AI and the Law Workshops for 2024 (as of March 11, 2024)

Dave Woodin is planning to hold three more sessions to build upon his recent training. Below is a copy of the email Dave sent out to those who previously attended the last AI training:

To all GCBA members,

I thoroughly enjoyed sharing with everyone who attended the March 1 program on Introduction to Uses of AI in Legal Practice. Based on evaluations, several attendees requested that we plan some follow-up sessions.

To that end, I have planned a series of workshops.  These will be informal sessions (not CLEs), where those interested can ask questions, discuss ongoing work, as well as work on and share projects of their own.  

I have reserved time and space for the first three sessions, on Friday 03/22/24, Friday 04/12/24 and Friday 05/03/24, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, at 411 Main Street, Catskill, in Room 428 (a different room than last time, on account of  “early voting” that I’ve been told will be in progress those dates).

All sessions are free to GCBA members.  I ask that you do email me to reserve, so I can keep track of available seating.  In your email, please indicate what session(s) you will attend, and please include any thoughts or requests for topics that you would like to see covered.

The field continues to change rapidly – since the first session, there have already been major developments.  I look forward to exploring them together!

Thanks and hope to see lots of you again soon.

2024 Annual GCBA Meeting

Our annual public meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 330PM in the Ceremonial Courtroom of the Greene County Courthouse.

UPDATED: The abbreviated agenda (full agenda emailed to all 1/30) is as follows:

  • Election of officers
  • Budget report
  • Scheduling of events/social
  • Proposal on AI and Law from a member
  • Reminder of dues
  • Other remarks/requests, and
  • Close of business.

2024 Dues Renewal and Annual Meeting

Please be advised that renewal dues for the GCBA are now due and being collected. The price is $150 for all members, except that it is $125 for members who have been admitted five or less years. Please send such checks to Shelley Bower, Esq. at 220 Jefferson Heights, Catskill, New York 12414 or to J. Fisher’s Chambers, 320 Main Street, Catskill, New York 12414 ATTN: Nick.

The annual meeting will be at a date and time to be confirmed in January 2024.

Appellate Division, Third Department, Session at the Greene County Courthouse

There will be a special session of the Appellate Division, Third Department, at the Greene County Courthouse in Catskill, New York, held on April 25, 2023 at 10:30AM.

Those intending to observe oral argument should RSVP by contacting J. Fisher’s chambers or through the contact us box on this website.

There will be a special luncheon with the Justices of the Third Department, presented by the GCBA. Please RSVP for such luncheon by contacting J. Fisher’s chambers or through this box. UPDATE: THIS IS FULL AND THERE IS A WAITLIST.

Honoring John Cullen “Jack” Welsh Jr., Esq.

The Greene County Bar Association (GCBA) mourns the loss of John Cullen “Jack” Welsh Jr., Esq., more affectionately known as Jack or most affectionately known Professor Welsh. His obituary can be found by clicking here, and a really wonderful news article from Albany Law School and be found here.

Given Professor Welsh’s tenure in Greene County and Catskill, I asked some the County Court Judges, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Public Defender’s Office on some remarks about Jack. Each of the comments and memories focused on one thing: His passion and innate ability as a legal educator.

Some of the comments include:

Hon. Terry J. Wilhelm: Jack Welsh lived for many decades in the Village of Catskill with his wife and children.  He was a professor at Albany Law School for many decades and, on several occasions, he was the acting Dean of Albany Law School.  He taught property at Albany Law School.  He was a great guy, a great law professor, and a great family man and was very active in St. Patrick’s Church in Catskill (his residence was about 50 yards from the church).  I and many other older members of the local bar had Professor Welsh as a professor in property law.  Not long after retiring from Albany Law School he moved more toward the middle of the country to be closer to his kids.  Many, many graduates of Albany Law School will never forget Jack Welsh.

Hon. Charles M. Tailleur: I recall meeting Professor Welsh when I was a teenager running around on the local basketball courts and baseball diamonds competing against or with his son “Jimmy” with whom I became friends.  Professor Welsh would often attend the games.  I did not know then that several years later I would be sliding through his Property Law class literally by the skin of my teeth.  Not a real fan of the “Rule Against Perpetuities”.  “Miranda Rights” are more my speed.  

Professor Welsh was both brilliant and kind with an unwavering commitment to his students; his family; his community and his faith.  What a wonderful life he had, leaving a profound legacy that includes the meaningful impact he has had on so many in the Greene County bar and well beyond! 

Rest in Peace, Professor Welsh. – Chip, ALS Class of 1992.

Patrick Gratten, Esq.: I took every course that Professor Welsh taught at Albany Law School: Property 1, Property 2 as well as Trusts and Estates.  I remember him looking off into the corner of the room with his hands in his hip pockets, naming a case, giving the citation and then, with lightning speed, stating the facts and then pausing ever-so-slightly before asking the question.  He had a sly sense of humor, such as saying “It is hard to decide who to dislike more: the plaintiff, the defendant, their lawyers or the judge”. 

He was acting Dean and spoke at orientation. He encouraged all the incoming students to freely share any problems, personal or institutional, with the appropriate Law School personnel.  After his generous encouragement, he added wisely “Despite what you may think, your problems are not new or remarkable, we have heard them all before at Albany Law School”. They broke the mold after they made him.  He is truly irreplaceable. ALS class of ’96

Kelly Ann Nagle, Esq.: I am sure all Albany Law graduates remember Professor Welsh. Old school, he required that you stand when called upon in Property class. He was never without that white plastic pocket protector and pens contained therein.  Lecturing and drilling students via the Socratic Method with his hands in his back pockets. That voice… and dry wit.

Rumors abounded about his phenomenal memory and how he graduated law school with a perfect GPA, the truth of which I don’t know.  What I do know is that he walked into Greene County Surrogate’s Court one day and, seeing my name on the door remarked that he recalled me as a former student.  I had graduated at least five years before.  That was when I learned that he lived in Catskill – right up the street from the Courthouse!  

Judge Pulver once asked Professor Welsh to serve as a Friend of the Court in a particularly troublesome Surrogate’s case where we needed a skilled practitioner.  Ever gracious, he obliged and his research and advice was invaluable.


When Professor Welsh retired and moved from Catskill, he filed with Surrogate’s Court all the Wills he had drafted and gave me his contact information in case he was ever needed.  Thus began our annual Christmas card exchange which continued up through this Christmas.  

I am glad his signature is on my law school diploma as Acting Dean at the time I graduated.  Rest in Peace Professor. ALS class of ’95

David Costanzo, Esq. (District Attorney’s Office): When I attended Albany Law School I had the privilege of studying under Professor Welsh.  Professor Welsh was a true scholar who taught and mentored generations of lawyers.  Professor Welsh will be remembered and missed by all.

Angelo Scaturro, Esq. (Public Defender’s Office and Immediate Past President of GCBA): I had Jack in my first year at Albany Law School. He taught real property.  I have had two memorable moments with Jack.  The first time in law school that I had to stand and answer a question was in Jack’s real property class.  Of course my last name being with an “S” meant I was at the back of the class in an auditorium like setting.  I answered the question in the manner I thought was appropriate. Jack gave me another scenario and I continued to answer in the same manner. He did that several more times until it was pretty clear that I was answering the question wrong, but I stood my ground and then everyone laughed at me!  My second memorable experience with Jack was shortly after I started working at Pulver & Stiefel.  I was conducting one of my first closings representing Catskill Savings Bank and the purchaser (although I was covering for Ned Stiefel so I did not handle the closing from the beginning of the contract).  The conference room filled with people and I turned to my left to find out that Jack Welsh was representing the seller.  Of course the purchaser asked a question and I was starting to sweat bullets giving the answer not knowing if I was correct. After I give the answer I turned to Jack and asked if I had answered her properly. Being the gentleman that he was, he told me he wasn’t listening! Jack left an indelible mark on Albany Law school and on me.  He will not be forgotten.

Results of Greene County Bar Association Election

The Greene County Bar Association (GCBA) held elections at its annual meeting on January 26, 2023 and has elected the following officers:

  • President – Nicholas A. Battaglia, Esq.
  • Vice President – Zachary Halperin, Esq.
  • Secretary: James Gross, Esq.
  • Tresurer: Shelley Bower, Esq.

The minutes and other information will be circulated via email shortly.

GCBA Meeting

The annual meeting of the Bar will take place on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 3PM in the ceremonial courtroom on the Third Floor of the Greene County Courthouse, with the following agenda to be addressed:

  • Election of officers
  • Election of a Board of Directors
  • Bar Composite Photograph
  • Yearly bar dues
  • Appellate Division traveling session at the Greene County Bar Courthouse

Thank you all and be safe.

GCBA Holiday Dinner

The particulars of the 2022 Greene Party Bar Association (GCBA) holiday dinner are as follows:

DATE AND TIME: December 21, 2022 at 6PM.

LOCATION: Seconds Restaurant, 7 Second Street, Athens, New York 12015

DINNER CHOICES: Chicken Schnitzel; Eggplant Parmigiana, Shrimp Scampi (choose 1) *please let us know ahead of time of any food allergies

ENTERTAINMENT: Dani Dae Duo to follow dinner

RSVP: Please RSVP by December 16, 2022 to zhalperinlaw@gmail.com

MEETING: To be determined and held in January 2023

Happy Holidays to all and wishing you and your families the happiest and healthiest of New Years.

Coronavirus Administrative Orders and Information

As we all know, the coronavirus known as COVID-19 has caused significant hardship for our bar, our clients, our courts, our State, our Country, and the rest of the world. Members of the Greene County Bar Association (GCBA) in Greene County, New York have been phenomenal coping and adapting to these rapid changes. This includes other attorneys from outside counties coming to practice in our Catskill, New York courthouse–almost all remotely. Virtual operations have been working well as we all learn how to handle them.

Here are some important places to check for information which is rapidly changing:

State-wide Administrative Orders: https://www.nycourts.gov/latest-AO.shtml

Third Judicial Distract Administrative Orders (including Greene County, Columbia County, Ulster County, Albany County, and the other counties in our district): https://www.nycourts.gov/latest-local-AO.shtml

Unified Court System Coronavirus main page: https://www.nycourts.gov/index.shtml

And of course, always feel free to contact any Court Clerk, County Clerk, any officer of the GCBA, or anyone in Chambers for assistance. Do not hesitate to contact Justice Fisher’s chambers either for information or help how to proceed!

Most importantly, all be safe. This is a difficult time for all of us. The Administrative Orders give leniency for a lot of adjournment requests and issues plaguing all attorneys throughout the United States. Whether you are a member of GCBA, not a member, or a lawyer practicing in our locality (Welcome!), please do not hesitate to ask questions and know we are all out there for each other first and foremost–this pandemic transcends the practice of law and we are all humans in this together.

2020 Officer Elections: Greene County Bar Association (GCBA), Catskill, New York

At our organizational meeting at the Greene County Courthouse, 320 Main Street, Catskill, New York 12414, the Greene County Bar Association (GCBA) held officer nominations and elections. This was following a presentation by our Administrative Judge for the Third Judicial District, Hon. Thomas Breslin.

The following individuals were nominated and, after a vote, were elected to serve the Greene County Bar Association for the year 2020:

  • President: Angelo F. Scaturro, Esq.
  • Vice President: Nicholas A. Battaglia, Esq.
  • Secretary: Zachary Halperin, Esq.
  • Treasurer: Shelley Bower, Esq.

We congratulate them on their new role and wish them the best of luck moving forward!

The Greene County Bar Association is the local bar association for attorneys in Greene County, New York. Our home courthouse is at 320 Main Street, Catskill, New York 12414. Our organizational meeting as well as other important meetings are typically held on the top floor in the ceremonial courtroom. There are currently three resident judges, including Supreme Court Justice Lisa M. Fisher, County Court Justice Charles Tailleur (multi-hat judge for Family Court and Surrogates Court), and County Court Justice Terry Wilhelm (multi-hat judge for Family Court and Surrogates Court). The Greene County Courthouse sits in historic Catskill, New York.