(New York, NY, Friday 15, 2021) – The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) congratulates the Hon. Deborah A. Kaplan on being appointed Co-Chair of the New York State Justice Task Force. Judge Kaplan is a past president of WBASNY, and since 2018, she has served as Administrative Judge of New York County Supreme Court’s Civil Term, overseeing one of the busiest courts in the country, in addition to hearing matrimonial and other civil matters. The appointment was made by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore.
As Co-Chair of the NYS Justice Task Force, of which WBASNY is an ex-officio member, Judge Kaplan alongside Co-chair Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick, will assist Task Force Chair, the Hon. Paul G. Feinman, in carrying out the group’s critical mission to promote fairness, effectiveness and efficiency in the criminal justice system; eradicate the harms caused by wrongful convictions; further public safety; and recommend judicial and legislative reforms to advance these causes. Judge Kaplan will replace the Hon. Mark R. Dwyer, who has retired from the bench and is stepping down as the Task Force’s co-chair. Judge Dwyer will stay on as an advisory member.
In announcing the appointment, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said, “Judge Kaplan is an esteemed member of New York’s bench, widely admired for her judicial expertise, leadership and dedication to the pursuit of justice. I am pleased to welcome her as co-chair and have utmost trust in her ability to help lead the Justice Task Force as it strives to advance the cause of justice.”
WBASNY President Joy A. Thompson stated: “I have long respected Judge Kaplan for her intelligence and character. In addition to leading the statewide organization of WBASNY as its president (2000-2001), Judge Kaplan also served as a past president of my home chapter, Brooklyn. I consider her to be a role model and an extraordinary individual.”
WBASNY is proud of Judge Kaplan and celebrates her latest achievement.
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The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) is the professional membership organization of choice for more than 4,000 attorneys throughout New York State, and the largest statewide women’s bar association in the country. For four decades, WBASNY has been a singularly important resource for women lawyers, with 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 with respect to 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.