H

• Author: Elizabeth Smith/Mark Thompson
• Pages: 442-464

HALL, L. PRISCILLA

Associate Justice, Appellate Division,

Second Judicial Department

Justice, Second Judicial District Supreme

Court, Kings County

Appointment/Election: Elected in

January 1994; reelected in November 2007;

current term expires in 2021.

Previous Experience: Administrative

Judge, Kings County Supreme Court,

Criminal Division, 2008-2009; Judge, Court

of Claims, 1990-1994; Acting Justice, New

York State Supreme Court, Kings County,

March 1990-July 1990; Judge, Criminal

Court, City of New York, 1986-1990; also

served as Inspector General, NYCHRA, 1982-

1986; Assistant Attorney General, New York

State Department of Law, 1982; Inspector

General, New York City Department of

Employment, 1979-1982; Assistant District

Attorney, 1974-1979; Attorney for General

Electric Corp., 1973-1974.

Honors and Memberships: Received:

Tenth Year Anniversary Award, Metropolitan

Black Bar Association (1994); The Pinnacle

Woman of the Year Award, Being Single

Magazine (1994); Community Service Award,

Kappa Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho

(1993); Public Service and Dedication to the

African-American Community Award,

National Black Prosecutors Association

(1993); Outstanding Service Award, National

Bar Association (1992); Professional Woman

Award, The Bronx Club National Association

of Negro Business and Professional Women’s

Clubs, Inc. (1991); Distinguished Women of

New York City Award, Human Resources

Administration Women Advisors (1989);

African-American Business and Professional

Woman Award, Dollars & Sense Magazine

(1989). Member: Board of Directors,

Achievement First Charter School of Crown

Heights (Chair); Faith Center for Community

Development, Inc.; New York Bar Association;

Brooklyn Bar Association; Brooklyn Women’s

Bar Association; New York State Women

Judges; Association of the Bar of the City of

New York; Metropolitan Black Bar

Association; Association of Black Women

Attorneys (past president); New York State

Bar Foundation; Judicial Friends; Columbia

School Law Association; The Supreme Court

Justices Association of the City of New York.

Admission: Admitted to New York State

Bar in 1974; admitted to Southern District

of New York, 1976; admitted to practice

before the United States Supreme Court,

1978; admitted to Eastern District of New

York, 2005.

Teaching/Lectures/Publications:

Adjunct Professor, Fordham Law School,

“New York Criminal Procedure,” 2001 and

2002. “Capital Case Issues Before the Court

of Appeals: Lessons for the Trial Judge,”

Summer Judicial Seminal 2002, July 16,

2002. Publications include: The History of

Section Six of the Federal Trade Commission

Act, The Record of the Association of the Bar

of the City of New York, 1972.

Education: J.D., Columbia University,

New York, NY (1973, Phi Beta Kappa); M.S.,

Columbia University, New York, NY (1969,

cum laude); B.A., Howard University,

Washington D.C. (1968, magna cum laude).

Biographical Data: Born October 1946 in

Cuero, TX.

Recent Noteworthy Decisions: People v.

Nixzaliz Santiago, N.Y. Law Journal, June 14,

2007, pg. 19, col. 3 and Nov. 2, 2007, pg. 28,

col. 3; People v. James Albritton, 2005 N.Y.

Slip Op. 50809U, N.Y. Law Journal, June 9,

2005, pg. 19, col. 3; People v. Rodriguez, 2005

N.Y. Slip Op. 51817U, June 2, 2005; People v.

Eddo, __N.Y.S.2d __, 2004 WL 2852671, 2004

N.Y. Slip Op. 515l69, June 30, 2004; People

v. Kassim, __N.Y.S.2d__, 2004 WL 2852665,

2004 N.Y. Slip Op. 51568, April 28, 2004;

People v. Sharron Ivory, N.Y. Law Journal,

Sept. 25, 2003, pg. 21, col. 5; People v.

Raphael Sanchez, N.Y. Law Journal, July 17,

2003, pg. 21, col. 5; People v. Anthony Blake,

N.Y. Law Journal, June 25, 1999, pg. 34, col.

3; People v. Ian Brooks, N.Y. Law Journal,

Jan. 2, 1997, pg. 29, col. 1; People v. Leroy

Jamison, N.Y. Law Journal, Sept. 16, 1996,

pg. 30, col. 4; Peole v. Stewart & Baxter, N.Y.

Law Journal, Oct. 8, 1992, pg. 27, col.6.

Address: New York State Appellate Division

45 Monroe Place

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Phone: (347) 296-1061

Fax: (347) 296-1372

Law Clerk: J. Machelle Sweeting

Secretary: Ronnelle Thomas-Brunswick

424 Hall New York Judge Reviews

ATTORNEYS’COMMENTS

TEMPERAMENT/DEMEANOR

Two lawyers described Judge Hall’s court-

room demeanor as “very professional.”

Others opined, “It’s excellent,” “It’s profes-

sional and friendly” and “It’s very pleasant

and professional. She’s very respectful to

attorneys and the litigants.”

ON THE BENCH

Most attorneys interviewed said Judge

Hall’s legal knowledge is equal to or better

than that of her peers. Comments included,

“It’s average,” “It’s above average,” “It’s way

above average,” “It’s excellent” and “It’s aver-

age regarding civil cases and above average

when she’s handling criminal cases. Judge

Hall is polite to everyone who appears in front

of her. Litigators said, “She’s very polite,”

“Yes, [she’s polite]. Everyone is given the

opportunity to be heard” and “She’s absolute-

ly polite!” Two lawyers said Judge Hall’s

courtroom management style falls between

“formal and relaxed.” One of them added,

“and very professional.” Others said her style

is “very formal,” “efficient” and “formal.” All of

the litigators said this jurist usually takes the

bench on time. They also commended Judge

Hall for listening closely to their arguments

and keeping an open mind. More than half of

the interviewees said this judge moves cases

at an “average” pace. Others said she moves

matters at an “appropriate” pace and “faster

than the other judges while still managing to

give you the time you really need.”

ONTRIAL

Half of the lawyers interviewed said Judge

Hall’s courtroom atmosphere is “professional

and very comfortable.” Other’s opined, “It’s

comfortable” and “It’s very professional.”

Several attorneys noted Judge Hall’s ability

to relate well to jurors. Comments included,

“She does an excellent job interacting with

the jurors. They really like her,” “She’s very

personable [with them]” and “They love her.”

Judge Hall handles her sentencing duties in

a responsible manner. Attorneys said, “She’s

very fair,” “[She sentences defendants in a]

fair and appropriate” manner and “She’s

fair.” One of them added, “[She] stays within

the sentencing guidelines.”

SETTLEMENTS

Two lawyers said Judge Hall is usually

proactive when helping lawyers settle their

cases. Her skills were ranked as “good” and

“average-to-good.”

ADJOURNMENTS/CONTINUANCES

More than half of the interviewees said

you have an “average” chance of getting

Judge Hall to grant an adjournment based

upon good cause. One of them even opined,

“She’s more likely to grant one than [her

peers because] she’ll work with you.” Others

said, “She’s reasonable” and “She’s quite gra-

cious when you can show good cause.”

PROCLIVITIES

Lawyers seem to appreciate Judge Hall’s

basic neutrality. Most of them said, “She’s

fair.” Only one interviewee hedged his answer

slightly by saying, “Judge Hall is usually fair—

but ever so slightly leans toward the D.A.”

SUGGESTIONS/SUMMARY

Judge Hall seems to be respected for her

pleasant way of interacting with attorneys, liti-

gants and jurors. She’s also known for her

basic fairness, professional demeanor and abil-

ity to move cases at an appropriate pace.

Additional comments included: “[Her written

opinions are rendered] on time and are well

reasoned,” “[She provides] an excellent place to

practice law,” “She’s [open to special jury

instructions]” and “She invites [special instruc-

tions] if they’re properly based on case law.”

HANOPHY, ROBERT J.

Justice, Eleventh Judicial District Supreme

Court, Criminal Term, Queens County

Current Assignment: TAP-C Homicide

Trial Assignment Part.

Previous Experience: Justice of the

Supreme Court, State of New York, Queens

County Supreme Court, Criminal Term

(1987—); Robert J. Hanophy, Esq. Solo

Practioner, Litigation, Flushing, New York

(1980-1986); Lynn, Hanophy, and Ledwith,

Partner, Litigation, Garden City, New York

(1978-1980); Waldorf & Mc Grane, Esqs.,

Litigation, Great Neck, New York (1972-

1978); Hampton & Heneghan, Esqs.,

Litigation, New York, New York (1966-1972).

Honors and Memberships: Member:

New York State Bar Association, Queens

County Bar Association, New York Trial

Lawyers Association.

Profiles Hanophy 425