First Openly Gay Judge Honored By Queens County Women’s Bar

By Andy Katz

The Queens County Women’s Bar Association (QCWBA) held its 2018 Judiciary Night in Corona Flushing Meadows Park’s Queens Theater Tuesday and recognized Justice Paul G. Feinman, the first openly gay judge on the Court of Appeal.

Borough President Melinda Katz served as the evening’s keynote speaker and announced that Nov. 27 was Hon. Paul G. Feinman Day in Queens County.

Several other attendees praised Feinman’s contributions to the borough and city.

“Although he presently lives in Mineola, Judge Feinman reflects Queens’ diversity,” said Justice Bernice Siegal. “He was a mensch. He is a mensch. He was able to guide us through his own personal travails into what we really needed. He has a great life, and we now have a great life because he’s an associate justice of the Court of Appeals.”

The QCWBA also presented their annual Faith O’Neal Scholarship to a pair of law students, Liran Messinger and Christina Das.

Messinger currently attends law school at Boston University but says she plans to return to her native borough.

“Queens County is where I want to practice when I graduate,” Messinger said.

Eagle photos by Andy Katz.

From left, Judge Rudolph Greco, Judge Sidney Strauss and Judge Maureen Heitner.

From left, the Judge Donna-Marie E. Golia, Judge Jeremy S. Weinstein and Judge Bernice Siegal.

From left, Judge Bernice Siegal, Judge Phillip Hom and Eve Guillergan.

From left, Lisa Mevorach, QWCBA President Adrienne Williams, Judge Paul G. Feinman,  Judge Bernice Siegal, Louise Derevlany and Judge Marguerite Grays.

From left, Lisa Mevorach, Soma Syed, Louise Derevlany, Judge Bernice Siegal, Christina Das, QCWBA President Adrienne Williams, Liran Messinger and Judge Marguerite Grays.

Officers and members of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association pose with Queens Borough President Melinda Katz (5th from left), QCWBA President Adrienne Williams (center) and State Delegate Louise Derevlany (5th from right).

Judge Bernice Siegal (left) and Queens County Bar Association President Hillary Gingold.

From left, Judge  Peter Vallone, Jr., Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and Gary Schwartz