A bar association is made by its membership — and Brooklyn’s was on full display Wednesday night at its annual awards ceremony. 

“Today is about appreciating all that you do for our and for the legal community,” Brooklyn Bar Association President Christina Golkin said to the organization’s members gathered at their Remsen Street headquarters on May 13. “I’m so honored and thankful and proud to work with all of you. Thank you all so much.”

Brooklyn Bar Associaton Past President Anthony Vaughn, President Christina Golkin and President-Elect Daniel Antonelli present and accept awards.Isabella Gallo

A handful of those people gave emotional remarks as they accepted awards and presented them to one another, immediately demonstrating Golkin’s sentiment about how much her members care about the legal community.

As he accepted the Lynn Terrelonge Bridge to Diversity Award, Chief Administrative Judge of the New York Court System Joseph Zayas said the award “meant the world” to him because he believes a diverse judiciary is critical to having an excellent one.

“Broad-based diversity in our courts is enormously important to me,” Zayas said. “As the Chief Administrative Judge, I have been trying to do a lot of work in this space, really making it a priority.”

Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas is presented the Lynn Terrelonge Bridge to Diversity Award by Appellate Division Second Department Associate Justice Lillian Wan, Brooklyn Bar Association President Christina Golkin, and President-Elect Daniel Antonelli.Isabella Gallo

“Excellent qualifications and extraordinary merit will never, never, ever have to be sacrificed at the altar of diversity,” he continued. “We can have the best appointments possible and also have a diverse bench and a diverse workforce. They are not mutually exclusive.”

Brooklyn Supreme Civil Court Justice Norma Jennings, the first Black LGBTQ woman to sit on that bench, was also a recipient of the Lynn Terrelonge Bridge to Diversity Award. She said she was motivated to pursue a career in public interest law because being raised by a single mother of seven in the New Jersey projects made her want to advocate for those who don’t feel they’re heard by the system. 

“I base my judicial career on trying to give back to people who don’t believe that they are being heard and that they are being dismissed by the system,” Jennings said. “We are part of that system, so we have to kind of change that image, so that people are not being dismissed.”

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Norma J, Jennings accepts the Lynn Terrelonge Bridge to Diversity Award. She is the first Black LGBTQ justice to serve on the bench.Isabella Gallo

She said she wanted to use her position within the system to help make the court more accessible by encouraging and mentoring young people with a background similar to hers.

“I’ve always had people who have said ‘No’ to me, but I’ve also had so many people who have been here to say ‘Yes’ for me to do it, and that’s what I want to be to the young people that are coming up,” Jennings said. “LGBTQ and young Black and brown people need people who look like me to say, ‘You can do it.’ And that’s what I want to do.”

Armena Gayle accepts the lynn Terrelonge Bridge to Diversity Award alongside Brooklyn Bar Association President-Elect Daniel Antonelli and President Christina Golkin.Isabella Gallo

Alongside handing out awards, Golkin also used the association’s annual meeting to tell members that changes are coming next year: the bar association will sell its building at 123 Remsen St. to focus on maintaining financial stability and increasing programming and support for members.

“We are beginning the work of defining a new vision for the Brooklyn Bar Association,” Golkin said. “Change is difficult and unpleasant, but it’s also necessary to remain relevant in our ever-changing world.”

Brooklyn Supreme Civil Administrative Judge Genine Edwards stands with Leah Richardson, to whom she presented the Nathan R. Sobel Award later that night.Isabella Gallo

“What gives me the greatest confidence in this is that the Brooklyn Bar Association has never been defined by this building and has always been defined by its members, by the lawyers who show up, who serve, who lead, who care about this profession and this borough?” Golkin continued. “This year marks the beginning of something transformational.”

Brooklyn Supreme Court Supervising Justice for Matrimonial Matters Jeffrey Sunshine, Brooklyn County Clerk Nancy Sunshine, Brooklyn Bar Association Past President Gregory Cerchione and Retired Supreme Criminal Judge Barry Kaminis stand together at the organization’s annual awards night.Isabella Gallo

All Brooklyn Bar Association 2026 Awardees:

Lynn Terrelonge Bridge to Diversity Awards: Armena D. Gayle, New York Supreme Court Justice Norma J. Jennings and Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas

Freda S. Nisnewitz Award for Pro Bono Service: M. Julieth Mendoza
M. Julieth Mendoza accepts an award from Brooklyn Supreme Civil Administrative Judge Genine Edwards, President Christina Golkin and President-Elect Daniel Antonelli.Isabella Gallo

Hon. Nathan R. Sobel Award: Leah Richardson

Avery Eli Okin Award: Brooklyn Bar Lawyer Referral Service Director Roseann Hiebert
Roseann Hiebert is presented the Avery Eli Okin Award by Brooklyn Bar Association Past President Gregory Cerchione, President Christina Golkin and President-Elect Daniel Antonelli present and accept awards.Isabella Gallo

Distinguished Service Award: Brooklyn Bar Association Past President Anthony Vaughn

Anthony Vaughn, a past president of the Brooklyn Bar Association, accepts the Distinguished Service Award.Isabella Gallo

Theodore T. Jones Jr. Scholarship Award: Emma Cohen, Brooklyn Law School Class of 2026