Fourth Dept. swears in 270 new attorneys

New attorneys are ready to start practicing.

They were welcomed Thursday by Justice Henry J. Scudder, presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, and were sworn in by Frances E. Cafarell, clerk of the court.

More than 1,000 people, mostly family members, attended the bar admission ceremony; 270 candidates were admitted to the New York State Bar.

The keynote speaker was federal Judge William M. Skretny, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, who talked about the honor of the profession. He reminded the candidates of the approaching 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Gideon v. Wainright, and used the Gideon case to illustrate how lawyers have a real opportunity to make a difference in their clients’ lives.

Andrea E. Tomaino, principal counsel for the Attorney Grievance Committee for the eight-county Seventh Judicial District, discussed the rules of professional responsibility and the importance of maintaining a good reputation.

Elizabeth Snyder Fortino, president of the Oneida County Bar Association, described the benefits of joining a bar association and encouraged the candidates to perform pro bono work.

— Photos by Vasiliy Baziuk