New York Chief Judge Hon. Jonathan Lippman appointed Hon. Rose Sconiers as chair of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission on Minorities. She succeeds Hon. Lewis Douglass, a retired state-court judge from Brooklyn who has stepped down after 17 years as commission chair.

Sconiers was admitted to the New York state bar in 1974 and to the U.S. Federal District Court in 1975. She is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.

She is a graduate of the University at Buffalo Law School and has served in both the public and private sectors.

Sconiers be-gan her legal career at the Niagara County Legal Aid Society and later served as executive attorney with the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo; assistant corporation counsel for the City of Buffalo; and managing partner of the law firm Sconiers and Sconiers.

She was elected as a Buffalo City Court judge in 1988 and became a New York State Supreme Court judge in 1994.

Sconiers is a former president of the Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, past presiding member of the Judicial Council of the New York State Bar Association and a former member of the Commission on Fiduciary Appointments.

3 from Buffalo get Pro Bono Awards
Buffalo lawyers Barbara Ridall and Jennifer Stergion and University at Buffalo Law School student Siana McLean were among 19 honorees who received 2009 President's Pro Bono Service Awards from the New York State Bar Association at its Law Day luncheon May 1.

Ridall, who practices with the law firm Bulan Chiari Horwitz & Ilecki LLP,  received the Pro Bono Award for the 8th Judicial District. She has been volunteering with the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) for 10 years, handling bankruptcy cases and often-complex Chapter 13 cases.

Stergion, a solo practitioner, received the Young Lawyer Award. Through the VLP's Attorney of the Morning Program, she served 85 clients in 2008, 83 of whom faced the loss of their home. She chairs the Bar Association of Erie County's Special Committee on Veterans & Service Members.

McLean, who received the Law Student Award, is a second-year UB Law student. During the summer of 2008, she served an internship at the Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County in Rochester, working directly with 208 clients through the organization's family law, pro se divorce and debt clinics.

Erie County attorney joins statewide board
Erie County Attorney Cheryl Green has been appointed to the board of directors of the County Attorney Association of the State of New York.

The CAASNY works to promote more efficient county and city government. Board members analyze legislation and regulations and present legal opinions to legislators.

Green said she sees her appointment to a two-year term on the board as a tribute to recent efforts to increase efficiency in Erie County government.

Firm now known as Thomas & Solomon
Dolan Thomas & Solomon LLP, a law firm with offices in Buffalo and Rochester, has changed its name to Thomas & Solomon LLP.

The firm, which focuses on labor and employment law, said in a release that the name change results from the retirement of founding partner Lonny Dolin.

Patricia Morgan named AD4 clerk
Patricia Morgan was appointed clerk of court for the Appellate Division, 4th Department, of state Supreme Court. She now holds the highest-ranking non-judicial position within the Appellate Dovision.

Morgan is responsible for managing the operations of the court; supervising non-judicial personnel; developing recommendations concerning policy, programs and procedures; and representing the Appellate Division before legislative committees, bar associations and other agencies.

She has served as deputy clerk of the 4th Department since 1990. Morgan succeeds JoAnn Wahl, who retired in April after more than six years as clerk.

Attorney elected to Buffalo School Board
John Licata, an associate with HoganWillig, was elected to the Buffalo School Board. He was the top vote-getter among candidates for one of three at-large seats on the board.

A lifelong resident of Buffalo, Licata earned undergraduate and law degrees at the University at Buffalo.

He has been with HoganWillig since 1996 and focuses his practice on personal-injury and malpractice work.

M&T lawyer to head NY Army National Guard
Robert Williams, a liutenant colonel in the New York Army National Guard, was chosen to lead the 2nd Squadron 101st Calvary, headquartered at the Masten Avenue Armory in Buffalo.

Williams, who has been a member of the National Guard since 1986, is an attorney with M&T Bank.

He will take over his new post in the fall. The squadron collects intelligence for the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

- Compiled by Matt Chandler