Bill Text: NY J02720 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulating Michele E. Lisby-Smith upon the occasion of her retirement after 43 years of dedicated service to the New York State Unified Court System

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-05-24 - ADOPTED [J02720 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J02720-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 2720

BY: Senator COMRIE

        CONGRATULATING  Michele  E.  Lisby-Smith  upon the
        occasion  of  her  retirement  after  43  years   of
        dedicated  service  to  the  New  York State Unified
        Court System

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to  recognize  and
honor  those  distinguished citizens of this great Empire State who have
devoted themselves to faithfully serving the  best  interests  of  their
community and the needs of its residents; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern  and  in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
congratulate  Michele E. Lisby-Smith upon the occasion of her retirement
after 43 years of dedicated service to the New York State Unified  Court
System on Friday, June 3, 2022; and

  WHEREAS,   Michele   E.  Lisby-Smith  began  her  illustrious  Court
Reporting career with the New York State Unified Court System  in  1979,
when  she  began  working  as a per diem Court Reporter in Manhattan and
Queens Criminal and Family Courts; and

  WHEREAS, She went on to work as a Grand Jury Reporter in the  Queens
District Attorney's office under Queens District Attorney John Santucci,
and  has  served  in a variety of professional capacities including as a
Hearing Reporter for the Workers Compensation Board in Manhattan; and

  WHEREAS, Michele E. Lisby-Smith  received  an  Associate  degree  in
Court  and Conference Reporting from Berkeley College in 1979; dedicated
to furthering her education, she earned a  Bachelor  of  Science  degree
from  Adelphi  University in Garden City, New York, graduating cum laude
in 1998 with a concentration in Management and Communications; and

  WHEREAS,  Furthermore,  this  impressive  woman  holds  a  Paralegal
Certificate from Adelphi University; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1983,  Michele E. Lisby-Smith became a permanent Court
Reporter in Brooklyn Criminal Court and  was  subsequently  promoted  to
Senior  Court Reporter in Queens Supreme Court assigned to the Civil and
Criminal Terms in 1987; and

  WHEREAS, Today, Michele E. Lisby-Smith currently serves as Principal
Court Reporter, the esteemed position from which  she  will  retire;  in
this   capacity,  she  has  supervised  approximately  35  Senior  Court
Reporters for 20 years, all while giving  tirelessly  of  her  time  and
energies as a mentor to student Court Reporters; and

  WHEREAS, Throughout her distinguished career, Michele E. Lisby-Smith
has  managed  several  high-profile  trials,  including the Howard Beach
Trial, the Police Officer Edward Byrne Trial, the Sean  Bell  Trial  and
the Wendy's Trial; and

  WHEREAS,  Michele  E.  Lisby-Smith's  love  of the law and the legal
process was fostered in her  childhood  years  as  she  accompanied  her

father  Maurice,  who was a Paralegal for Cosmopolitan Mutual Insurance,
to court; her familial skills and tremendous wisdom were gifts from  her
mother, Mildred, and she credits God and her loving parents as the solid
rock which enables her to live a purposeful and giving life; and

  WHEREAS, With a steadfast and unwavering commitment to the Southeast
Queens  Community,  Michele  E.  Lisby-Smith  is  extremely proud of her
long-standing membership with the Greater Allen Cathedral of  New  York,
where she was appointed to serve on Stewardess Board No. 3 and currently
serves as Vice President; she is also a member of the Lawyer's Guild and
has been a member of Ladies Usher Board No. 2; and

  WHEREAS, In addition, she has participated with the Women's Ministry
Retreat/Usher  Committee,  served  as  mentor  with  the  Girls Rites of
Passage  Program,  and  participated  with  the  Building   Fund-Raising
Committee; and

  WHEREAS,   A   resident  of  Addisleigh  Park,  Queens,  Michele  E.
Lisby-Smith is an active member and past Officer of The  Greater  Queens
Chapter  of  the Links, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Theta
Iota Omega Chapter; and

  WHEREAS, For more than four decades, Michele E. Lisby-Smith rendered
faithful, conscientious and valuable  service  to  the  New  York  State
Unified  Court  System,  earning the admiration, esteem and affection of
her colleagues; and

  WHEREAS, With her throughout have been  her  husband  of  35  years,
Malcolm  A.  Smith,  and  their  three  children,  Tracey Denise, Julian
Malcolm and Amanda Michele, as well as one grandson, Nyell  Julian,  all
of whom feel privileged to be a part of her life and rejoice in her many
achievements; and

  WHEREAS,  Rare  indeed  is  the  occurrence  of such a compassionate
blending of strength, leadership,  intellect,  and  commitment  as  that
demonstrated  by Michele E. Lisby-Smith over a lifetime of sacrifice and
dedication to others; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
congratulate Michele E. Lisby-Smith upon the occasion of her retirement,
and to wish her continued success in all her future endeavors; and be it
further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Michele E. Lisby-Smith.