Articles

Judicial Profile: The Hon. Mark H. Spires

By Michael Goldsmith

The Hon. Mark H. Spires comes to the Supreme Court after many years of public service. Justice Spires is a genuinely modest man, and is uncomfortable speaking about his accomplishments, which are impressive.

Justice Spires began his journey that led him to Part J-2, in Jacksonville Florida, where he lived until graduating college. After receiving his BS at Florida A&M, Justice Spires earned his

MBA at NYU in 1959.

After receiving his graduate degree, the future Supreme Court Judge was employed by the United States Treasury Dept. as a revenue agent, and then as an international tax examiner. It was through this employment that Justice Spires felt “impelled” to continue his studies in law because he was often confronted with legal questions on tax matters, and to “further advance his career as a tax lawyer.”

After receiving his JD from Brooklyn Law School in 1963, Justice Spires wanted to leave government service and go into tax litigation. However, while still in government service, Justice

Spires became interested in public interest law. It was about this time that the Legal Services programs began in New York. Justice Spires took a one year leave of absence from his government job, and this was extended another year to work at Queens Legal Services.

Justice Spires started at Queens Legal Services as a staff attorney in 1970. He handled cases in every area of civil litigation, such as consumer’s rights, real estate, housing, employment, matrimonial law, family court matters and adoptions in the Surrogates’ Court. After experiencing the need for community service lawyers, Justice Spires never went back to the Treasury Dept. Eventually Justice Spires went on to become supervising Attorney at Queens Legal Services, and then to Executive Director and Chief Counsel. Justice Spires was active in all aspects of litigation up to appeals. He was also the manager in charge of hiring personnel.

In 1986, after a great deal of consideration, Justice Spires resigned from Queens Legal Services. He had built the office from eight lawyers and a few paralegals to 15-20 lawyers and 5-10 paralegals. “It was difficult to leave,” said Justice Spires. “I saw great progress in making equal justice under the law.” However, Justice Spires “felt it was time to move on and for the organization to have new leadership.”

It was at that time that Justice Spires was appointed to the Housing Court. He served his first five years in Manhattan, and was transferred to Queens after his reappointment in 1991.

Justice Spires was elected to the Supreme Court in 1995, and now sits in Part J-2, presiding over criminal cases.

Justice Spires said that his proudest accomplishment is that “things I wanted to do happened. I wanted to make Queens Legal Services become acceptable and accomplish many of its objectives. Many attorneys contribute pro-bone services. It is pleasing to see it build up to what it is now.” “I also aspired to become a judge and now it happened.”

Justice Spires hobbies include playing tennis in the summer, and he claims to have been a “fairly good player at one time.” Justice Spires is married and has three children.