Senate Resolution No. 1216
BY: Senator STEWART-COUSINS
CONGRATULATING The Honorable Janet C. Malone upon
the occasion of her retirement after more than 17
years of distinguished service to the State of New
York as a Supreme Court Justice in the Ninth
Judicial District
WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in acknowledging
and celebrating individuals whose commitment, service, and professional
excellence have had a profound and enduring impact on their communities
and the people of this State; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor those esteemed individuals whose purposeful careers have enriched
the legal, civic, and cultural fabric of New York State; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Janet C. Malone will retire from her position
as a New York State Supreme Court Justice in the Ninth Judicial
District, bringing to a close a storied and historic legal career
defined by integrity, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to justice;
and
WHEREAS, Janet C. Malone was born in Barbados, West Indies, and
immigrated to the United States in 1971; despite humble beginnings, she
excelled academically and earned her bachelor's degree in criminal
justice from Utica University in 1986, later receiving her Juris
Doctorate from the City University of New York School of Law in 1989;
and
WHEREAS, Janet C. Malone began her legal career as an Assistant
District Attorney in Manhattan under the legendary Honorable Robert
Morgenthau, where she prosecuted major felonies and argued before the
Appellate Division, First Department; in 1997, she transitioned into
private practice, representing clients in criminal, matrimonial, family,
and general civil litigation; and
WHEREAS, In 2003, Janet C. Malone joined the New York State Court
System as a Support Magistrate in Westchester County Family Court; in
2007, she was elected as a Family Court Judge in Westchester County,
becoming only the second African-American woman to hold that position;
and
WHEREAS, On November 8, 2016, Justice Janet C. Malone made history
as the first Caribbean-American and first African American woman elected
to the New York State Supreme Court in the Ninth Judicial District,
which includes the counties of Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam,
and Dutchess; and
WHEREAS, A respected jurist and lecturer, Justice Janet C. Malone
has shared her deep knowledge of criminal law, family and matrimonial
law, guardianship, and mental health issues with her peers and the
public; her contributions as a member of the New York State Judicial
Task Force on Mental Illness and her advocacy concerning the impact of
antipsychotic medication on children in foster care reflect her
dedication to vulnerable populations; and
WHEREAS, Justice Janet C. Malone's dedication extends beyond the
courtroom; she has mentored numerous students, from high school through
law school, and along with her husband, George, provides scholarships to
high school students demonstrating a commitment to public service and
STEAM education; and
WHEREAS, Her service and leadership have been recognized with
numerous accolades, including the Harriet Tubman Legacy Award, the
Society of Foreign Consuls International Women Leaders Award, the Finer
Womanhood Award, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished
Service Award, and the Community Service Award from Sister to Sister
International, Inc.; in 2020, she was named one of 100 Outstanding
Barbadian-Americans in celebration of Barbados' 55th Anniversary of
Independence; and
WHEREAS, Justice Janet C. Malone currently serves as a member of the
Board of the Judicial Friends Association, Inc., and the Advisory Board
of Mercy University, and has been a longtime member and former Board of
Visitors member at the City University School of Law; she also maintains
active membership in the Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of
the State of New York and Sister to Sister International, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, For more than two decades, Justice Janet C. Malone has been
a dedicated member of the Westchester Black Bar Association, where she
served as Vice President and on the Board of Directors; in recognition
of her legal acumen and dedication to justice, she was recently honored
with the Constance Baker Motley Award, named in tribute to a pioneering
jurist and civil rights advocate; and
WHEREAS, Justice Janet C. Malone's career has been marked by
distinction, purpose, and a resolute sense of service to the people of
New York; her unwavering pursuit of justice and her exemplary
contributions to the legal profession leave an indelible legacy; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate The Honorable Janet C. Malone upon the occasion of her
retirement, and to extend its deepest appreciation for her outstanding
service and significant contributions to the people of the State of New
York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Janet C. Malone.
