Hon. Tanya R. Kennedy

Hon. Tanya R. Kennedy, an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department, was  appointed to the court in July 2020. Her nineteen-year career as a jurist began in January 2006,  serving in Criminal Court, Civil Court (including Supervising Judge in New York County),  Family Court, and Supreme Court.  

Justice Kennedy’s unwavering dedication to legal education is evidenced by her former role as  an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law, where she taught a juvenile justice  seminar for ten years and returned there last fall to teach a seminar course #LawyeringUp: Skills for Success in the Legal Profession – Beyond The Books. Last summer, Justice Kennedy also  taught an “Exploring Careers in the Law” class at Columbia University, School of Professional  Studies, Pre-College Programs, for academically gifted high school students, and will return  there again to teach the same class. 

Justice Kennedy’s service extends beyond the courtroom, as demonstrated by her leadership  roles in the legal community. She is the Immediate Past Presiding Member of the Judicial  Section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), past co-chair of the Appellate  Division, First Department Wellness Committee, and member of the Board of Overseers of the  Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where she received her law degree.

She was also a former  Executive Committee member of NYSBA’s Women in Law Section, a past member of the Board  of Directors of the New York City Bar Association (City Bar), a former Chair of the City Bar’s  Special Committee to Encourage Judicial Service, a former Board member of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association (where she is a life member), and a former member of the Committee on  Pattern Jury Instructions of the Association of Supreme Court Justices of the State of New York.  

As a former President of the National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ), Justice Kennedy organized a Legislative Caucus on Capitol Hill focusing on ensuring a healthy work environment  free of sexual harassment and led NAWJ in trademarking #WETOO IN THE LEGALWORKPLACE, which NAWJ continues to use. 

She is a frequent speaker at various conferences and the recipient of several  professional achievement awards, including the 2024 Professor William Hamilton Leadership  Award from the University of Florida 11th Annual E-Discovery Conference, the 2023  Metropolitan Black Bar Association Jurist of the Year Award, the 2022 Award of Recognition  from the New York Women’s Bar Association, the 2022 Champion for Justice Award from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Center for Elder Justice; the 2021 Distinguished Alumna Award  from Penn State University; the 2021 NYSBA John E. Higgins, Esq. Diversity Trailblazer  Award; the 2020 Inspiration Award from the NY Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law; the 2018 Brooklyn Technical High School Hall of Fame Designation; the 2017 Diversity Leadership Award from Penn State Law; and the 2015 Alumni of the Year Award from Benjamin N.  Cardozo School of Law.