CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – District Administrative Judge Hon. Andrew A. Crecca is pleased to announce
that throughout February, the Suffolk County Courts will be celebrating Black History Month with a series
of special commemorative events. With the generous support and collaboration from the AMISTAD Long
Island Black Bar Association and the Suffolk County Bar Association, the court community will take part
in several celebratory affairs to honor the history, achievements, and enduring contributions of Black
Americans. This multi-faceted observance will include lectures, a documentary film screening, art
exhibits, a night of jazz, and a culminating grand celebration. The court’s coordinated program of events
was designed to reflect this year’s national theme, 100 Years of Celebrations.
The month-long commemoration reflects the Suffolk County Courts’ commitment to education, inclusion,
and community engagement.
These programs are designed to educate, inspire, and bring people together,” said Administrative Judge Crecca. “By commemorating Black History Month through a coordinated program of cultural events, the Suffolk County Courts seek to foster understanding, recognize achievement, and strengthen our connection to the community we serve.”
The court’s series of events in celebration of Black History Month, all of which will also be livestreamed, include:
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM (CLE) – Float Like a Butterfly While Stung by the Bees: The Trials and Tribulations of Muhammad Ali
The month-long observance will begin on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 12:45 p.m. with a lecture
titled “Float Like a Butterfly While Stung by the Bees: The Trials and Tribulations of Muhammad Ali”
examining the life, legacy, and social impact of the iconic athlete and civil rights figure. The lecturer for this event will be locally-renowned attorney and historian, Rudy Carmenaty, Esq., who serves as Deputy
Commissioner of Nassau County Department of Social Services. The program will be presented in the
Central Jury Room of the John P. Cohalan Jr. Courthouse in Central Islip. Attorneys in attendance will be
eligible for one free CLE credit on diversity. The court will be providing a pizza lunch for those attending
in person.
FILM SCREENING – The Green Book: Guide to Freedom
On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 12:45 p.m., the court will host a documentary film screening of The
Green Book: Guide to Freedom, a story produced by the Smithsonian Institute that explores the realities
faced by African Americans during the era of segregation and the resilience that shaped their journeys.
The screening will be held in the Central Jury Room of the Cohalan Courthouse in Central Islip and, once
more, attorneys in attendance will be offered a free CLE credit on diversity. Complimentary movie theater
popcorn and other light refreshments will be served to those in attendance.
NIGHT OF JAZZ @ SCBA – Kirk Bailey & The Next Level Band with Special Performance by Mala Waldron
The Suffolk County Bar Association and the AMISTAD Long Island Black Bar Association are jointly
hosting a separate evening event, Night of Jazz, on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. The Night
of Jazz will take place at the Suffolk County Bar Association’s headquarters at 560 Wheeler Road in
Hauppauge. This will be a ticketed event that includes dinner, refreshments, and live jazz music from Kirk
Bailey and the Next Level Band with a special performance by Mala Waldron. Tickets for the Night of
Jazz event cost $45 and may be purchased ahead of time. For more information on purchasing tickets,
contact the Suffolk County Bar Association at (631) 234-5511, or visit their website at www.scba.org.
GRAND CELEBRATION & AWARDS CEREMONY
The courts’ Black History Month observance will culminate on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, with a
Grand Celebration in the Ceremonial Courtroom of the Cohalan Courthouse in Central Islip. The event
will feature speeches, award presentations, musical performances, and a lunch reception – all recognizing
the significance of Black History Month and the contributions of individuals who advance justice, equity,
and service in our community. District Administrative Judge Crecca is slated to preside over the ceremony
and he will also present annual awards – the Hon. Marquette Floyd Achievement Award, and the Hon.
Toni A. Bean Award – to two outstanding members of the legal community.
The first award’s namesake – Hon. Marquette L. Floyd – was a distinguished jurist who became Suffolk
County’s first African American District Court Judge in 1969, and then the first African American
Supreme Court Justice in 1989. The latter award is named for the late Hon. Toni A. Bean, who served on
the bench in the Suffolk County District Court from 2004 until her tragic passing in 2022, and she was a
stalwart member of the local African American legal community.
The Grand Celebration is expected to see high attendance of judges, attorneys, and court staff, as well as
politicians and dignitaries from the local community. After the ceremony, the courthouse community will
be invited to a lunch reception catered with authentic Jamaican cuisine. All will be able to enjoy a delicious ethnic meal while immersing themselves in a lively environment rich with African American décor.
ART & CULTURAL EXHIBITS
In addition to the above events, the Suffolk Courts also will be offering an extensive display of artwork,
creative projects, and informational presentations throughout February at their several courthouse
facilities in Central Islip and Riverhead. The court was fortunate to receive gracious donations and spirited
participation from artists and educators of the Islip Arts Council, the Eastville Community Historical
Society, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
The Islip Arts Council of Bay Shore has offered many inspiring pieces of creative art from local Black
artists, whereas the Eastville Community Historical Society, of Sag Harbor, provided the court an
impressive photographic collection made out of metals such as tin which depict old images and portraits
of African American immigrants on Long Island’s east end. Last, the National Pan-Hellenic Council has
graciously provided varied materials for a courthouse display on the “Divine Nine” – the original nine
Black fraternities and sororities that were formed in the early 20th century to support scholarship,
leadership, service, and advocacy for college students within the African American community.
The Suffolk County Courts invite its judicial staff and employees, members of the legal community, and
the public at large to participate in the 2026 Black History Month celebration in February. The program
series will serve as a meaningful observance in Suffolk County which will honor our history, foster new
dialogues, and celebrate our community’s rich and diverse culture.
