I have been engaged in the practice of private mediation for only a few months, but already feel like it is the most logical and exciting continuance of my 30-year judicial career. I was a proud employee of the court system, first as a law secretary to Supreme Court Justice Howard R. Silver and then as a judge myself. I have served in four different courts: Housing, Civil, Criminal and Supreme. By far, my most enjoyable time on the bench was mediating cases with an eye towards settlement. I believe my time as both a law secretary and as a judge was the perfect training ground for my career as a private mediator. I look at my new journey in ADR/private mediation as a natural next step in my judicial career and I’m happy to have the opportunity to work at NAM (National Arbitration and Mediation).
As a law secretary for Justice Silver during the 1990s, my fondest memories are the many cases I settled in the “STP Part,” earning the nickname “Judge Larry” from the attorneys who appeared before me. In those days, private mediation was a rarity. Today, it’s the norm. While on the bench, I handled a wide variety of cases, from those involving pro-se litigants to more complex litigation such as labor law, toxic torts, medical malpractice, premises liability, civil rights, municipal liability and motor vehicle negligence. While I tried my share of cases, I believe my biggest strength as a judge has always been my ability to bring parties together to resolve issues and settle disputes.
