LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending The Honorable Joseph G. Golia upon the
occasion of his designation as the recipient of the Columbian Lawyers
Association - Queens County's Judge of the Year Award

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
applaud distinguished citizens of the State of New York who devote their
life's work to public service, contributing substantially to the judi-
cial process, preserving the rights and protecting the welfare of the
ciitzens they serve; and
WHEREAS, The Columbian Lawyers Association - Queens County will honor
The Honorable Joseph G. Golia at its Annual Judiciary Night, to be held
at Leonard's of Great Neck on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, expressing just
praise and grateful tribute in extending to him its distinguished Judge
of the Year Award; and
WHEREAS, After completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial
Management from New York University in 1959 and a career as an indus-
trial engineer and consultant for various corporations, Justice Golia
decided to go to law school; he graduated from New York Law School in
1965 with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree and began his legal career
as a member of the Legal Staff of the Hartford Insurance Group before
serving as an Assistant District Attorney in Queens County; and
WHEREAS, Joseph G. Golia was admitted to practice before the New York
State bar in 1966; the United States District Court, Southern and East-
ern Districts of New York in 1975; the United States Supreme Court in
1979; and the District of Columbia in 1981; and
WHEREAS, Justice Golia was appointed by then Chief Administrative
Judge Jonathan Lippman as an Associate Justice, Appellate Term, 2nd
Department, in 2001; he has also been a Supreme Court Justice in Queens
since 1987; and
WHEREAS, Justice Golia also served previously as a Judge in the Civil
Court of the City of New York from 1982 to 1986 and as the Principal Law
Clerk for The Honorable Bernard Dubin, New York State Supreme Court,
11th Judicial District, from 1973 to 1982; and
WHEREAS, Justice Golia has, in addition, been actively involved in his
profession and in his community; he has served as President of the
Supreme Court Justices' Association of the of the City of New York and
of the Association of Justices of the Supreme Court, State of New York
and continues to serve as President of the Queens County Supreme Court
Justices' Association, an office he has held since 1999; and
WHEREAS, Boy Scouts of America, Community Planning Board 7, Daytop
Village, CYO Basketball and the St. John's University Council, Bishop's
Lay Committee for Charities, USO Board of Directors, Queens County Youth
Development Corporation, Queensboro Hill Athletic League and the Ameri-
can Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association are among the
organizations, committees and institutions which have benefited from his
involvement and wisdom; and
WHEREAS, Justice Golia, a Knight of Malta, has been honored many
times; the numerous awards and honors he has received include a Presi-
dential Citation, United States Selective Service Medal, Federation of
Italian-American Organizations Man of the Year Award, Catholic Youth
Organization Man of the Year Award, Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Boy
Scouts of America Certificate of Appreciation and the Columbian Lawyers
Association - 1st Department's 2005 Charles A. Rapallo Award and Italian
Charities of America's 2007 Christopher Columbus Award; and
WHEREAS, Over a long and prestigious career, Justice Golia has demon-
strated strength of purpose and commitment to the maintenance of the

integrity and efficiency of the judicial process serving the citizens of
the City and State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend The Honorable Joseph G. Golia upon the occasion of his desig-
nation as the recipient of the Columbian Lawyers Association - Queens
County's Judge of the Year Award on April 28, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Joseph G. Golia.