HSoftheNYCourts Podcast

In 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican candidate, won the presidential election against Democrat Samuel J. Tilden. The outcome, however, was one of the most controversial in U.S. history because Tilden won the popular vote and the result of declaring Hayes as the winner was only finalized after months of dispute, earning the accolade of “the Fraud of the Century” by Tilden’s supporters and some historians. In this podcast episode, host Hon. Helen E. Freedman is joined by Author Roy Morris, Jr., Professor Manisha Sinha, and Jerry Goldfeder, Esq., to unpack the facts and drama of the 1876 election, explore the political climate of the era, and draw thought-provoking connections to more recent national elections.

Host Eric van der Vort, Ph.D., speaks with retired judge Richard A. Dollinger about his Judicial Notice Issue 18 article, which explores two strikingly different figures from the early 20th century: a powerful GOP machine boss from Buffalo who became a federal judge and a Russian immigrant from Rochester known as the “high priestess of anarchy.” Though John R. Hazel and Emma Goldman never met, their lives intersected twice in the wake of President William McKinley’s assassination by Leon Czolgosz. Judge Dollinger unpacks their parallel stories during a pivotal era in America’s rise as a global power—an age of transformation in law, politics, and culture. Buckle up—this episode is full of unexpected twists and turns! Part of our podcast series Chatting with the Authors of Judicial Notice.

In this fast-paced episode of our podcast series Wrecking Ball, host and creator Adrian Untermyer, Esq. discusses the present and future of historic preservation advocacy in New York with Andrew Berman, whose name is now shorthand for New York’s history-saving movement after leading the venerable Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (now “Village Preservation”) for a quarter-century — thereby earning his new nickname as “The ‘Cher’ of Preservation.” Berman describes his decades at the intersection of historic preservation, the law, and the great City and State of New York, beginning with his upbringing in the Bronx, continuing with his study of architectural history in school, and broadening into the world of politics and policy in his roles with New York City Councilman and State Senator Tom Duane. Untermyer and Berman also consider the ingredients of a successful preservation “stew” balancing economic growth and affordable housing with the elements of neighborhood character that make a place worth living. Also included in this installment are case studies of St. Vincent’s Hospital, the “Weathermen House,” and university expansions, together with a whopping two quotes in our beloved final segment, “Your Daily Ada Louise.” So get your OMNY card ready as we explore Greenwich Village’s vibrant preservation advocacy scene in 2025 and beyond!

Judicial Notice Editor in Chief Hon. Helen E. Freedman sits down with podcast host Dr. Eric van der Vort for a conversation on the subject of her Issue 18 article: Samuel Jones Tilden. The two discuss Tilden’s early years, his contributions to New York’s legal community (including breaking up Boss Tweed’s ring), and, of course, Tilden’s presidential bid in the 1876 election. The 1876 election was highly contested at the time — tune in to learn why!

The Empire State Plaza's white-and-gray silhouette dominates the skyline of New York's capital city. While the futuristic, stone-and-steel complex looks like it's been there forever, the Plaza has a twisted history covering politics, intrigue, and the Rockefeller Family's one-time dominance over civic and cultural life in New York State. In this episode, former Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge Margaret Cangilos-Ruiz (NDNY, Ret.) and architectural historian Carol H. Krinsky join host Adrian Untermyer to discuss the Empire State Plaza's origin story and legacy. Plus, urbanist Gina Pollara joins us for a special extended edition of "Your Daily Ada Louise." So climb aboard Princess Beatrix's ferry as we travel up the Hudson and learn how Governor Nelson Rockefeller's embarrassment led to demolition, rebirth, and the reshaping of modern Albany.