The Columbian Lawyers Association, First Judicial Department, honored Justice Joseph Maltese with the 52nd annual Rapallo-Scalia Award in front of more than 500 people during a luncheon at the Plaza in Manhattan on Friday.

"Today is all about Justice Joseph Maltese," said Marianne Bertuna, president of the Columbian Lawyers Association, First Department. "This is a tribute to him and this crowd, which is filled with some of the most important judges in the state. [It] shows that we made the right decision in adding Judge Maltese to our long list of honorees.”