LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Gloria Smyth-Godinger upon the occasion
of her designation as recipient of the 2014 Merit Performance Award for
Superior Work Performance in the New York County Supreme Court

WHEREAS, The quality and character of life in this Nation, and the great
State of New York, is reflective of the purposeful lives and good works
of those patriotic and civic-minded community members who dedicate their
lives and careers to the service of others; and
WHEREAS, Our local governments, our state and our nation have been
strengthened by generations of Americans who felt a sense of responsi-
bility to their community, to one another and to their families; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Gloria Smyth-
Godinger upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the 2014
Merit Performance Award for Superior Work Performance in the New York
County Supreme Court which was celebrated on Wednesday, April 30, 2014,
at the 2014 Law Day Awards held at the New York State Court of Appeals
in Albany, New York; and
WHEREAS, Thirty-five years ago, Gloria Smyth-Godinger began her illus-
trious court career in Brooklyn Civil Court, distinguishing herself as a
quick study with an eye for detail; and
WHEREAS, For the past 29 years, Gloria Smyth-Godinger has worked in
New York County Supreme Court's Civil Term, starting as a courtroom
clerk; always up to the challenge, she was typically assigned to the
court parts with the most voluminous and complex caseloads; and
WHEREAS, In May 1997, Gloria Smyth-Godinger was selected to head the
state's first Office for the Self-Represented, established to help
unrepresented litigants by offering free legal and procedural informa-
tion; she assembled a terrific team to lead this effort, making the
office a model for other help centers that have since opened across the
state; and
WHEREAS, A few years later, Gloria Smyth-Godinger was again tapped to
take on the role of clerk-in-charge of the court's Trial Support Office,
which oversees case management-related functions; she worked diligently
to promote best case management practices, and ensure adherence to time
tables for resolving cases; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to the enhancement of her profession, Gloria Smyth-
Godinger also helped organize a neutral evaluation program to promote
out-of-court settlements in personal injury and other matters, among
other innovations; and
WHEREAS, Today, Gloria Smyth-Godinger is renowned for her amazing work
stamina, and can-do attitude, as well as her institutional knowledge,
and mastery of the many automated systems introduced by the court system
in recent years; and
WHEREAS, This legendary public servant is widely regarded for her
efforts as a mentor to both the court employees and countless high
school, college, and law students who have interned at the New York
State County Supreme Court over the years; and
WHEREAS, A singular asset to all of the citizens she has served in the
State of New York, Gloria Smyth-Godinger's life and career are a
portrait of preeminence in public service and serve as a role model for
all who aspire to a career in public service; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, it is appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend those individ-
uals for the edification and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the 2014

Merit Performance Award for Superior Work Performance in the New York
County Supreme Court; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Gloria Smyth-Godinger.