Honorable Samuel L. Green '67 Scholarship Fund

After graduating from the law school in 1967, Justice Green began a groundbreaking legal career in Buffalo, NY, first in private practice with Serotte & Serotte, later renamed Serotte, Hoffman, Hailey & Green when he became partner.

In 1973, he was appointed, then elected, a judge on Buffalo City Court, beginning an extraordinary 38-year judicial career. He made history in 1978 when he was elected to the New York State Supreme Court – the first African American outside of New York City to be so elected.

He made history again in 1983, when he became the first African American appointed to the Appellate Division, Fourth Department in Rochester.

Justice Green retired from the bench in 2011 as the longest-serving justice in the Fourth Department's history. Justice Green has been honored throughout his career for his many accomplishments, including the 1996 Edwin F. Jaeckle Award – SUNY Buffalo Law School and its Law Alumni Association's highest award. In 2011, the Appellate Division, Fourth Department named Courtroom 1 of the M. Delores Denman Courthouse the "Honorable Samuel L. Green Courtroom" in his honor.