MONTICELLO –A historical marker honoring Lawrence H. Cooke, the Monticello native who rose to become chief judge of New York’s highest court, was dedicated Tuesday, October 27, at his longtime family home on West Broadway.

The Sullivan County Historical Society and Sullivan County Bar Association organized the tribute, which brought together Cooke’s family, judges, elected officials and community leaders at the courthouse bearing his name before the marker’s unveiling at 53 West Broadway, now home to the law offices of Sobo & Sobo.

Cooke, born in Monticello on October 15, 1914, served as Thompson town supervisor, Sullivan County Judge and State Supreme Court Justice before his election to the Court of Appeals in 1974. He was appointed Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals in 1979 and served until his retirement in 1984.

During his judicial career, Judge Cooke worked to reduce case backlogs, defend press freedoms and address discrimination within the legal system. He was also a leading advocate for improving the treatment of women under the law.

Judge Cooke pushed for the elimination of laws requiring corroborating evidence in rape cases and restricting the questioning of victims about their past sexual history. In 1984, he established the New York State Task Force on Women in the Courts to investigate discrimination against women throughout the judicial system.

The task force subsequently documented widespread gender bias affecting female attorneys, litigants and court employees, helping lay the groundwork for reforms in judicial practices and professional opportunities.

In recognition of his efforts, Cooke became the only male honorary member of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York in 1982, an honor his son Edward McCormack Cooke recalled during Tuesday’s ceremony.

Third Judicial District Administrative Judge E. Danielle Jose-Decker, who served as master of ceremonies, reflected on Cooke’s remarkable career and lifelong connection to Sullivan County.

“He climbed every rung of that ladder, and he never moved away from his home,” Jose-Decker said.

Retired Appellate Division Justice Anthony T. Kane recalled meeting Cooke in the fall of 1969, shortly after beginning his legal career with Sullivan County Legal Services.

Kane was researching in the courthouse library when a large man entered the room, approached him and introduced himself as Judge Lawrence Cooke.

“I didn’t have a clue who he was,” Kane said, explaining that he soon learned Cooke was an associate justice of the Appellate Division.

Despite their difference in experience and standing, Cooke took the time to introduce himself and welcome the young attorney.

“To this day, I remember how excited and proud I was to tell [my wife], Nancy, that Judge Cooke had taken the time to learn who I was and to make me feel welcome to the community,” Kane said.

Kane concluded his recollection by quoting a saying he attributed to Maya Angelou, emphasizing that people may forget what someone said or did, but will remember how that person made them feel.

“He made me feel like a million bucks!” Kane said.

Sullivan County Historian John Conway shared a similar experience from 1990, when he spent an entire day driving Cooke throughout the county for a newspaper feature.

Conway recalled that Cooke frequently asked him to stop whenever they encountered road crews so he could speak with the workers.

“This is the lesson I learned from my father, that when you see a road crew, you have to stop,” Conway recalled Cooke telling him.

Conway said Cooke wanted to understand the concerns of everyday residents, whether they were working along a highway or serving customers in a diner.

“Whether it was a waitress in the diner or the guy working on the side of the road, Judge Cooke always wanted to stop and say hello,” Conway said.

Presiding Justice Elizabeth A. Garry of the Appellate Division, Third Department, offered another example of Cooke’s humility from her days working as a waitress in Albany before attending law school.

She recalled that Cooke, already a former chief judge, was notably patient and considerate compared with other customers.

“He was kind, quiet, and as I recall, he also tipped fairly generously,” Garry said.

“Ambition and humility are compatible,” she added, describing the qualities that distinguished Cooke throughout his career.

Beyond his personal character, speakers emphasized Cooke’s willingness to challenge established practices within the judicial system.

Kane credited Cooke with strengthening protections for defendants under the state constitution and improving court administration despite resistance from other judges.

Assemblywoman Paula Elaine Kay quoted Cooke’s own words about the continuing need for judicial reform, including his insistence that unequal treatment and injustice demanded further effort.

“Public service carries an incredible responsibility to the people and communities around us,” Kay said. “And no one understood that more than Chief Judge Cooke.”

Cooke’s sons, Edward and George, also shared memories of their father and the family life behind his public career.

Edward described his father as a remarkable parent whose intelligence, accomplishments and kindness left a lasting impression.

“I can only say he was the most wonderful father in the world,” Edward said before the ceremony.

George L. Cooke II, a former Sullivan County clerk and commissioner of jurors, recalled his father’s political campaigns and spoke emotionally about his mother, Alice, whose support helped sustain the family throughout Cooke’s career.

George also remembered his father’s playful relationship with his grandchildren, who he taught to play “Last Touch,” a game where he would tag his grandchildren and run off.

At Cooke’s funeral, George said, each grandchild approached his coffin for one final touch.

He also spoke fondly of growing up in Monticello.

“It was the greatest place to be raised as a kid,” George said. “I just loved it.”

Town of Thompson Historian Al Dumas, who helped organize the dedication, recalled his many years working as Cooke’s driver following his retirement and maintaining the landscaping at his home, recalling Cooke’s immaculate flower garden.

Dumas also highlighted Cooke’s 62 years with the Monticello Fire Department and his leadership in regional volunteer firefighting organizations.

“Monticello was more than just his hometown,” Dumas said. “It was a place he loved deeply and proudly called home throughout his life.”

Dumas said the historical marker was first proposed in 2021 by the late Thompson Town Supervisor Anthony Cellini.

The Sullivan County Courthouse was renamed in Cooke’s honor in September 1997, three years before his death in August 2000.

Historical Society President Suzanne Cecil said the organization continues to preserve memorabilia donated by Cooke’s family, documenting his years in the judiciary.

The new marker recognizes the home where Cooke and his family lived from 1941 until his death, preserving another piece of the history of a Sullivan County resident whose influence extended throughout New York’s courts.