LIC court staff help civil part run like clockwork

Margaret Carucci (left), Tajuana Best (right) and John Rutherford (not pictured) work together to keep Justice Frederick Sampson’s court running smoothly. Eagle photo by Rachel Vick

By Rachel Vick

The phrase “teamwork makes the dream work” may be a cliche, but in the case of Supreme Court Justice Frederick Sampson’s court staff, it happens to be true. 

“Everybody on my staff, they do their thing so I can do my thing, and don’t have to worry,” Sampson said.

Legal Secretary Tajuana Best, Law Secretary Margaret Carucci and Part Clerk John Rutherford work efficiently to make the court run smoothly, with each serving a different function while working in tandem.

“When you have a good rapport everything runs smoothly and that makes it so much easier,” Carucci said.

She spent a portion of her career in real estate, but a desire to learn and grow led her back to Sampson’s courtroom, where she had first encountered the judge while working as a practicing attorney. Her three-year anniversary as a law secretary is coming up in April. 

Carucci said she handles various responsibilities, from discovery conferences to managing Sampson’s calendar to reading motions.

“I cannot even begin to tell you the amount of information, and the amount of legal experience and deep understanding of the way the law works that I have gained in working for him,” Carucci said. 

Rutherford handles the front end, running the courtroom and ensuring motions, trials and jury proceedings run smoothly.

Best has spent more than 20 years managing the administrative side, working to control the chaos of a constant influx of paperwork, maintaining an orderly system and ensuring everyone has the files they need.

She helps put together the charge — the laws the judge reads to the jury before deliberations — as well as the verdict sheet. Motion papers get sorted by date filed.

“There’s so much paperwork — it’s a wonder that we don't lose or things aren't misplaced. Some files are so voluminous it's not even funny,” Best said. “People are paying attorneys lots of money to represent them so you do have to, in the interest of justice, make sure you put your  best foot forward and keep track of everything and make sure you go over everything.”

Her time working under Sampson and in the court has molded her approach to life she said. She has adapted the values of judicial temperance.

“You learn how to pace yourself and not be so frazzled by things and take them as they come — this too shall pass,” Best said.