Monroe County legal community celebrates Law Day 2003

Daily Record (Rochester, NY), May 8, 2003 by Nora Jones

James C. Moore received the 2003 Adolph J. Rodenbeck Award at the Monroe County Bar Association's Law Day celebration last week. In his remarks, Moore expressed his thanks and spoke about the importance of an independent judiciary, to tie nicely to this year's Law Day theme: "Independent Courts Protect Our Liberties."

Co-hosted by the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys and the Rochester Black Bar Association, the lunch event included presentation of a number of awards. Due to time constraints, the planned keynote address by U.S. District Court Judge Michael A. Telesca was cut short. To share his full message with those in attendance and those unable to attend, the speech is reproduced in today's edition of The Daily Record.

Students from Pittsford Mendon High School; attorney advisors Thomas Durkin, Jan Egger and Mark R. Wilson; and faculty coach Bruce Brown were recognized as the winners of the 26th annual Sydney R. Rubin Monroe County Mock Trial Competition. Dr. Peter W. Knapp, the driving force behind the regional competition for the past 26 years, also expressed his appreciation to all involved.

Students participating in the Brighton Law Explorers Post 806 were recognized as the 2003 Mock Trial Winners for the Law Explorer program which involves more than a dozen attorneys working with groups throughout the county. Mark Costello serves as attorney coordinator for this program.

Several schools participated in the second annual Law Day Art Contest, with artwork displayed outside the banquet hall last Thursday and on display at the Hall of Justice through the month of May.

The Foundation of the Monroe County Bar presented its first-ever Humanitarian Award to Dean J. Fero, who has worked tirelessly for many years helping colleagues through the Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers program.

Acknowledged for pro bono commitments and accomplishments, six attorneys came forward as this year's Volunteer Legal Services Project William E. McKnight candidates. They included: Maroun G. Ajaka, Stephen M. Kelley, Anita L. Pelletier, Patricia Gibbons, Robert F. McLean and Erica Stanat.

Ed Orlando of the Legal Aid Society's Law Guardian division called Margaret Schiano to the podium in recognition of her dedication to the law guardian program. An associate with Panzarella and Coia, Schiano is only the second person to receive the James R. Boyle Award for Child Advocacy.

The May 1, 2003 edition of The Daily Record, complete with a 28- page Law Day insert, was provided to each attendee at the luncheon. The special section included articles by New York's Chief Judge Judith Kaye, local political party leaders and numerous attorneys. If you would like to get a copy of this special edition, call (585) 232- 6920 and ask to have one mailed out at a cost of $2 per copy.