Justice Feinman grew up in a large Jewish family in Merrick, on Long Island, the third of five children. In 1981, Justice Feinman graduated from Columbia University with a degree in French literature, the start of a love affair with French culture, friends said. He handily won a contested election for Civil Court judge in 1996 and was soon serving as an acting Supreme Court justice. Justice Feinman is considered thoughtful and methodical, a judge whose decisions show empathy for the parties. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyIn court, Justice Feinman almost never belittles lawyers, even when their arguments are weak, his law clerks said.

Source: New York Times June 21, 2017 20:48 UTC