MONTICELLO — The Third Judicial District of the New York State Unified Court System, in partnership with the Sullivan County Legislature, Sullivan County Office of Human Rights, and the 3JD Gender Fairness Committee, will host a Juneteenth Celebration & Recognition Ceremony on Friday, June 19 at 10:00 a.m. in the Legislative Hearing Room of the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello, New York.

The event will honor two Sullivan County trailblazers whose historic achievements have left a lasting mark on the community: Hon. William Little, the first Black Supreme Court Justice from Sullivan County and Monticello, and Debbie Mack, the first Black female Postmaster of Monticello.

The 3JD Gender Fairness Committee will present a special award to Justice Little in recognition of his extraordinary accomplishments and the barriers he broke throughout his distinguished legal career. A proud son of Monticello and graduate of Monticello High School, Justice Little went on to reach the highest levels of the New York State judiciary, where he now serves as a Justice of the Supreme Court, seated primarily in Albany County. His journey from Sullivan County to the Supreme Court bench stands as a testament to perseverance, excellence, and the enduring power of community.

“Justice Little’s life and career embody everything our Gender Fairness Committee seeks to elevate — the courage to forge a path where none existed, and the commitment to serve with integrity and distinction,” said Hon. E. Danielle Jose-Decker, Administrative Judge of the Third Judicial District and Co-Chair of the 3JD Gender Fairness Committee. “On Juneteenth, a day that calls us to reflect on both the distance traveled and the work that remains, we are proud to recognize Justice Little and Debbie Mack as living examples of Sullivan County at its very best.”

Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19th, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States and is recognized as a federal holiday. The Third Judicial District is committed to using this occasion to celebrate excellence, leadership, and legacy within the communities it serves.

The event is co-sponsored by the Third Judicial District, the 3JD Gender Fairness Committee, the Sullivan County Office of Human Rights, and the Sullivan County Legislature. The ceremony is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.