LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the life and exemplary career of The
Honorable Judith S. Kaye, former Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals,
New York State's highest court

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those singular individuals who devote their purposeful lives
and careers in service to preserving the rights and protecting the
welfare of the citizens of their community and the State of New York;
and
WHEREAS, It is with feelings of deepest regret that this Legislative
Body records the passing of Judith Kaye, noting the significance of the
loss of a woman whose passionate and altruistic spirit will be greatly
missed; and
WHEREAS, Judith S. Kaye, the first female Chief Judge of the New York
State Court of Appeals died on Thursday, January 7, 2016, at the age of
77; and
WHEREAS, Born on August 4, 1938, in Monticello, New York, Judith Smith
Kaye earned a bachelor's degree from Barnard College in 1958, before
obtaining an LL.B from New York University School of Law, cum laude, in
1962; one year later, she was admitted to the New York State Bar; and
WHEREAS, Judith S. Kaye began her eminent career in private practice
in New York City with the firm of Sullivan & Cromwell; she then moved to
Olwine, Connelly, Chase, O'Donnell & Weyher, until her historic appoint-
ment by Governor Mario Cuomo to the New York State Court of Appeals on
March 23, 1993, the position she would hold until December 31, 2008,
after becoming the first woman to be appointed Chief Judge of the
State's highest court; and
WHEREAS, A legal scholar with a keen mind, whose visionary, thoughtful
prose and, above all, unfaltering belief in restorative justice and
fairness, throughout her 15 years as New York State's Chief Judge
resulted in a period of unprecedented reform in the administration of
New York's Courts; she will be remembered for writing several notable
decisions on a wide variety of statutory, constitutional, and common law
issues; and
WHEREAS, Her commitment to strengthening New York's child welfare
system and her steadfast belief in the importance of family preservation
helped to improve the lives of countless people across the State; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of Judith S. Kaye's outstanding intellect and
impeccable work ethic, she was the recipient of the 1997 Edith I.
Spivack Award from the New York County Lawyers' Association's Women's
Rights Committee; and
WHEREAS, Under Judith S. Kaye's leadership, New York State was consid-
ered a national leader in court reform efforts and in establishing prob-
lem-solving courts; working with the Fund for the City of New York, she
helped establish the Center for Court Innovation, a non-profit think
tank that, although independent of the court system, serves as the judi-
ciary's research and development arm; and
WHEREAS, As Chief Judge, Judith S. Kaye also served as Co-Chair of the
Commission on the American Jury of the American Bar Association from
2004-2005; Chair of the Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for
Children; founding member and Honorary Chair of Judges and Lawyers
Breast Cancer Alert (JALBCA); member of the Board of Editors, New York
State Bar Journal; and Trustee of the William Nelson Cromwell Founda-
tion; and
WHEREAS, At the age of 70, Judith S. Kaye retired, as state law
requires, but this did not end her period of public service; she was
appointed to the Commission on Judicial Nomination which recommends

finalists to the governor for positions on the Court of Appeals and was
elected as its Chair on May 21, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Throughout her retirement, she continued to lend her voice
and vision for social reform by advocating for a more comprehensive and
holistic approach to the administration of justice in New York; and
WHEREAS, At the time of her death, Judith S. Kaye was serving as coun-
sel at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York City; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by her husband, Stephen Rackow Kaye, Judith S.
Kaye is survived by three children, and many grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, She was truly a trailblazer for women and families, armed
with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of compassion, Judith
S. Kaye's life was a portrait of service, a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
she served and befriended; she will be greatly missed by many; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the life and exemplary career of The Honorable Judith S.
Kaye, former Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, New York State's high-
est court; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Judith S. Kaye.