2025 Edwin F. Jaeckle Award: Hon. E. Jeannette Ogden ’83

Segment Synopsis: At a celebratory gathering hosted by the University at Buffalo Law Alumni Association, Executive Director Stephanie Mack welcomed distinguished guests to honor The Honorable Justice Jeannette Ogden, class of 1983, as the recipient of the 2025 Edwin F. Jaeckle Award—the highest distinction granted by the law school and its alumni. Surrounded by esteemed colleagues, alumni, judges, and friends, Justice Ogden was recognized for her unwavering commitment to justice, community service, and mentorship. Speakers highlighted her enduring presence at the law school and in the broader legal community. The evening featured remarks from prominent figures, including Presiding Justice Gerald J. Whalen, University President Dr. Satish Tripathi, and Vice Dean Jamila Lee, as well as heartfelt acknowledgments of past award winners and supporters. The event underscored Justice Ogden’s legacy as a champion for others and an inspiration to generations of legal professionals.

Keywords: Community Service; Contributions; Mentors; Accomplishments

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL

Segment Synopsis: During the 2025 Edwin F. Jaeckle Award ceremony, University at Buffalo President Satish K. Tripathi and Law School Dean Aviva Abramovsky (via pre-recorded video) paid tribute to Justice Jeannette Ogden, recognizing her as a beacon of service, mentorship, and excellence. President Tripathi praised Justice Ogden for exemplifying UB’s highest values through her dedicated mentorship, professional achievement, and enduring support of the university. Dean Brown echoed this sentiment, emphasizing her profound influence on the legal community and her role in shaping the next generation of legal professionals. Both leaders highlighted how Justice Ogden’s legacy of service and leadership has uplifted others and brought lasting honor to the university.

Keywords: Contributions; Mentors; Accomplishments

Subjects: PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; CAREER: LEGAL

Segment Synopsis: In a heartfelt tribute, Vice Dean Jamila Lee of UB School of Law celebrated Justice Jeannette Ogden’s decades of unwavering dedication to mentorship, diversity, and community service. Justice Ogden, a 1983 UB Law graduate, has shaped generations of legal professionals through formal teaching, consistent alumni engagement, and tireless support of underrepresented law students and attorneys. Vice Dean Lee recounted Justice Ogden’s personal impact on countless individuals, including her own family, and highlighted Justice Ogden's core philosophy of “lifting as you climb.” From the courtroom to the classroom, Justice Ogden has broken barriers and extended a guiding hand to many, earning her the law school’s highest honor—the Edwin F. Jaeckle Award. The powerful moment culminated with a room-wide show of hands from those whose lives she touched, underscoring the vast reach of her legacy.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Alumni Association; Community Service; Judiciary; Teaching Law; Career / Gender

Subjects: CAREER: GENDER; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; TEACHING; CAREER: LEGAL

Segment Synopsis: Presiding Justice Gerald J. Whalen of the Fourth Department delivered a powerful tribute to his colleague and friend, Justice Jeannette Ogden, the recipient of this year’s Edwin F. Jaeckle Award. Justice Whalen highlighted Ogden’s exceptional journey from South Buffalo’s Perry Projects to the Appellate Division bench, emphasizing her resilience, professionalism, and dedication to justice. He praised her broad legal expertise, fair-mindedness, and her meaningful contributions as a mentor, educator, and community leader. Justice Ogden's decades of service as a practicing attorney and judge have earned her a sterling reputation and widespread respect, making her a truly deserving recipient of the law school’s highest alumni honor.

Keywords: Career / Gender; Contributions; Judiciary; Mentors; Significant Cases; Teaching Law; Accomplishments

Subjects: CAREER: GENDER; FAMILY HISTORY; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; CAREER: LEGAL

Segment Synopsis: In a heartfelt and inspiring ceremony at the Statler in downtown Buffalo, The Honorable Jeannette Ogden (UB Law Class of 1983) received the 2025 Edwin F. Jaeckle Award, the highest honor bestowed by the University at Buffalo School of Law and its Law Alumni Association. Vice Dean Jamila Lee and Alumni Association President Rob Ricardo presented the award, recognizing Justice Ogden’s exceptional service to the legal profession, mentorship of UB law graduates, and unwavering commitment to community upliftment and judicial integrity. In an emotional acceptance speech, Justice Ogden expressed deep gratitude to her colleagues, mentors, family, and friends, and affirmed her dedication to equal opportunity, collaborative leadership, and the transformative power of law as a force for justice and change.

Keywords: Accomplishments

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL