Introduction to the 2004 Hugh R. Jones Memorial Lecture at Albany Law School.

• Author: Kaye, Judith S.
• Position: Lecture

Today I have a triple treat. First is coming here with my colleagues for another stimulating, enjoyable event, sponsored by two terrific friends of the New York State Court System--Albany Law School and the Fund for Modern Courts. Second, it is an enormous pleasure to reserve this time formally and officially to pay tribute to one of the outstanding lawyers, judges and humanitarians of our time--Hugh R. Jones. So often I am reminded of Hugh--his meticulous preparation; the brilliance, efficiency and discipline of his mind; his facility of expression, oral and written; his delight in plumbing the depths of the issues and in our treasured collegial process for resolving them.

And extraordinary as all of that was, Judge Jones had few peers in the give-and-take with counsel at oral argument; however one of them, Judge Levine, is here today. Many times I thought of coming off the bench to give a sympathetic hug to lawyers at the other end of a Hugh R. Jones cross-examination. I was deterred only by the fact that they were undoubtedly enjoying these probing exchanges every bit as much as Judge Jones. What a privilege it was for me, never before having been a judge, to serve on the New York State Court of Appeals alongside this great, gentle, kind mentor and friend.

Which brings me to the third reason why this is such a special occasion. I know how pleased Judge Jones would have been to learn that the person to follow Judges Wesley and Levine in delivering a lecture that bears his name is Stewart Hancock. Ken Jockers wrote me that the Jones Lecture "has quickly become a valuable part of the scholarly knowledge about New York courts." (1) Indeed it has. And we are assured by today's lecturer that the tradition will continue. While Judge Hancock missed serving with Judge Jones on the Court of Appeals by only one year, I know they were great friends and admirers of one another.

On the subject of admiration, Judge Hancock also has written and spoken admiringly of the common law process, and the evolution of the law of the State of New York in what he has called "an unbroken stripe." I often think of Judge Hancock's own distinctive contribution to the Court--from January 9, 1986 to December 31, 1993--eight wonderful years for me and for the Court, as a touch of plaid woven into that unbroken stripe of the law.

Surely each of us is singular in some way. Judge Hancock, I am happy now to reveal, is more singular than most. I would lay aside his unique...