Robert M. Kaufman Award
The Robert M. Kaufman Memorial Award is named in honor of Robert M. Kaufman, a past Chair of the Fund for Modern Courts. Bob was a dedicated and generous Board member for more than three decades. He was deeply committed to the work of Modern Courts and to a just and equitable court system. He had a wealth of experience in the public and private sectors, including the Department of Justice, the U.S. Senate staff, and over 60 years of private practice at Proskauer Rose LLP.
Bob joined Proskauer in 1961, bringing with him a broad public policy perspective that helped to change the face of health and hospital law. He was responsible for the restructuring of New York not-for-profit hospital groups and for the legislative development of the New York hospital reimbursement system.
A Holocaust survivor, Bob left his native Vienna at the age of eight on the rescue train to England known as the Kindertransport. His older sister followed, and his parents joined them. They arrived in America in December 1939. This story and many more are recounted in Kaufman’s memoir, Paying Back: A Refugee Kid’s Thank You to America, published in 2013.
Bob received a master’s degree in economics from New York University after attending Brooklyn College. He studied at Brooklyn Law School in the evening and graduated first in his class in 1957. He served in the DOJ Antitrust Division and then was recruited by U.S. Senator Jacob Javits, whom he represented on the Banking and Currency Committee and the Joint Economic Committee, among others.
Bob built a reputation as one of the City’s foremost lawyers in health law, not-for-profit organizations, and election law. He was a prominent civic leader, serving as president of the NY City Bar Association and on more than 20 nonprofit boards. He held over two dozen positions on government advisory committees, including the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, the Chief of Staff’s Special Commission on the Honor Code (West Point), and the NYC Age-Friendly Commission.
As well as a sought-after advocate and extraordinary advisor, Bob was an amateur farmer, tending to his Vermont garden for nearly four decades.
Looking back on his life’s work for a Brooklyn Law School Law Notes story, Bob said, “Everything I have done has been about paying back. I was a refugee who came to this country, and I was given a tremendous opportunity. I have to give back, and I have had a great time doing it.”
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Fern Schair Public Service Award
The Fern Schair Public Service Award is named in honor of Fern Schair. Fern served many roles for Modern Courts, including Executive Director, Board Chair and Board member, working tirelessly to improve the court system especially for the most vulnerable. Her commitment to court simplification, citizens court monitoring and language access advocacy were just a few of her priorities.
Fern began her career as a civil legal services attorney, advocating to keep people in their homes. Among her many accomplishments, she co-founded the Children’s Law Center, which created a national model for representing children involved with the child welfare system; she was for many years the Executive Secretary (now titled Executive Director) of the New York City Bar Association, responsible for its many public service accomplishments; served as chair of Legal Services NYC; was founding chair of the advisory board of the Feerick Center for Social Justice; and co-chaired New York’s Committee on Women in the Courts.
Register for the 2024 Annual Fall Awards Reception
Cyrus R. Vance Tribute
In 2003, the Fund for Modern Courts inaugurated the Cyrus R. Vance Tribute to honor Cyrus Vance’s vision, accomplishment, and integrity in government. The Cyrus R. Vance Tribute recognizes a notable public figure who exemplifies Vance’s legacy, and who has made the New York State Court system more efficient, fair and accessible to all.
John J. McCloy Award
The John J. McCloy Award is named in honor of John J. McCloy, who served as Chair of the Fund and Committee for Modern Courts from 1961-1978. Each year, the McCloy award recognized lawyers who made outstanding contributions to improving the administration of justice in New York State.
Hugh Jones Memorial Lecture
The Hugh Jones Memorial Lecture is named in honor of Judge Hugh R. Jones, a former Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals.
Samuel J. Duboff Memorial Award
The Samuel J. Duboff Award is named for the late Samuel J. Duboff, who served as Chair of Modern Courts’ Executive Committee for 19 years. The Duboff award recognizes non-lawyers who make outstanding contributions toward improving the quality of justice in New York State.