B

• Author: Elizabeth Smith/Mark Thompson
• Pages: 187-264

BAILY-SCHIFFMAN, LOREN

Acting Justice, Supreme Court, Kings County

Appointment/Election: Elected in

November 1998; reelected in November 2008;

appointed to Supreme Court, Kings County

in March 2009.

Previous Experience: Legal Services for

New York City, Senior Staff Attorney, 1997-

1998; Private practice, Loren Baily, Esq.,

Solo practice, 1981-1997.

Honors and Memberships: Member:

National Association of Women Judges,

2000-present (District Director, 2009-2010);

Board of Judges of the Civil Court, 1999-pre-

sent (Vice President, 2007-2009).

Admission: Admitted to New York State

Bar, Second Department in 1978. Also

admitted to U.S.D.C. SDNY (1979) and EDNY

(1981), and U.S. Court of Appeals, Second

Circuit (1988).

Education: New York Law School, New

York, NY; Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH.

Biographical Data: Born July 31, 1951 in

New York City. Married; one child.

Address: 320 Jay Street

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Phone: (347) 401-9015

Fax: (212) 401-9222

E-Mail: lbschiff@courts.state.ny.us

Court Attorney: Dakota Ramseur

BAISLEY, PAUL J., JR.

Justice, Tenth Judicial District Supreme

Court, Suffolk County

Apointment/Election: Elected to the

Supreme Court, 1998; reelected in 2012.

Current term expires in 2025.

Previous Experience: Private practice,

1987-1994; Bureau Chief, Office of the

Suffolk County District Attorney, 1984-1987;

Assistant, Office of the Suffolk County

District Attorney, 1983-1984.

Honors and Memberships: Member:

New York State Bar Association, 2003-pre-

sent. Former Member: Suffolk County Bar

Association, 1983-2003.

Admission: NYS, Appellate Division,

Second Department, 1982; U.S. Court of

Appeals, Second Curcuit, 1984; U.S. District

Court, Eastern District of New York, 1984;

U.S. District Court, Southern District of New

York, 1984.

Education: J.D., New York Law School

(1979); B.A., Dickinson College (1976).

Address: One Court Street

Riverhead, NY 11901

Phone: (631) 852-3888

ATTORNEYS’COMMENTS

TEMPERAMENT/DEMEANOR

Some interviewees said Judge Baisley’s

courtroom demeanor is “professional.”

Others said, “He’s outgoing,” “His tempera-

ment is good. Judge Baisley is even-tem-

pered” and “He’s friendly and professional.”

ON THE BENCH

When asked to comment on Judge

Baisley’s legal knowledge, one interviewee

said, “Judge Baisley is smart.” The remaining

lawyers either said Judge Baisely’s legal acu-

men is “above average” or “good.” Most of the

interviewees used the word “relaxed” when

describing Judge Baisely’s courtroom manage-

ment style. Other comments included: “It’s

between formal and relaxed,” “It’s relaxed for

conferences and formal for trials” and “It’s

professional.” Two lawyers said Judge Baisley

moves cases through his courtroom at a “nice

and appropriate” pace. Others described the

pace as “average” and “a little slower than the

other judges, but not by much.” Every litigator

interviewed said Judge Baisley is courteous to

all who appear in front of him. One of them

even opined, “He’s very polite and respectful of

everyone.” The attorneys also said this jurist

usually takes the bench on time.

ONTRIAL

Judge Baisely seems to have impressed

lawyers with the way he usually listens close-

ly to their arguments and keeps an open

mind. One of them even said, “He absolutely

[does this].” Nearly every attorney interviewed

said Judge Baisely’s courtroom atmosphere

is “both professional and comfortable.” One

lawyer simply said the atmosphere is “com-

fortable.” Two litigators commented on the

quality or timeliness of this jurist’s longer

Profiles Baisley 169

written decisions. One said, “[His decisions

are] well-reasoned and he gets them out on

time.” The other attorney opined, “Judge

Baisely takes a bit longer [than his peers] to

get his decisions out.”

SETTLEMENTS

One interviewee said Judge Baisely is

“proactive” when it comes to helping attor-

neys settle their cases. Two other litigators

said Judge Baisely will usually wait and

“help if asked” by attorneys wanting his guid-

ance. A majority of the lawyers said Judge

Baisely’s negotiating skills are “good.”

ADJOURNMENTS/CONTINUANCES

Some interviewees said you have an “aver-

age” chance of getting Judge Baisley to grant

an adjournment based upon good cause.

Others said this jurist is “reasonable” or

“very reasonable” about granting such

requests. One other attorney opined, “Judge

Baisley is ‘more likely’ to grant an adjourn-

ment that his peers.”

PROCLIVITIES

A majority of the attorneys said Judge

Baisely’s rulings and decisions are usually

“very impartial.” The remaining lawyers said

this jurist is usually “fair.”

SUGGESTIONS/SUMMARY

Additional comments included: “Judge

Baisely is well liked,” “He’s very accommodat-

ing and a real gentleman” and this jurist

“absolutely” interacts well with jurors.

Interviewees seem to like the way this judge

runs his courtroom and seem pleased with

his legal acumen and courtroom tempera-

ment. They also praised his overall fairness.

BALKIN, RUTH C.

Associate Justice, Appellate Term, Second

Judicial Department

Justice, Tenth Judicial District Supreme

Court, Nassau County

Appointment/Election: December 2006.

Previous Experience: Justice of the

Supreme Court, Nassau County, Jan. 2005-

Dec. 2006; Interim Appointment to the

Supreme Court, Nassau County, May 2004-

Dec. 31, 2004; Supervising Judge, Nassau

County Family Court, Jan. 2003-Sept. 2004;

Judge, Nassau County Family Court, Jan.

1995-May 2004; Presiding Judge, Nassau

County Family Treatment Court, 2002-2004;

Counsel to the Presiding Supervisor and the

Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, 1987-

1994; Private practice: Associate, Meyer,

Suozzi, English & Klein, Mineola, NY, 1986-

1987; Partner, Sutter, Balkin, Marten &

Regan, Mineola, NY, 1984-1986; Associate,

Sutter, Moffatt, Yannelli & Zevin, Mineola, NY,

1977-1984.

Honors and Memberships: Member:

Nassau County Bar Association; New York

State Bar Association; Nassau County

Women’s Bar Association; National Women’s

Judges Association; Association of Justices

of the Supreme Court; Jewish Lawyers

Association of Nassau County; We Care

Association of the Nassau County Bar

Association; Nassau County Judicial

Committee on Women in the Courts.

Admission: Admitted to New York,

Second Department, Feb. 1977; United

States District Court, Southern District of

New York, 1977; Eastern District of New

York, 1977; United States Court of Appeals,

Second Circuit, 1979; and United States

Supreme Court, 1981.

Education: J.D., St. John’s University

School of Law (1976); B.A., Adelphi

University (1973).

Recent Noteworthy Decisions: Beth M. v.

Joseph M., 12 Misc. 3d 1188(A); 2006 Slip.

Op. 51490(U) (July 25, 2006); Regina L. v.

Daniel L., 12 Misc. 3d 1169(A); 2006 Slip. Op.

51119(U) (Feb. 23, 2006); Nancy L. I. v. Alan I.,

9 Misc. 3d 1121(A); 2006 Slip. Op. 51716(U)

(Sept. 13, 2005); Bill S. v. Marilyn S., 8 Misc.

3d 1013(A); 2005 Slip. Op. 51093 (April 7,

2005); Darren L. v. Donna L., 5 Misc. 3d

1023(A); 2004 Slip. Op. 51521(U) (Dec. 3,

2004); Janet B. v. John B., 5 Misc. 3d 1027(A);

2004 Slip. Op. 51584(U) (July 19, 2004);

Matter of Thomas B., NYLJ, November 19,

1998, at 37, col 6.

Address: 100 Supreme Court Drive

Mineola, NY 11501

Phone: (516) 571-2323

ATTORNEYS’COMMENTS

TEMPERAMENT/DEMEANOR

Interviewees are clearly pleased with Judge

Balkin’s temperament. They said, “It’s very

170 Balkin New York Judge Reviews

judicial when the clients are in the courtroom,”

“She’s calm, cool and collected,” “It’s very

good,” “Her temperament is very consistent

and steady,” “It’s great” and “It’s excellent.”

ON THE BENCH

Interviewees praised Judge Balkin’s legal

knowledge. Several of them said, “It’s excel-

lent.” Other comments included, “It’s very

good to excellent,” “It’s good” and “It’s excel-

lent. She’s very bright and a credit to the

bench.” Interviewees also said this jurist dili-

gently prepares for each proceeding. Everyone

gave her high marks. As one of them put it,

“She really knows the cases, reads the briefs

and does her own research. She’s a remark-

able judge.” Judge Balkin has also impressed

members of the bar with her politeness to all

who appear in her courtroom. As one attorney

put it, “I’d say she’s more than polite.”

Lawyers shared mixed opinions about this

judge’s courtroom management style. About

half of them said it is rather formal while the

others claimed it is a bit relaxed. “It’s formal,

but she doesn’t make anyone uncomfortable.”

“It’s good. She’s got a really positive court-

room presence.” “It’s rather formal when

clients are there and a bit relaxed when just

the attorneys are present.” “She’s become

more formal when handling procedural mat-

ters. She handles substantive law issues in a

manner that’s consistent with the litigants’

temperaments, backgrounds and issues.”

Those who believe her style is less formal sim-

ply opined, “It’s relaxed. She makes everyone

feel at ease” and “It’s relaxed.”

ONTRIAL

Every interviewee said Judge Balkin’s is

always attentive to their arguments. As one

lawyer commented, “She listens extremely

closely.” Judge Balkin’s courtroom atmos-

phere was characterized as “professional” by

nearly every interviewee. “It’s very profes-

sional. She’s a real pleasure as a jurist.” “It’s

both professional and comfortable.” “It’s very

professional when clients are present and

more relaxed when just attorneys she knows

are present.” “It’s professional.” Another

lawyer just said, “It’s comfortable.” Most of

the interviewees said this judge promptly

issues all of her rulings and decisions. Only

one attorney offered a somewhat different

perspective. “The court system itself is

rather backed up. But she tries to get every-

thing out as quickly as possible.”

Interviewees who have received written rul-

ings and decisions described them as “good,”

“excellent” and “well reasoned.” Those

who’ve only received oral rulings said Judge

Balkin “[Will] explain them all right then and

there,” “She’ll definitely explain them” and

“Just ask and she’ll explain her reasoning.”

When asked if this jurist moves her cases at

an average pace, or faster or slower than the

other family court judges, attorneys gave the

following responses. Half said she moves

them at an “average” pace. The others

opined, “[She moves them at an] “average-to-

faster pace” compared to the other judges

and “faster” than the other jurists.

SETTLEMENTS

Interviewees seem generally pleased with

Judge Balkin’s efforts to help settle their

cases. More than half of them described her

as “proactive” in this regard. Another opined,

“She’ll help you if you ask.” One lawyer was a

bit more skeptical. “It varies. She’ll get

involved when it’s appropriate.”

ADJOURNMENTS/CONTINUANCES

When you have demonstrated good cause to

Judge Balkin, most attorneys said she is rea-

sonable about granting adjournments. “She’s

more likely to grant one than the other judges.

She’ll bend over backwards to help you, but

she won’t compromise the family’s needs.”

“You’ve got an “average” chance of getting one

from her. “She’s more likely to grant one

because she’s very reasonable.” “She’s more

likely” to grant an adjournment than the oth-

ers. “You’ve got an average to slightly-above-

average chance of getting one granted by her.”

PROCLIVITIES

Every interviewee praised Judge Balkin for

her neutrality. “She’s very fair—absolutely

evenhanded.” “She’s very fair—never a prob-

lem.” “She listens closely to both sides of every

case.” “She’s very fair.” “She’s extremely fair.”

SUGGESTIONS/SUMMARY

Additional comments included: “She really

shines in her current position.” “She really

knows all areas of family law.” “She handles

herself very, very well.””She’s just got a great

disposition. She’s really patient with both

attorneys and pro se litigants.” “She’s one of

the finest judges in Nassau County.”

Interviewees seem very pleased with Judge

Balkin’s courtroom management skills, pleas-

ant demeanor and respectful interactions with

everyone who appears in front of her.

Profiles Balkin 171