In 2019, Presiding Justice Elizabeth A. Garry received the inaugural Albany Law School Humanitarian Achievement Award at the school's annual Grand Honors Awards. This year, at 11:30 a.m. on November 17, Justice Garry will have her portrait unveiled and hung in the Chenango County Courthouse. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH — The Sixth Judicial District will hold a special court session with the NY State Appellate Division at 10 a.m. in the Chenango County Courthouse, on November 17, to recognize the legal career of the Honorable Elizabeth Garry, Presiding Justice for the State of New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department.

As a tradition a portrait will be-unveiled and placed in the Chenango County Courthouse along the previously honored judges and justices from the Chenango County area.

The event is open for the public and all are welcome to attend.

Garry, who is from New Berlin, served as the New Berlin Town Justice for five years from 2001 to 2006 before rising to some of the highest levels of the New York justice system and is presiding NY Supreme Court Justice for the Appellate Division, third department.

According to her office, Garry was appointed as the 16th Presiding Justice of the Third Department on January 1, 2018. She was appointed to the Third Department effective March 19, 2009. She was first elected to serve as Supreme Court Justice for the Sixth Judicial District in 2006, and was reelected in 2020.

“Justice Garry is very inspiring to me as she was hand picked by our governor to go higher, and is the highest justice in our area; plus she will be the first female portrait on our walls,” said President of the Chenango County Bar Association Laura A. Parker.

Garry was a member of the Albany Law School National Alumni Association and received the inaugural Albany Law School Humanitarian Achievement Award at the school's annual Grand Honors Awards as part of Reunion 2019.

Law school officials said the Humanitarian Achievement Award, created in 2019, recognizes the extraordinary humanitarian contributions of an individual in the community who dedicate their time and legal expertise to improve the quality of life and fight indifference, intolerance, and/or injustice through providing pro bono services, engaging in activism, supporting legal education, improving the delivery of legal services, and beyond.

She is a member and past Co-Chair of the Richard C. Failla LGBTQ Commission of the New York Courts and has served on various boards and professional associations.

Garry also received the Kate Stoneman Award in 2012 and was recognized for her outstanding contributions, ensuring equity and fairness in the legal profession for women of all races, ages, and religions.

She graduated from Alfred University in 1984 and Albany Law School in 1990,with honors. Following graduation, Justice Garry served as Confidential Law Clerk to the Honorable Irad S. Ingraham, Justice of the Supreme Court from 1990-1994.