On February 19, 2020, Honorable Zachary W. Carter, was presented with the Hon. William C. Thompson, Sr. Award at a ceremony held at the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department in Brooklyn.
Associate Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix served as the mistress of ceremonies for the second annual awards ceremony, which was sponsored by the Kings County Courts Black History Month Committee, the Judicial Friends Association, The Brooklyn Bar Association and The Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association. The special occasion was one of many celebrations across the courts in Brooklyn in honor of Black History Month and this year’s theme of African Americans and the Vote. In addition, The Black History Month Committee’s motto of “Every Vote Counts - Every Body Counts” succinctly encapsulates not only the importance of voting in this year’s presidential election, but also encourages participation in the upcoming census.
From left: Alex Lake, Gail Thompson-Lake, Hon. William C. Thompson, Jr., Presiding Justice Alan D. Scheinkman, Hon. Zachary W. Carter, Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix
Introductory remarks were made by Presiding Justice Alan D. Scheinkman, Kings County District Attorney Hon. Eric Gonzalez and Hon. William C. Thompson, Jr. In his remarks, Presiding Justice Scheinkman recounted the history of Black History Month, which began in 1976, and its precursor Negro History Week, founded by Carter G. Woodson in 1926, which was observed during the second week of February. He read a quote of Mr. Woodson’s, “If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” Addressing the many active and retired justices and court personnel in the audience, Hon. Eric Gonzalez, the first Latino District Attorney in New York State, reflected on the continuation of the legacy of his predecessor Kenneth Thompson, the first African American District Attorney of Kings County, and expressed gratitude for the collaborative relationship between the courts and his office in completing this important work. Mr. Gonzalez attended Cornell University and recollected when he learned about the 1969 takeover of the Willard Straight Hall by armed students of the Afro-American Society protesting racism and the slow establishment of a black studies program at the school. One of those students was Zachary Carter (he was not armed) and that event would play a role in the Civil Rights movement, also paving the way for similar programs for Latino and other students of color who would attend Cornell. William C. Thompson, Jr. fondly reminisced on his father’s love of the Appellate Division, calling it his “favorite place”, where he once again became a student of the law having to read a daunting stack of briefs (to the young Thompson) and where he could freely expound his vast knowledge.
From left: Hon. William C. Thompson, Jr., Hon. Zachary W. Carter, Hon. Eric Gonzalez
The distinguished award recognizes someone who embodies the legacy of Hon. William C. Thompson, Sr., who was a New York State Supreme Court Judge, Administrative Judge and the first black Associate Justice appointed to the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department. Introducing the honoree was Acting Justice of the Supreme Court, New York County, Hon. O. Peter Sherwood, himself the first black man to serve as Corporation Counsel for the City of New York. In his introduction, Justice Sherwood shared examples of how Mr. Carter “blazed new trails”, beginning with his leadership of the 1969 student protest at Cornell University and then throughout his career, when he diversified the executive leadership of companies and agencies he headed, including several appointments of women and minorities.
Associate Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix presents award to Hon. Zachary W. Carter
The Honorable Zachary W. Carter’s career has spanned appointments in federal and city government as well as stints in private practice. Among his contributions in protecting the civil rights of New Yorkers, was his prosecution of the perpetrators in the Abner Louima and Yankel Rosenbaum cases as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. And as Corporation Counsel, he was instrumental in ending the practice of “stop and frisk”. Mr. Carter’s keynote address highlighted the challenges facing the electorate this year and stressed the importance of voting for values, decency and character, rather than mere “electability”. Among the speakers at the program were Rodneyse Bichotte, Assembly member of the 42nd district and Chair of the Kings County Democratic Party. She is the first black woman to lead a county party organization in New York City.
In attendance were former Associate Justice L. Priscilla Hall (ret.), last year’s recipient of the award, and the family of the late Hon. William C. Thompson, Sr., including son, Hon. William C. Thompson, Jr., daughter, Gail Thompson-Lake and grandson, Alex Lake.
From left: Hon. O. Peter Sherwood, Hon. Valerie Brathwaite Nelson, Hon. L. Priscilla Hall, Hon. Cheryl Chambers, Hon. Zachary W. Carter, Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Hon. William C. Thompson, Jr., Hon. Paul Wooten, Hon. Barry Cozier, Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte