ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES

The 7th Judicial District’s Women’s History Month Portrait Gallery.

The Seventh Judicial District is proud to welcome you to the Women's History Month (WHM) Portrait Gallery.  This audio tour can serve as a substitute for (if you are unable to get to the actual Portrait Gallery) or supplement to your visit to the actual Portrait Gallery which is located on the fifth floor of the Hall of Justice. (See map for location and address.) 

 

This WHM Portrait Gallery highlights the lives and careers of seven amazing judges - Jane Bolin, Ketanji Jackson Brown, Judith Kaye, Abigail Mansfield, Constance Baker Motley, Sandra Day O'Connor, and Sonia Sotomayor. 

Just choosing whose name goes first in this list of incredible "firsts" is an impossible task.  Do you list them by the court (e.g. federal, state, local) which they sat on, or by their last name, or by the date that they ascended to the bench?  To be honest we still haven't figured that one out. 

Ultimately, because each of these women are so incredibly important to American history, we did not decide to list them in any particular order for this audio tour or for how they are arranged on the 5th floor of the Hall of Justice.

 

Well... to be completely honest that's not entirely accurate. You may have noticed that in the WHM Portrait Gallery on the 5th floor of the Hall of Justice that Chief Judge Judith Kaye is right in the middle of the seven portraits. In fact, you may have noticed that her portrait sits alittle higher than the others.

 

We must admit that the placement of Chief Judge Kaye's portrait was intentional. That's because she holds a special place within the hearts of New Yorkers and 7th Judicial District employees as she was responsible for so many of the reforms (e.g.  special treatment courts) that have flourished here in the 7th JD.  

 

Having admitted this slight act of favoritism, it would be hard for anyone to view this audio tour and/or visit the Women History Month Portrait Gallery on the fifth floor of the Hall of Justice and not walk away equally impressed and inspired by each of these trailblazing jurist.  Every New Yorker, indeed, every American citizen has benefited from the contributions and commitment of these seven amazing judges.