Judge Anthony V. Cardona, 1941 - 2011 -- What Others Have Said

(Albany Times Union staff photo by Lori Van Buren)

Here is a collection of what others have said about
Judge Cardona.


Those by New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, Acting Presiding Justice Thomas Mercure, Former Clerk of the Court Michael Novack, Senior Law Clerk Michele McKay, and the Editorial Board of the Albany Law Review are from volume 73, issue #3 (2010), of that journal. They were all written as part of a dedication to Judge Cardona, on the occasion of the inaugural special issue now entitled The Anthony V. Cardona Annual Issue of New York Appeals. Also included in this collection is the article by Paul Grondahl and Carol DeMare in today's Albany Times Union. (The photo on the left is from that article.)


As noted in the main post, Judge Anthony V. Cardona, 1941 - 2011, the common denominator in all of these is Judge Cardona's humanity, decency, kindness, warmth, and generosity, and how well he was loved--indeed cherished by all who worked with him or otherwise knew him. Here they are:

A TRIBUTE TO PRESIDING JUSTICE ANTHONY V. CARDONA: A GREAT JURIST AND DYNAMIC LEADER OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION, THIRD DEPARTMENT

By Jonathan Lippman 

It is a privilege to pay tribute in writing to the Honorable Anthony V. Cardona, presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Third Department. I commend the Albany Law Review for dedicating the inaugural issue of New York Appeals to Justice Cardona--a superb judge, dynamic leader, and dedicated public servant who richly deserves the honor. I have worked closely with Presiding Justice Cardona for more than two decades and so greatly respect and admire his abilities as a judge and judicial administrator and his deep commitment to the courts and the legal community of this state.

(Read the entire tribute at 73 Alb. L. Rev. 653 (2010), available HERE.)

A TRIBUTE TO PRESIDING JUSTICE ANTHONY V. CARDONA: THE CORE VALUES OF COURTESY AND RESPECT DISPLAYED IN JURISPRUDENCE AND COURT ADMINISTRATION

By Thomas E. Mercure

For the past sixteen years, it has been my privilege to serve on the Appellate Division, Third Department under the exemplary leadership of Presiding Justice Anthony Cardona. During that time, I have personally witnessed his tireless commitment to improving the quality of our Court's work and his compassion for the parties that appear before us. Our “PJ” is--without fail--a steady leader, warm colleague and caring friend. He is also keenly aware of the human consequences of the cases that come before our Court, displaying tremendous sensitivity, wisdom, and decency in considering the impact of our decisions.

(Read the entire tribute at 73 Alb. L. Rev. 659 (2010), available HERE.)

A TRIBUTE TO PRESIDING JUSTICE ANTHONY V. CARDONA: VISION AND RESOLVE

By Michael J. Novack

The old saying “justice is blind” is often used to describe the essential fairness and impartiality which is expected to imbue every judicial determination. However, it could also describe the lighting conditions which had existed in the courtroom of the Appellate Division, Third Department, in Albany's Empire State Plaza, since that room's construction in the early 1970s. Simply stated, the lighting in our courtroom was inadequate at best and downright dim at worst. The high-coffered ceiling, recessed light fixtures, wood-paneled walls, and dark blue carpeting combined to create an almost chapel-like environment which made squinting a popular past-time for the judges, lawyers, and citizens who attended proceedings in this otherwise impressive chamber. Over the years, attempts to correct the problem were made, but nothing seemed to work. This unfortunate situation continued until, at some point in the mid-1990s, Justice Anthony V. Cardona, a few short years after he became presiding justice, suggested--or more accurately directed--that the problem had persisted long enough and should be rectified.
(Read the entire tribute at 73 Alb. L. Rev. 665 (2010), available HERE.)

A TRIBUTE TO PRESIDING JUSTICE ANTHONY V. CARDONA: A JURIST WHO HAS ALWAYS SOUGHT TO “DO THE RIGHT THING” IN THE LAW AND IN LIFE

By Michele McKay

It is a tremendous honor to add my words to the many well-deserved tributes lauding our outstanding Presiding Justice, Anthony V. Cardona. In preparing this tribute, I let myself first be intimidated by reading other testimonials eloquently written by attorneys who have clerked for eminent jurists. Daunted, I nevertheless decided to go forward with this task in light of the unique thing I do have to share, namely, the glimpse I can give of what it has been like to be in the privileged position of working alongside Judge Cardona for almost a decade. Anyone reading this who has known the Judge--from his successful private practice, to his legendary work as a family court judge, to his distinguished service as a supreme court and appellate division justice-- could tell you that he considers family to be the most important institution of all.
(Read the entire tribute at 73 Alb. L. Rev. 669 (2010), available HERE.)

NEW YORK APPEALS: A NEW TRADITION

By Matthew J. Laroche and Peter M. McCormack

The Albany Law Review is proud to introduce its inaugural issue of New York Appeals…To commemorate this new tradition, the Albany Law Review is pleased and honored to dedicate the inaugural issue of New York Appeals to the presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Third Department--Anthony V. Cardona...

A Tribute to Presiding Justice Anthony V. Cardona

Based on his service to and support of Albany Law School and the Albany Law Review, as well as his seventeen-plus years of public service as the presiding justice of the Third Department, recognizing Justice Cardona is long overdue. It is unsurprising that upon learning that the issue is being dedicated to him, several of his colleagues and clerks jumped at the opportunity to express their admiration and respect for Justice Cardona.
(Read the entire tribute at 73 Alb. L. Rev. 645 (2010), available HERE.)

Judge's humanity yielded justice:

Jurist known for his affection for court system, people it served

By Paul Grondahl and Carol DeMare

Anthony Cardona, who rose from humble roots in the South End to presiding justice of the Appellate Division, will be celebrated for his humanity by dozens of judges who will act as honorary pallbearers at his funeral Friday and by ordinary folks who knew him as a boy who had a nice way with people while working at his father's store on Grand Street.
Following nearly two decades on the bench, Cardona died Sunday at age 70 after a yearlong battle with a rare form of intestinal cancer.
He was a beloved jurist and as many as 150 judges from across the state are expected to attend a Mass of Christian Burial for Cardona at St. Mary's Church in downtown Albany. The judges will don white gloves and pin white carnations to their lapels before making a solemn procession down the Pine Street hill to the church.
(Read the entire Albany Times Union article, dated Thursday, December 8, 201, at http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Judge-s-humanity-yielded-justice-2376058.php, or access it HERE.)