By Hon. Frederick J. Scullin, Jr., Senior United States District Judge
Judge Scullin delivered these remarks at the FCBA’s annual dinner, held December 11, 2025, in Syracuse.
Although we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Federal Court Bar Association of the Northern District of New York a few years ago, what we in fact celebrated was the incorporation of the Association. The work to form this organization actually began a couple of years earlier.
This year the board agreed that I give some historical context to our beginning.
Those of you who were around in the late 1980s-1990’s will remember how the jurisdiction of the federal courts was greatly expanded with respect to both civil and criminal matters.
Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. delivers remarks at the FCBA’s annual dinner on December 11, 2025.
During those years, Congress enacted numerous civil statutes that broadened the reach of the 14th Amendment, such as those dealing with civil rights and discrimination, for example Title VII, Title IX and the ADA.
During that period of time, Congress also enacted numerous federal criminal statutes addressing narcotics trafficking, racketeering and public corruption. This resulted in a substantial increase in caseload.
To deal with this substantial increase in caseload, federal courts were pressed to update our procedures – and rules.
Some of you may also remember that back in those days each judge had his or her own rules and requirements regarding matters that were brought before them – and if an attorney had a case being filed in federal court, they would have to be familiar with each judge’s individual practice before appearing before that particular judge … that could be challenging.
In 2000, when I became Chief Judge, I set about trying to develop a more uniform, workable approach to processing cases for this district, one that all the judges in the district could agree upon.
To do so in a meaningful and effective manner, it was apparent and necessary that we would have to have input from the practitioners (attorneys who practiced in our district).
To get that input, we needed an organization where practicing attorneys could discuss and propose ideas with the Court, relevant to the rules and practice, that that the Court could agree upon – and adopt.
With the assistance of our Clerk of Court Larry Baerman, and the Chief Deputy Clerk John Domurad, we set about identifying the more prominent, respected practitioners in our district.
As the Chief Judge, I then sent a letter to each of them as well as to the managing partners of the larger firms, in the district, requesting them to join me in our jury assembly room in Syracuse to discuss the formation of a Federal Bar Association for our district. The response was overwhelming – those were the days when people returned my phone calls.
At that gathering, there was full concurrence with the proposal. It was decided to form a working group of about 15 attorneys to begin work on the formation of such an organization.
Some of these attorneys are present today. From Syracuse: Doreen Simmons (Hancock and Estabrook), Judge George Lowe (Bond, Schoeneck and King), Jim McGowan (Menter law firm), Don Oliver (Blitman and King), Peter Carmen (Mackenzie Hughes), John Langan (Barclay Damon), Jim McGowan, Dick Engel (deceased). From Albany: Mike Murphy, Don Kinsella and Bill Dreyer. From Utica: Diane Davis and Bart Gorman. From Binghamton: Alan Pope and from Watertown: Mike Shell (now deceased). “The founding Fathers and Mothers.” Speaking to Don Oliver recently, he referred to that group as The Grayest Generation.
Doreen Simmons was unanimously chosen, by the working group, to be the chairperson.
Doreen Simmons holds the Doreen A. Simmons Founder’s Award for lifetime achievement, joined by Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. and FCBA President Brian Butler.
The working group’s first task was to determine whether there was an existing Bar Association that we could attach to, with our own chapter, or whether we had to create our own Association.
After thoroughly researching the possibilities and considering our unique situation – for example, two thirds of the state, 32 counties, four distinct metropolitan areas – it was decided that, in order to properly address the needs of our district, it would be necessary to create our own Bar Association.
The next step was to decide how to proceed to address the various areas of concern facing our district.
Following much discussion between the courts and the working group, it was determined that we would need to create a number of committees to address such areas as federal rules and procedures, courtroom technology, electronic filing, criminal law issues, pro se assistance, pro bono assignments, CLE programs, and membership.
Incorporating this organization, having it certified for CLE purposes, and creating and staffing the various committees, took a great deal of time and effort by the working group and especially by one person – our chairperson, Doreen Simmons
Finally, approximately 18 months later, we officially became the Federal Court Bar Association for the Northern District of New York. Doreen Simmons was again unanimously selected, by the board, to be our first president.
It is not an exaggeration to state that without Doreen’s leadership, perseverance, dedication and hard work those first few years – this association would have never survived!
And, as most of you know, she continues in her dedication to this organization, helping to promote and support our programs, participating in our CLE presentations, our partnership with Fort Drum, and overall acting as our Ambassador at Large throughout the state.
Her contributions to this association for 20+ years are too numerous to mention.
Now, in recognition of all that she has done and continues to do, the Trustees have unanimously agreed to confer on her the FCBA Lifetime Service Award.
Photos by Charles Wainwright