students don't get to talk with judges at all, let alone in their first year. Simply sitting down in a classroom with a judge and asking questions and getting answers is valuable," said Reyes.

EDNY clerks were also part of the discussion, providing firsthand descriptions of the important work they undertake, and the role of judicial clerks and interns as portals into that world.    

Professor Alexis Hoag-Fordjour, the David Dinkins '56 Professor of Law, welcomed four judges into a luncheon panel titled "Criminal Justice: Discretion, Pleas, and Institutional Norms." 

"It was a joy to witness BLS students in community with our local federal judiciary," she said. Second-year students Janiera Headley and Aleza Waheed deftly moderated a discussion with a panel of judges on federal criminal law over lunch, exploring the use of discretion in pretrial detention determinations, how changes in federal sentencing law impact decision-making, and institutional norms distinct to the EDNY. Meaningful interactions like these help our students build confidence before they enter practice and one day appear as advocates before these same judges.  

Gratitude for Participating Judges  

"It is wonderful to have EDNY judges play an active role in legal education at Brooklyn Law School, and we are grateful that our students have so many opportunities to support the EDNY bench as law clerks and interns," Fullerton said. "All in all, the day was a resounding success, and it was great to have so many judges participate."  

Five of the participating EDNY judges are or have been among the Law School’s adjunct professors: Chief District Judge Margo Brodie; Magistrate Judges James Cho, Seth D. Eichenholtz, Marcia Henry, Joseph A. Marutollo; District Judges Raymond J. Dearie, Kiyo A. Matsumoto, and Ramon Reyes; and Bankruptcy Court Judge Elizabeth Stong.  

In addition, the following participating judges made EDNY Day a great success: District Judges Eric R. Komitee; Nicholas G. Garaufis; Hector Gonzalez; Diane Gujarati; Natasha C. Merle; and Eric N. Vitaliano; Magistrate Judges Lee G. Dunst; Steven M. Gold (Ret.), Clay H. Kaminsky; Peggy Kuo; and James M. Wicks. Bankruptcy Judges Sheryl P. Giugliano; Nancy Hershey Lord; and Louis A. Scarcella.