Chief judge Lawrence H. Cooke Fifth Annual State Constitutional Commentary Symposium: great women, great chiefs: opening remarks.

• Author: Lewis, Caitlain Devereaux

Good afternoon. My name is Caitlain Devereaux Lewis and I'm the Editor-in-Chief of the Albany Law Review. On behalf of the Law Review, I'd like to welcome you to the Fifth Annual Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke State Constitutional Symposium. This year we have the great privilege of presenting Great Women, Great Chiefs.

As some of you may know, this year marks the centennial of International Women's Day. This year's International Women's Day is just three weeks away and the United Nations has chosen the theme of Equal Access to Education: Pathway to Decent Work for Women. So, we thought this would be a momentous year to celebrate women in the judiciary.

And as you all know, Albany Law School is a particularly appropriate venue for this event because Kate Stoneman, the first woman admitted to practice law in New York State, was a graduate of Albany Law School. We will also be celebrating her contributions to the legal profession next month at our Annual Kate Stoneman Day Celebration.

I now have the privilege of introducing the person who has been working on this event tirelessly for the last few months, and has brought everything together for us today, Jessie Cardinale, the Law Review's Executive Editor for State Constitutional Commentary. She will introduce today's program.

Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Jessie Cardinale and I'm the Executive Editor of State Constitutional Commentary. On behalf of the Albany Law Review, I would like to welcome you to Albany Law School for what promises to be a wonderful event. We are so thrilled to have you all here today.

Today's symposium--Great Women, Great Chiefs--will focus on the accomplishments of three of the nation's most eminent female chief justices: Chief Justice Marshall of Massachusetts, Chief Justice Ternus of Iowa, and Chief Justice Toal of South Carolina.

Introducing our key speakers are some of Albany Law School's distinguished faculty. Professor Donna Young, who specializes in employment matters, and teaches courses in criminal law and federal civil procedure, will be introducing Chief Justice Ternus.

Chief Justice Toal will be introduced by Professor Rosemary Queenan, who works tirelessly each day helping to teach Albany Law School students how to research and write. Finally, Professor Mary Lynch, the Director of the Domestic Violence Prosecution Hybrid Clinic and Co-Chair of the Kate Stoneman Committee will be introducing Chief Justice Marshall. She will also be recognizing each...