Dedication ceremony for retired Justice Green

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An Appellate Division, Fourth Department courtroom is being renamed in honor of Justice Samuel L. Green, who retired Dec. 31.

Presiding Justice Henry J. Scudder announced Wednesday that the dedication of the Hon. Samuel L. Green Courtroom will be at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at the M. Dolores Denman Courthouse, 50 East Ave.

Justice Green was the longest serving justice in the 115-year history of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, serving for 28 years and 10 months. Justice Green was the first black justice to be appointed to the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, and the first black justice outside of New York City to be elected to the Supreme Court.

During his tenure on the court, Justice Green served as acting presiding justice and was designated to serve on the New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court. He was a leader on the Fourth Department bench who was recognized and respected for his legal scholarship, integrity and compassion.

Justice Green received his law degree from the State University at Buffalo School of Law and was admitted to practice on April 3, 1968. He practiced law in Buffalo until his appointment to Buffalo City Court in 1973.

In November 1978, he was elected to Supreme Court and was designated an associate justice of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, on Feb. 25, 1983 by then-Gov. Mario Cuomo. Justice Green was recommended by the Commission on Judicial Nomination to the New York State Court of Appeals four times. He was designated by then Chief Judge Kaye to sit on the Court of Appeals in June 2002.