Oral history interview with Beatrice Shainswit, 2001

Biographical Note

New York State Supreme Court Justice

Scope and Contents

Childhood in Williamsburg, New York during Depression; B.A., Economics, Brooklyn college, magna cum laude; L.L.M. Columbia University Law School, 1947; importance of CU Law School professors' recommendations for entrance to legal profession; member, Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services [JAMS]; Assistant Attorney General in 1950: appellate law, defense of rent control; administrator, New York City [NYC] Housing and Development Association; General Counsel, New York State; NYC Rent and Rehabilitation Administration, 1950-1965; first Assistant and General Counsel to NYC Council President Frank O'Connor, 1966-1970; thoughts on 1960s reform of New York politics; civil court judge in upper East Side Manhattan, 1971-1973; New York State Supreme Court Justice, 1973-1991; description of famous commercial court cases; sentencing issues; retirement, continued involvement in law through JAMS, Columbia University Law School Alumni Association

Subjects

• Columbia University. School of Law--Alumni and alumnae.
• Grele, Ronald J., interviewer.
• Interviews.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Shainswit, Beatrice--Interviews.
• Women judges--Interviews.

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 2001