New York, NY, Wednesday, December 18, 2024 – The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (“WBASNY”) is proud to announce that its nominee and member, the Hon. Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix (Ret.) is the recipient of the New York State Bar Association’s (“NYSBA”) 2024 Ruth G. Schapiro Memorial Award. WBASNY extends heartfelt congratulations to Justice Hinds-Radix, a past President of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association (“BWBA”), a chapter of WBASNY. The Ruth G. Schapiro Memorial Award honors a member of NYSBA who has made a noteworthy contribution to address the concerns of women. Justice Hinds-Radix, who is a true champion for women, is a deserving recipient.

Justice Hinds-Radix is the first Caribbean-born woman of color and the second woman overall to serve as New York City’s Corporation Counsel, where she oversaw the wide-ranging operations of the New York City Law Department. As the City’s chief legal officer, she led the department, primarily responsible for providing legal representation to the City, mayor, other elected officials, and the City’s agencies in civil litigation.

Justice Hinds-Radix’s distinguished career notably includes serving as an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Second Judicial Department from 2012-2022. In 2020, she was designated a member of the New York State Constitutional Bench. Justice Hinds-Radix also served as the Administrative Judge for civil matters for the Second Judicial District, was elected (and re-elected) Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, and served as a Judge in New York City’s Civil and Criminal Courts.

Throughout her career, Justice Hinds-Radix has dedicated herself to fostering leadership development of leadership skills, particularly for women. She has created opportunities for women to build confidence in their abilities, and many of those who have benefited from her mentorship have become Presidents of the BWBA. She works tirelessly to ensure that women are heard and supported, fostering an atmosphere of trust and encouragement that enables women to succeed. Additionally, Justice Hinds-Radix has advocated for inclusive workplaces she controlled or worked in that value women, and has encouraged women to seek advancement and promotion. She has continually provided women with the necessary tools, support, and encouragement needed to further their careers.

Justice Hinds-Radix is highly respected among her colleagues in the legal profession, the judiciary, her community, and all branches of government. She embodies the spirit of the late Ruth G. Schapiro through her commitment to uplifting and supporting women lawyers. As a respected public servant leader, she is deeply committed to advancing the status of women in the legal profession, mentoring a legion of women attorneys, including WBASNY President Marea L. Wachsman.

In commenting on this award, WBASNY President Marea L. Wachsman noted, “Justice Hinds-Radix, so deserving for this honor, is one of many recipients that WBASNY has nominated. WBASNY is ideally positioned to nominate exceptional candidates who have made significant strides in addressing critical issues facing women.” Some of the Past WBASNY nominee recipients of the Ruth G. Schapiro Memorial Award include Hon. Edwina G. Richardson (2023); Hon. Elizabeth A. Wolford (2022); Hon. Leslie E. Stein (2021); Hon. Rosalyn Richter (2019); Deborah Scalise, Esq. (2018); and Hon. Joan Kohout (2016).

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The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (“WBASNY”) is the professional membership organization of choice for the nearly 4,000 attorneys throughout New York State and the country’s largest statewide women’s bar association. For more than four decades, WBASNY has been a singularly important resource for women lawyers, providing professional networking, continuing legal education programming, leadership training, and advocacy for the rights of women, children, and families. Through involvement with WBASNY’s 20 regional chapters and its 40-plus substantive law committees, WBASNY’s members collaborate with one another on a variety of issues and perform public and community service in furtherance of its mission to promote the advancement of the status of women in society and women in the legal profession; to promote the fair and equal administration of justice; and to act as a unified voice for its members concerning issues of statewide, national and international significance to women generally and women attorneys in particular. WBASNY holds United Nations NGO status with the U.N.’s Department of Public Information and Special Consultative status in association with the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). WBASNY is also a founding member of the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations.