NOVEMBER 2021 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 87
MAGISTRATE JUDGE A. KATHLEEN TOMLINSON
LI LAW EDUCATOR BY BRIANA BONFIGLIO
Magistrate Judge A. Kathleen Tomlinson,
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first a Long Island attorney
and esteemed law educator who then
served in the U.S. District Court for the
Eastern District of New York (EDNY) for
15 years, died on Oct. 17 at age 73 aft er a
long battle with cancer.
Before taking the bench in 2006, Tomlinson
practiced law at Farrell Fritz, P.C.,
in Uniondale, where she made partner
in 1998 and served as chair of the pro
bono committee. Earlier in her career,
she worked in the appeals bureau of the
Nassau County Legal Aid Society.
“We mourn the loss of our dear friend
and cherished colleague,” offi cials in
the U.S. District Court of EDNY said in
a statement. “Despite her battles, her
warm and generous personality never
wavered.”
Tomlinson’s practice focused heavily on
labor and employment law, white collar
defense, and civil rights litigation. She
received several recognitions during her
career, including the Suff olk County Bar
Foundation/Nassau Suff olk Law Services’
“Outstretched Hands of Justice” Award
for her pro bono work at Farrell Fritz.
But Tomlinson did not stop at her work
as an attorney or even a judge — she was
an educator as well. She was assistant
university dean at Long Island University’s
faculty of arts and sciences, hosted
educational community events, and
found other creative ways to engage
everyone from middle school students
to seasoned professionals about law.
In the EDNY’s chapter of the Federal
Bar Association, Tomlinson founded
and chaired its Continuing Legal Education
Committee. She lectured and
led regional conferences on a variety
of topics, such as labor relations and
workplace issues.
“Judge Tomlinson had an unwavering
commitment to promoting civic education
and inspiring students across
Long Island through her membership
in the Federal Bar Association and on
the United States Court of Appeals for
the Second Circuit’s Civic Education
Committee,” EDNY offi cials said in a
statement.
Tomlinson remained active in the
Long Island law community as a
member of several different organizations
and committees. She was
a past director of the Nassau County
Bar Association and board member
of the Long Island Fund for Women
and Girls. She was also a member of
the Federal Magistrate Judges Association,
the Federal Bar Council, the
American Bar Association, the New
York State Bar Association, and the
Nassau County and Suffolk County
Bar Associations.
OBITUARY
Magistrate Judge A. Kathleen Tomlinson
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