WBASNY Virtual Convention 2021 Journal

Joan L. Ellenbogen Founder’s Award

Hon. Jacqueline Silbermann

Justice Jacqueline Winter Silbermann graduated Cum Laude from Bryn Mawr College in 1959. She went on to become a high school teacher licensed in the Social Sciences but after teaching algebra and geometry by designation. In 1972, Justice Silbermann graduated Cum Laude from Fordham University School of Law. Although she was asked to join the Law Review, she declined the invitation so that she could spend more time with her two children, Jeffrey and Jane.

Upon graduation from law school, Justice Jacqueline W. Silbermann worked as an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, P.C. and subsequently became a law secretary to Civil Court Judge Irving Smith and thereafter, Supreme Court Justices, Joseph R. Marro and Jacob Grumet. Justice Jacqueline W. Silbermann was elected to the Civil Court in November, 1983, where she sat from January, 1984 through December, 1985. In January, 1986, she was designated as an Acting Supreme Court Justice. A year later, Justice Silbermann was appointed Supervising Judge of the Civil Court, New York County and was assigned as an Acting Supreme Court Justice to an Individual Assignment Part handling primarily matrimonial actions. In March of 1989, Justice Silbermann was appointed the Administrative Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York (the first woman to hold that position). In November of 1990, Justice Silbermann was elected a Supreme Court Justice in New York County. Justice Silbermann held the position of Administrative Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York until January, 1997 at which time she became the Administrative Judge for Matrimonial Matters, a statewide position. In March of 2001, Justice Silbermann was also appointed the Administrative Judge of the Supreme Court, Civil Term in New York County. On January 1, 2007 Justice Silbermann was designated Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Matrimonial Matters. Justice Silbermann is an active member of many bar associations, including The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, The New York Women’s Bar Association, The Metropolitan Women’s Bar Association, New York County Lawyers Association and the New York State Bar Association. She has received numerous awards including the Harlan Fiske Stone Memorial Award, Benjamin N. Cardozo Award, Louis Capozzoli Gavel Award, New York Women’s Bar President’s Award, and the Doris Hoffman Memorial Award from the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York.

Justice Silbermann’s most important job is grandmother to her grandchildren, Rachel, Jesse and Justin.