Ann T. Mikoll ’54 (Jaeckle Award 2004)
Hon. Ann T. Mikoll ’54, a pathbreaker for women in the judiciary, was one of the first two women appointed to a New York State appellate court, the Appellate Division, 3rd Department (1977-1999). She served as assistant corporation counsel for the City of Buffalo, as a Buffalo City Court judge,and was the first woman elected to the state Supreme Court outside of New York City. She received the 29th Edwin F. Jaeckle Award after serving with distinction as a New York State judge for 44 years. The Jaeckle Award is the highest honor the UB School of Law and the Law Alumni Association can bestow.
About this Interview
Date
- May 5, 2000 (video)
- May 23, 2000 (audio)
- Oct. 30, 2004
Occasion
- Law Day (May 5, 2000)
- Retirement (May 23, 2000)
- Presentation of the 29th annual Edwin F. Jaeckle Award (2004)
Place
University Inn and Conference Center, Amherst, N.Y.
Interviewed By
Lynn Clarke (May 5)
Hon. Barbara Howe (May 23)
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About Ann T. Mikoll
Justice Mikoll began to practice law in 1954. Dean Lawless, her former UB Law professor, hired her to work for him in the corporation counsel’s office. Doing trial work increased her visibility with Mayor Steven Pankow, who at the time was looking for a Democratic woman to appoint to the City Court bench. In 1957, he named her a Buffalo City Court judge at 27, just three years out of law school—a rare accomplishment that “struck like lightning.”
She accepted the offer, but there was furor over the appointment. Bar Association protests led to drafting of the “Mikoll amendment,” which required a certain number of years of practice before a candidate became eligible for the judiciary. Liked by the public, she emulated Mayor Frank Sedita as a role model, in attitude and style. The party gave her its endorsement and her legal career took off.
Her father was a journalist and her mother a homemaker. She was the youngest child of six by 20 years. She told everyone at age 14 she wanted to be a lawyer and never deviated. She attended St. Stanislaus, Villa Maria Academy high school and UB. “One’s attitude in life predetermines one’s success,” she said. Her husband was a lawyer and a good partner who gave good advice.
She retired at age 70 after a trailblazing career. A Polish community leader, her interests outside the law included education and the arts. She executed youth programs for fraternal cultural organizations, teaching literature, poetry, music, singing, and dancing to their young members.
Born 1930- Died April 10, 2025
About the Hon. Ann T. Mikoll
The Jaeckle Award is given annually to a person who exemplifies the highest ideals of the law school and the Law Alumni Association and has made significant contributions to the school and the legal profession. It is named for Edwin F. Jaeckle ’15, a founding partner of the Buffalo law firm Jaeckle, Fleischmann & Mugel and a major benefactor of the school.
Hon. Ann T. Mikoll’s designation in 1977 as a justice of the Third Appellate Division of New York State Supreme Court by Gov. Hugh L Carey made legal history in the state. In 1971, Justice Mikoll won election to the New York State Supreme Court, the state’s highest trial court. This, too, represented a precedent-setting event for a woman.
Preceding this, Justice Mikoll served for 14 years as a Buffalo City Court judge, having won election as the youngest jurist to serve on that bench, and as assistant corporation counsel of the City of Buffalo. In November 1985 Justice Mikoll was re-elected to her second term on the Supreme Court bench. She retired in December 1999 as the senior associate justice of the Third Department Appellate Division.
Her entry into public life was preceded by lifelong civic activity punctuated by special concern for the cultural education of young people. For 21 years she planned, supervised and personally executed youth programs for fraternal cultural organizations, teaching literature, poetry, music, singing and dancing to their young members.
In his remarks, Professor Greiner noted her work in the early 1980s to build up the Polish ethnic heritage of Buffalo. She encouraged Polish language and literature programs, as well as exchange programs that blossomed into relationships with Eastern Europe. She introduced Dingus Day to Western New York.
She weas one of two women in her graduating class from UB School of Law. Dean Nils Olsen recounts Mikoll’s extraordinary career accomplishments as a lawyer and jurist, particularly her work with him on the Dean’s Advisory Council. Her lengthy list of honors and awards includes the Red Jacket Award and membership in the Western New York Women’s Hall of Fame.
Speakers
Master of Ceremonies: Terrance P. Flynn, UB Law Alumni Association president.
Remarks presented by R. Nils Olsen, School of Law dean; Grace Marie Angie, attorney and lifelong friend.
Award presented by Professor William R. Greiner. Judge Mikoll offers acceptance remarks.