Articles

Profile of Hon. Stephen Arlen Knopf

by Michael Goldsmith

Newly elected Civil Court Judge Stephen Arlen Knopf, currently presiding in the Queens Criminal Court, ascended to the bench in January, 1997.

Judge Knopf, a lifelong Queens resident, grew up in Bayside, and graduated Benjamin Cardozo High School in 1972. He earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude with "highest honors, in Political Science, in June, 1975, and was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa that same year. Since he excelled in the liberal arts, and demonstrated verbal skills, the future judge felt that law school was a "natural place to go," and received his J.D. from St. John's University in 1978.

After his admission to the bar, young attorney Knopf found employment as an Assistant Corporation Counsel with the City of New York, in January, 1979. He was assigned to the Torts Division, and was responsible for trying negligence cases in the Queens Civil Court, and in the New York County Supreme Court.

In January, 1983, Judge Knopf began his career in the judicial system as a Law Secretary to Supreme Court Justice Nicholas L. Pitaro. Judge Knopf served in that capacity until December, 1996. Except for a two and a half year period assigned to the Civil Term, Justice Pitaro presided in the Criminal Term of the Queens Supreme Court. "We had all types of cases in the Supreme Court," Judge Knopf recalled, "Robberies, special victims cases, which included cases involving sexual misconduct against adults and children, drug cases, and assaults."

In May, 1996, Judge Knopf was nominated to the Civil Court by the Democratic Organization of Queens County, and was elected to a ten year term after running opposed. After his election, Judge Knopf was assigned to the Criminal Court, because of his years of experience with Justice Pitaro in the Criminal Term. "I find criminal law and Criminal Court interesting. I am comfortable serving in Criminal Court, but I am not averse to working in Civil Court, the Court to which I was elected."

Currently, Judge Knopf is assigned to various parts in the Criminal Court on a rotating basis. He has handled all misdemeanor cases, and has served in night court, and may very well be there at the time of publication of this article, presiding over misdemeanor and felony arraignments. Although only on the bench for a few months, Judge Knopf has presided over five non-jury trails, and many suppression hearings.

"The biggest difference between Criminal Court and Civil Court," according to the Judge, "is the sheer volume in the Criminal Court. On many days, in an all purpose part, there will be over 100 cases on the calendar. In Supreme Court, it was rare to have a calendar with more than 10 cases. A calendar with 15 cases is considered a heavy date. A big challenge in Criminal Court is to distinguish between the more serious cases and the more mundane cases, all of which are handled together in great volume on any given day."

How does the Judge cope with the volume? "The trick," according to Judge Knopf, "is to figure out in a short amount of time what needs to be done and insure continuity with the judge who had the case before, and with the next judge assigned to the part. In Criminal Court, a judge does a lot of writing on the files to advise other judges as to the status of the file to insure that continuity."

Judge Knopf, reflecting on his career, said, "I thoroughly enjoyed my career as an attorney and as a Law Secretary to Justice Pitaro. Being a life long resident of Queens, I feel at home in this borough. Despite the pressures of being a judge, I enjoy every day at work, and look forward to a long career on the bench. I feel it is a special privilege to be a member of the judiciary, and every day that I am on the bench, I do everything that I can to ensure that I handle my cases with fairness to the litigants and to opposing counsel."

Judge Knopf has been active in the Queens County Bar Association since 1979. Previously, he served on the Grievance Committee, and he was the Chairman of the Committee on Professional Ethics from 1988 to 1986. He still serves as co-chair of that committee. Judge Knopf has been a member of the Brandeis Association since 1979, and was a past President. Judge Knopf is also a long time member of the JFK Regular Democratic Club.

Judge Knopf has been married for 18 years, and has two daughters, ages 9 and 12. His hobbies include reading about current events, and going to the movies. He also tried to stay in shape, an goes to a health club, where he enjoys swimming. In the summer, he likes to visit the beach.