Honorable Judith S. Kaye was an active member of the American Bar Association for over forty years, serving as a founding member of the 1994 ABA Presidential Task Force on Domestic Violence, and then of the Commission on Domestic Violence from 1994-1998. Judge Kaye distinguished herself in private practice. Kaye joined the law firm of Olwine, Connelly, Chase, O’Donnell & Wyher in 1964. Two years later, Kaye became the firm’s first woman partner. Kaye excelled at Olwine, providing outstanding legal services while working to improve the legal profession and the administration of justice.
Judge Kaye made a lasting impression on the New York State Courts System. In 1983 with the election of Mario Cuomo as Governor of New York, Kaye, then a 44 year old private practitioner, was nominated and unanimously appointed by the State Senate as the first female judge to the New York State Court of Appeals. During her time on the court, Judge Kaye tirelessly committed herself to the work of the Court. After ten years on the Court, Judge Kaye was nominated to be the next Chief Judge. Kaye was again unanimously appointed by the Senate. During Kaye’s time as Chief Judge, she committed herself to victims of domestic and sexual violence.