The Hunter College Pre-Law Advisory Board honored Judge Ruth Pickholz ’71 for outstanding service at its alumni attorney networking event on September 17.
Judge Pickholz — acting justice for the New York County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, and a founding member of the Board — has welcomed Hunter students into her courtroom as interns for two decades.
The event underscored Hunter’s impact as an engine of social mobility for generations of students who are the first in their family to attend college, and as a training ground for diverse talent. It celebrated the decorated careers of its alumni in the New York City legal community and their profound commitment to mentoring the next generation of aspiring attorneys.
The award to Judge Pickholz was presented by Nishat “Bella” Tabassum, Esq. ’15 – currently the Assistant Commissioner of Policy, Legal & Compliance at the New York City Administration for Children's Services – and one of Judge Pickholz’s former college interns. Tabassum is also one of five new members of the Pre-Law Advisory Board.
Tabassum praised Judge Pickholz for her “perseverance, excellence, and deep commitment to service,” as well as the example she set for students.
Tabassum emphasized, however, that Judge Pickholz’s “impact goes far beyond her distinguished career in the courtroom. She has been a tireless mentor, generous with her time, her wisdom, and her encouragement.” Tabassum summed up the judge’s career as the “very definition of leadership, lifting others as she climbs…and remind[ing] us that no matter where we begin, we can aspire to the highest levels of the [legal] profession.”
Accepting the award, Judge Pickholz expressed her strong affection for her alma mater, calling it her home, and also for the students she has mentored.
Speaking directly to her many former interns (now attorneys and law students) in the audience, Judge Pickholz asked them to stand, applauded them, and offered generous praise. “You inspire me. It has been a privilege to have you walk into my courtroom… I am so proud to have been part of your journey, and I hope that I’ve opened some doors for you. But I only opened the doors. Each of you has entered the door on your own… and you’ve made it your own. And I am very proud of you.”
Another highlight of the evening was a moving address by Judge Edit Shkreli ’06, recently elected to the bench for the 1st Municipal Court District of the New York City Civil Court in Bronx County. Judge Shkreli is the first female Albanian-American judge in the United States.
Judge Shkreli recounted how she and her family fled civil unrest in Albania, and told of the many sacrifices her parents made to enable her to walk the halls of Hunter College.
Judge Shkreli also shared her musings as a student. She explained that she would seek out the quiet of the seventh-floor skybridge, where she would look out over Midtown, observe the city's activity and rhythm, and ponder her future. “The young Edit who would sit on that bridge, who had immigrated to the United States only several years prior, never imagined that she would become a judge.”
Judge Shkreli’s story of sacrifice, perseverance, and gratitude for her Hunter education resonated with her fellow Hunter alumni in the room.
Also during the evening, Pre-Law Program Director Elise Jaffe expressed appreciation to the Pre-Law Advisory Board for their contributions. She acknowledged the decade-long leadership of its Chair, Carol Crossdale, Esq. ’92, founder and CEO of Crossdale Search. Jaffe also noted the addition of a new Co-Chair, Amal El Bakhar, Esq. ’11, partner at Kirkland & Ellis, and other new members.
“Tonight marks the beginning of the next chapter of our Pre-Law Advisory Board,” Jaffe said, lauding the group’s renewed energy and its ongoing commitment to creating pathways to legal careers for the next generation of Hunter students.
