Advancing Interdisciplinary Legal Scholarship since 1978
Judge Michael A. Corriero
The Baldy Center Distinguished Speaker Series 2012
Judge Michael A. Corriero, The Baldy Center Distinguished Speaker, 2012.
In 2012, The Baldy Center hosted Judge Michael A. Corriero in its Distinguished Speaker Series. That same year, he founded, along with the New York Foundling (one of New York's oldest and respected social service agencies run by the Sisters of Charity) the Families Rising Project, an alternative-to-incarceration program that works with young offenders and their families.
Since appearing at The Baldy Center, Judge Corriero (Ret.) serves as one of three judges on CBS Media Ventures' Emmy-nominated syndicated court program HOT BENCH, created by Judge Judy Sheindlin. The show returned for its ninth season on September 12, 2022. During the 2020-21 season, HOT BENCH was the #1 original court program in daytime television in household ratings and all major demographics.
Prior to joining HOT BENCH, Judge Corriero served as a prosecutor in the office of Manhattan District Attorney Frank Hoganas a criminal defense attorney and a judge for 28 years in the criminal courts of New York State. For 16 years, he presided over Manhattan's Youth Part, a special court he created in the Supreme Court of New York State designed to focus attention and scarce resources on young offenders prosecuted as adults pursuant to New York State's Juvenile Offender Law.
Under Judge Corriero's innovative leadership, the Youth Part became a model for mobilization and coordination of treatment and social services for children prosecuted in adult courts. He retired from the bench in 2008 to become the Executive Director of "Big Brothers Big Sisters" of New York City.
In 2010, he left "Big Brothers Big Sisters" to establish the New York Center for Juvenile Justice. The Center promoted a comprehensive model of justice for minors that treats children as children and responds to their misconduct with strategies designed to improve their chances of becoming constructive members of society. An important element of the Center's advocacy was recognized in the enactment of New York State's 2017 Raise The Age Legislation, which incorporated and institutionalized the Youth Part Model.
In 2012, The Baldy Center hosted Judge Corriero in its Distinguished Speaker Series. That same year, he founded, along with the New York Foundling (one of New York's oldest and respected social service agencies run by the Sisters of Charity), the Families Rising Project, an alternative-to-incarceration program that works with young offenders and their families.
An alumnus of St. John's University School of Law and St. John's University, Judge Corriero was a member of the Law Review and served as an associate editor. He graduated from St. John's University College with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in social science.
Judge Corriero is the author of a book titled, Judging Children as Children: A Proposal for a Juvenile Justice System, which is a blueprint for juvenile justice reform. He is regarded nationally and internationally as an expert in juvenile justice and has traveled extensively, lecturing and advising legal institutions in numerous countries, including Israel, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Kazakhstan and Peru.
Judge Corriero is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including: The New York Foundling's Lifetime Achievement Award (2015); Advocate of the Decade (2014) presented by Families on the Move of New York City, Inc.; The Eleanor Roosevelt Award (2011), presented by Citizens Committee for Children; Asian Pacific American Advocates (OCA – New York) Community Service Award (2011); Excellence in Juvenile Justice, Juvenile Detention Association of New York State (2007); Frank S. Hogan Associates Recognition Award (2007); Excellence in Children's Advocacy, presented by 100 Women Against Child Abuse (2006); The Citizens' Committee for Children's Annual Founders' Award (2004); The Howard A. Levine Award for Outstanding Work in the area of children and the law (New York State Bar Association 1999); The Livingston Hall Juvenile Justice Award (American Bar Association 1997); Outstanding Service on Behalf of Youth Award (ELEM 1996, 2007); The Conrad B. Mattox, Jr. Commonwealth Debate Winner (University of Richmond 1996); The Charles A. Rapallo Award (Colombian Lawyers Association 1994); and he participated as a Polsky Judicial Fellow at the Aspen Institute's Justice and Society Seminar (2003).
Judge Corriero served on the New York State Permanent Commission on Justice for Children at the request of the former Chief Judge of New York State, Judith Kaye. He also served on Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Committee on the Judiciary. He has previously served on the New York State Probation Commission Task Force and former New York Governor David Patterson's Task Force on Transforming Juvenile Justice.
Judge Corriero also served as Chairperson of the Committee on Juvenile Justice of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. He was Co-Chair of the American Bar Association's Juvenile Justice Committee. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Children and the Law. He served as a trustee of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City; a member of the Advisory Committee of Citizens' Committee for Children; a member of the Professional Committee of ELEM (Youth at Risk in Israel); and a board member of Transfiguration Grammar School Education Association.
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