Patria Frias-Colon's Legal Experience

Year Admitted to the NYS Bar
1995
 
Admittance to other jurisdictions, including all federal and state courts and the dates of admission

NYS AD Eastern and Southern Districts, 1996
USSC, 2000

 
Recent, relevant Continuing Legal Education (CLE) coursework

2017 Courses
• When Things Go Wrong, Don’t Go With Them: What To Do If the Grievance Committee Comes Calling, NYC Bar Association, 5/16/17, 2 credits
• EEO Fundamentals for Supervisors, NYC Law Department, 3/28/17, 1.5 credits
• Defining Our Relationship with Non-Party Employee Witnesses, NYC Law Department, 3/21/17, 1 credit
• Current Topics in Ethics and the JD Practice, NYC Law Department, 2/13/17, 1 credit
• Fairness for Families: Insights from Implicit Bias, Racial Anxiety and Stereotype Threat, NYC Law Department, 2/13/17, 1 credit
• I Saw Them/Do/That/Then/There, NYC Law Department, 2/13/17, 2 credits
• Girls in the Juvenile Justice System, NYC Law Department, 2/13/17, 1 credit
• Gender Pronouns and the NYC Human Rights Law, NYC Law Department, 2/13/17, 1 credit
• Managing Others: Honing the Legal Skills of Your Team, NYC Bar Association, 1/18/17, 1 credits
2016 Courses
• Sufficiency of the Accusatory Instrument, NYC Law Department, 09/26/16, 4.5 credits as Instructor
• Family Court Trial Advocacy Workshop, NYC Law Department, 05/02/16 - 05/17/16, 5 credits as Instructor
• Disproportionate Minority Representation: Turing Theory into Practice, Appellate Division, First Department, 04/12/16, 6.5 credits
• Leading and Managing Colleagues, NYC Bar Association, 03/23/16, 2 credits
• Raise the Age, Fordham University Law School, 03/12/16, 4.5 credits as Instructor
• 2015 Year in Review: Ethics, NYC Law Department, 02/12/16, 1.5 credits
• Court-Involved LGBTQ Youth in Juvenile Justice, NYC Law Department, 02/12/16, 1 credit
• Investigation and Litigation of Juvenile Homicide, NYC Law Department, 02/12/16, 3 credits

 
Please provide any information about published works in legal journals or books that demonstrate your legal knowledge and abilities.

N/A

 
If you are currently a practicing attorney: how many cases have you tried to conclusion in court or via settlement in the last 5 years?

 
If you have brought forward cases in Civil Court: what kinds of cases have you brought? (eg personal injury, landlord/tenant, etc.)

N/A

 
If you are currently a judge or have been a judge: what kinds of cases have you most recently heard? (eg personal injury, landlord/tenant, etc.)

 
If you are currently or have been a judge: please tell us about your process for making judgments.

N/A

 
If you have not been active in the court room, please provide information about your experience that is relevant to the position of judge of the civil court.

I have not tried any cases in the past five years; that is because my primary responsibility as the Brooklyn Borough Chief for the NYC Law Department Family Court Division has been to supervise attorneys and about support personnel. After determining which felony cases should be referred to diversion programs or to the Kings County District Attorney's (KCDA). With respect to the retained cases, I supervise the attorneys from the investigative stage through hearings, trials, negotiations and dispositions. I do appear in Family Court regularly in order to observe and assist attorneys and, if necessary, to discuss legal and factual issues, ranging from suppression to sentencing, with judges in bench conferences or on the record. I also draft, edit and, at times, argue written motions and answers. As the Chief legal and strategic advisor on all cases handled by my Brooklyn office, I supervise all Major cases, including homicides, firearm possession, Burglaries and other related serious felonies. I appeared regularly in court on felony matters while at the Kings County District Attorney's (KCDA) office (9/1994–9/1998).

 
Please use this space to tell us more about how your legal experience would inform your work as judge.

During the twenty plus years that I have practiced law, I have worked with practically every participant of the court system, including judges, court reporters, defense attorneys, court officers, court clerks, court interpreters, probation officers and mental-health experts. I treat everyone courteously, understanding that they have tasks to complete that facilitate effective and expedient case processing. This will ensure that all cases move along efficiently and adequately. Being aware of these roles and accepting of them, allowed me to interact well with everyone. For example, I appreciate that court attorneys and law secretaries are an extension of the judges and are there to assist the Court in rendering decisions and expedite its calendar, therefore I proceed with them in a manner that will not waste their time. Understanding the importance of court personnel at all levels is critical to maintaining a positive work environment. I recognize that the judge establishes the environment of the courtroom by taking into consideration the respective responsibilities of all court personnel. The court record is as accurate as the court reporter can understand, so I make sure to speak clearly, provide a list of cases I plan on citing and never interupt another person. Before presenting witnesses, I prepare them for the courtroom experience, e.g., describing the set-up of the courtroom and reminding them to speak loudly and clearly. As a prosecutor, I work hard to master the facts of the case and to ensure that the rights of defendants and juveniles are not abridged. I have done this by not hesitating to decline the prosecution of matters in which I have determined after a thorough investigation that charges should not be brought. In addition, I have worked to develop the use of appropriate diversion programs for those referred cases that do not require court intervention.