[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 30, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





          VALERIE BRATHWAITE: JUSTICE, MOTHER, WIFE, ADVOCATE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GREGORY W. MEEKS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 30, 2019

  Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, The Honorable Valerie Brathwaite Nelson, a 
justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Second 
Department, which is the intermediate Appellate Court in New York 
State, was appointed in February 2016 by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, 
making history as the first African-American female from the County of 
Queens to be elevated to Associate Justice of the Appellate Division.
  Justice Brathwaite Nelson was educated in the New York City Public 
School System, is a graduate of Syracuse University with a Bachelor of 
Arts degree in Political Science and received her Juris Doctor degree 
from the George Washington School of Law. Having married the greatest 
joy of her life Nicholas J. Nelson, adding to that union three children 
whom she considers her most important and greatest achievement.
  Justice Brathwaite Nelson began her distinguished career as a Law 
Clerk with U.S. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, as well as serving in a 
variety of public and private legal capacities prior to establishing 
her private practice of law. Her approach to leadership is exemplified 
by her firm belief in the concept of teamwork and empowerment. Her 
focus has been to lead by example, while re-energizing and transforming 
the culture of the judicial institutions she has led. Credited with 
making tangible changes in the lives of women of color and their 
families both domestically and abroad through meaningful partnership, 
her commitment to the Judicial System and her respect for the value of 
our law resulted in her receiving numerous honors and recognition; 
Therefore, be it
  That I, Gregory W. Meeks, Member of the 116th Congress, representing 
the Fifth Congressional District of New York, congratulate Valerie 
Brathwaite Nelson for her dedicated service to quality legal practice. 
On behalf of the 723,000 residents of the Fifth Congressional District, 
I thank Valerie Brathwaite Nelson for her outstanding and ongoing 
commitment to making positive contributions to our society's wellbeing.

                          ____________________