CELEBRATING CHIEF JUDGE JONATHAN LIPPMAN AND 15 YEARS OF THE RED HOOK COMMUNITY JUSTICE CENTER

On October 26, 2015, I joined with the Red Hook Community Justice Center in saluting the 48 years of service by departing Chief Justice Jonathan Lippman. He is honored for his advocacy and vision of a court system that serves the public, which he accomplished by increasing funding for courts and civil legal services, mandatory pro-bono service from law students, special and alternative courts, including: community courts; bail reform; and his advocacy for raising the age of adult criminal responsibility.

The Red Hook Community Justice Center (RHCJC) is the nation's first multi-jurisdictional community court where a single judge hears neighborhood cases from 3 police precincts serving approximately 200,000 people. The courthouse is the hub for an array of unconventional programs including mediation, community service, and a youth court where teenagers are trained to resolve actual cases involving their peers. The Red Hook Youth Court has played an important role in keeping young people out of Riker’s Island and the adult criminal justice system. The RHCJC connects individuals to appropriate services and offers a housing resource center, which provides support and information to residents with cases in housing court.