Lolita Long
, New York EditorTARRYTOWN, NEW YORK:
AS THE United States celebrates the 50th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court's decision in the Brown vs. Board of Education case, which ended racial segregation in public education, the legal fraternity in Westchester was inducting its first president of colour of the 106-year old organisation.
Jamaican-born Judge, Sam Walker, took the oath to "continue the association's long standing commitment to inclusion" before an elite group of judges, lawyers and judicial representatives at the Tarrytown Marriott hotel last Thursday.
IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS
He pledged unequivocally "to encourage participation by men and women of all ethnicities," and to "improve relationship between the Bench and the Bar".
Walker, a Judge of the Westchester County Court, is used to creating history in his world, as he still holds the distinction of being the first Democrat of colour to be elected to a county-wide position in the history of Westchester County.
Walker, as the 60th president of the organisation, will "bring commitment, talent and insight along with a fine judicial temperament to the presidency. He truly exemplifies the American dream", said outgoing President John Geoghegan.
Not forgetting his roots and his journey from Jamaica, Judge Walker paid tribute to his mother, Mrs. Gloria Walker, who came from Florida for the occasion. He thanked Jamaica "for preparing me" and the U.S. "for providing the environment for success".
Attorney-General Eliot Spitzer, as guest speaker, bemoaned the crisis in leadership and the explosion of street criminality.
"We have to teach ethics more effectively as we are sliding down a slippery slope, and it's the last moral fortitude.There is an explosion of street crime, and the acceptance of behaviour that should not be acceptable," he said.
Spitzer who has the responsibility as attorney-general said that part of the decay involved business executives and politicians. He cited, as an example, the salaries of CEOs of major corporations when compared with that of the average worker. In 1980 those salaries were at a ratio of 40:1, today they had exploded to a whopping 531:1. He blamed Government too for failing to enforce rules, lack of transparency and integrity.
BEYOND REPROACH
"Many in top organisations thought they were beyond reproach and couldn't be touched by the rule of law," he said.
District Attorney of Westchester County, Jeanine Pirro, was honoured for her continued tough stance on domestic violence and paedophiles.
She said that Westchester was a special county, mainly because the camaraderie and professionalism of the legal fraternity was unparalleled.
