Uniondale, NY – October 3, 2025 – Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C. was honored to host The New York Bar Foundation’s Honoree Reception on Tuesday, July 29 at our Uniondale office, as part of the Foundation’s 75th Anniversary Leadership Laureate Series. The event brought together esteemed members of the legal community from across New York State to celebrate the presentation of the Force for Justice Award to First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George and U.S. Magistrate Judge James M. Wicks.
RMF partner and New York Bar Foundation Board Member Ross Kartez delivered the opening remarks, followed by Hon. Elizabeth H. Emerson (Ret.), Of Counsel at RMF, who brought her extensive judicial experience to the occasion. Justice Emerson served as a New York State Supreme Court Justice for 28 years and continues to be a respected leader in the legal community.
“It was an honor to welcome the legal community to our firm in celebration of two extraordinary judges whose careers reflect the very best of our profession. Judge St. George and Judge Wicks exemplify the integrity, leadership, and commitment to justice that the Foundation strives to recognize and support,” said Ross Kartez, Partner at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C. and Board Member, The New York Bar Foundation.
The Force for Justice Award, presented by The New York Bar Foundation, honors individuals who exemplify an unwavering dedication to justice and the advancement of the legal profession. Judges St. George and Wicks were recognized for their extraordinary leadership, integrity, and long-standing commitment to improving access to justice for all New Yorkers.
“Judge St. George has strengthened New York’s judiciary through innovation, strategic leadership, and an unwavering commitment to fairness,” said Justice Cheryl Chambers, President of the Foundation. “He brings a steady hand to court administration, focused on efficiency without compromising justice, making a meaningful impact across the state.”
Appointed in 2023 as First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge, Judge St. George now holds the second-highest-ranking administrative position in the New York State Judiciary. His nearly four-decade career has included leadership across all levels of New York’s trial courts and specialized parts, including Domestic Violence and Youth Courts. A Hofstra Law graduate, Judge St. George previously served as District Administrative Judge for Nassau County and Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Courts Outside New York City.
Justice Chambers also highlighted Judge Wicks’ commitment to professionalism and ethical leadership, noting that he is a Fellow of the Foundation, an honor bestowed on distinguished leaders in the legal field.
“Judge Wicks has shown a lasting commitment to integrity, professionalism, and service,” she said. “His leadership within the bar reflects his deep commitment to strengthening the justice system and the legal profession.”
Judge James M. Wicks, appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in 2021, previously spent more than 25 years at Farrell Fritz, P.C., where he served as partner, general counsel, and management committee member. He has held numerous leadership roles in bar associations and advisory committees and teaches at St. John’s University School of Law.
The reception also featured remarks by Elizabeth Eckhardt, Director of the Nassau County Bar Association Lawyers Assistance Program, who spoke about the Foundation’s vital grant-making initiatives and their impact on nonprofit legal services providers across the state.
Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C. is proud to support the Foundation’s mission of expanding access to civil legal services, fostering legal education, and honoring those who embody the values of justice, integrity, and public service.
About Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.
For over 50 years, Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C., headquartered in Uniondale, has built a reputation as one of the region’s leading providers of innovative legal services. Its attorneys are practical, experienced advocates who measure their success by their clients’ success. Cornerstone groups in all major practice areas of the law are represented at the firm, including corporate and securities, corporate restructuring & bankruptcy, commercial lending, commercial litigation, intellectual property, health care, real estate, employment, not-for-profit, cybersecurity and data privacy, energy, and trusts and estates. Clients include large and mid-sized corporations, privately held businesses, institutions and individuals.
About the New York Bar Foundation
The New York Bar Foundation is a nonprofit philanthropic organization that receives charitable contributions and provides grants to financially support law-related programs of legal services organizations, nonprofits, bar associations, and other organizations throughout New York State. For more information regarding The New York Bar Foundation, visit www.tnybf.org
###