Genesee County Bar Association

Genesee County lawyers gathered for a photo shoot on the Old Courthouse steps Thursday. This was to conclude the ceremony celebrating the Genesee County Bar Association's 100th Anniversary.

In attendance were Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer (who joined the lawyers in the photo), Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, Genesee County Legislature Chairperson Mary Pat Hancock and professionals from the justice system at the state level.

Hawley and Ranzenhofer presented the proclamation to GCBA President Durin B. Rogers (middle).

Here are some closer views of the lawyers who attended:

For more information on GCBA, visit their Web site: www.gcbany.com.

The steps of the Old County Courthouse will be the site of gathering for local lawyers, judges and legal professionals, along with several dignitaries, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Genesee County Bar Association (GCBA) on Thursday.

Thursday's ceremony will last from 4 to 6 p.m. at 7 Main St. in Batavia.

GCBA President Durin Rogers said it is free and open to the public, and that "everyone is encouraged to attend" (a gala event at Terry Hill's will follow, but according to Rogers, and it's already sold out).

Notables scheduled to attend include:

• Hon. Eugene F. Pigott Jr. (keynote speaker), Court of Appeals justice

• Hon. Paula L. Feroleto, Eighth Judicial District administrative judge;

• David M. Schraver, president-elect of the New York State Bar Association;

• Michael Ranzenhofer, New York State senator;

• Stephen Hawley, New York State assemblyman; and

• Mary Pat Hancock, Genesee County Legislature chairperson and New York State Association of Counties president.

GCBA is a voluntary association of professionals in the justice system working together to benefit Genesee County and to improve the practice of law locally.

According to a press release, the association was founded in 1912 and quickly got to work to address "a widespread feeling of discontent with the judicial system and the manner in which justice was being administered."

"We are very proud of where we have been, and even more excited about where the GCBA will go over the next several years," Rogers said.

According to Rogers, GCBA has grown tremendously over the past several years, making new initiatives possible for both members and the community.

Some of the association's offerings include continuing legal education (CLE) seminars for members, philanthropic efforts with local agencies, and the "People's Law Series," which Rogers described as "a forum for local residents to become more knowledgeable on particular areas of law."

"GCBA intends to continue its present offerings and is always looking for new ways to benefit its members and the public," he said. "My time is limited; however, having spoken with the president-elect of the association, Mary Kay Yanik, esquire, I know that she intends to focus on several civic functions that give back to the community during her presidency."

Here are some past GCBA members (photos courtesy of Lisa Scott, of the Batavia law firm Bonarigo & McCutcheon):

Barber B. Conable Jr. would go on to become a New York State senator and congressman, serve as a confidante to three U.S. presidents (Nixon, Reagan and Bush), and be appointed president of the World Bank, a position he held for five years.

Honorable Robert E. Noonan Sr. who served on the Supreme Court in the Eighth Judicial District from 1949 until the early 1960s. Afterwards, he was permanently appointed (after two temporary appointments) by Nelson Rockefeller, then-governor of New York State, to the Fourth Department of the Appellate Division.

Alice Day Gardner was the first woman to practice law in Genesee County. She graduated from the University of Buffalo Law Department in 1901, being the fourth woman in history to do so and the only woman in her class. As a female lawyer in the early part of the 20th Century, she was a pioneer. The article about her above was published in the Batavia Daily News in 1985.

For more information on Thursday's ceremony, call Rogers at 345-1205 or visit www.gcbany.com.

Press release:

The Genesee County Bar Association, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation formed for the benefit of the legal community, announced this afternoon the launching of its first-ever Web site.

GCBA President Durin Rogers, Esq., said he thinks this type of Web site is the first of its kind in the GLOW region.

The association tinkered with the idea of developing a Web site for several years, but recently pursued the endeavor due to increased member interest. According to Rogers, the newly developed site offers its members a robust platform to access legal information including GCBA directories, associated legal Web sites, and a Members Only section.

Rogers is extremely proud of the site and noted that it also provides the community with information as well, including information about the bar association, its members, and where to go for legal help.

While the GCBA does not make direct referral to clients, the new member directory will give the community a starting point when searching for competent legal counsel.  

The site was developed by Rockhopper Technologies, Inc., a full-service technology firm headquartered in Livonia. Professional photographer Amanda Earl spent many volunteer hours taking and producing the Web site photography.

For more information on the GCBA, please contact Rogers via email at:

durin.rogers@dfa.state.ny.us

Or visit the association Web site at http://www.gcbany.com

The Genesee County Bar Association recognized four local organizations today for their commitment to improving the lives of those in need in Genesee County.

Each group received a donation from the bar association:

• CASA for Children (Court Appointed Special Advocates — providing volunteers to advocate for the needs of neglected and abused children in the county): $1,250

• Genesee County Youth Court (Provides a peer-review system for local troubled youth as an alternative to our adult justice system.): $500

• “People Realizing Potential” (A campaign of the Genesee ARC to assist local people with special needs.): $1,000

• Genesee County Child Advocacy Center (Provides services for local children in need.): $1,250

Pictured, from left, front, are: Donna Feary, Justice for Children/GLOW Foundation; Shelley Faltico, Genesee ARC; Deborah Kerr-Rosenbeck, Youth Court; Tara Pariso, CASA; Attorney Charles Graney (back left), Durin Roger, president-elect of the bar association; District Attorney Lawrence Friedman; Colleen Marvel, Coordinated Justice for Children; David Saleh, bar president; and, Thomas Burggman, CASA.

Top Photo, from left: Miller, Camp, Dibble, Harmon.

Four local cops were honored Thursday night by the Genesee County Bar Association and the Batavia Kiwanis Club for their dedication and good work during the past year.

Recognized in the annual awards ceremony at Bohn's Restaurant were:

• Officer Eric Miller, Village of Le Roy Police Department;
• Patrolman Christopher Camp, the Batavia Police Department;
• Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble, Genesee County Sherriff's Office;
• Sgt. Cory Harmon, New York State Police.

Also honored during the annual Law Day celebration was Daniel A. Rybak, who was named Attorney of the Year.

The mock trial team of Batavia High School received the Charles L. Mancuso Award. The team won the 2010 GLOW region Mock Trial Tournament.

William J. Hochul Jr., United States Attorney for the Western District of New York, served as the keynote speaker. 

The WNY native was promoted to his current post about a month ago. Previously, he served as a counter-terrorism attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office. Hochul spoke about the role that all members of the legal community -- law enforcement, prosecutors and defense attorneys -- play in helping the United States fight terrorism, especially within our borders.

"Each of us in this room – men, women, children, high school students -- have a critical role to ensure that the American legal system remains as a tool to us to fight terrorism," Hochul said.

Hochul said local law enforcement plays is the first-line of defense against domestic terrorism.

"The federal government can’t be everywhere domestic terrorists might be living," Hochul said. "Nationwide, worldwide, really, there’s only 10,000 or so FBI agents."

Without local law enforcement, he said, "we wouldn’t be able to even see the domestic terrorism threat, much less address it.”

Because maintaining the rule of law is vital to keeping our justice system working, Hochul said, defense attorneys who challenge prosecutions' theories and assertions help keep the necessary balance to the system.

"My message to you all is let’s follow the rule of law," Hochul said. "Let’s use the system we have, and where appropriate, my office, the Western New York Office of United States Attorney, stands ready to help."

Inset, Hochul. Above, members of the Batavia High mock trial team.

After the jump are pictures and information on each of the award winners: