Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo
The Federal Bar Council Quarterly recently met with court librarians Sandra Phillips and Megan Laflin to learn more about their important work and their myriad contributions to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Both Phillips and Laflin work out of the Honorable John R. Bartels Library on the third floor of the Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse in Brooklyn. Judge Bartels served as the trustee in charge of the Eastern District of New York Library beginning in April 20, 1960. On November 8, 1992, Eastern District of New York Chief District Judge Thomas C. Platt dedicated the library to Judge Bartels in honor of his “devoted and dedicated attention to the governance and maintenance of the library.” Judge Bartels died at age 99 in 1997.
Phillips and Laflin continue Judge Bartels’ excellent devotion and dedication to the Eastern District’s library.
THE LIBRARIANS
After receiving her bachelor’s degree in library science, her master’s degree in library science, and her paralegal work at multiple law firms, Phillips has worked as a branch librarian for the Second Circuit for the last 18 years – 15 of which have been housed in the Eastern District.
Laflin, who received an MLIS in library and information studies in addition to her bachelor’s degree in human ecology, has worked in the Eastern District since March 2023.
As branch librarian, Phillips is responsible for maintaining the library and its collection in a good, relevant, and useable manner. She aims to ensure that the library meets the needs of all users – from the bench to court staff to members of the public. As librarian, Laflin’s core duty is to provide research assistance to judges, law clerks, court staff, and members of the public. Laflin also is working to building an Eastern District history archive.
Both Phillips and Laflin support civic education initiatives throughout the circuit, including by coordinating regular visits of schoolchildren to the courthouse. They routinely accompany students as part of these visits and help them to learn about civics and the law.
“RESEARCH!”
When asked what they enjoy most about their positions, Phillips summed it up in one word: “Research!” She added that she “truly enjoys digging into a subject” that she knows “nothing about, and more so, exploring something new.” She explained that “[t]his job has given [her] the opportunity to learn so much about a huge variety of topics.”
Laflin said that “[t]he best part of this job is that each day brings an opportunity to learn something new.” Before joining the Eastern District family, she worked as a research librarian for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. As a result, Laflin “especially enjoys finding government documents and foreign law materials.” She “also values meeting students from all over the Eastern District of New York and exposing them to the federal court system.”
HONORING JUDGE WEINSTEIN
Phillips and Laflin are currently working extensively on a project honoring the legendary U.S. District Judge Jack B. Weinstein. After Judge Weinstein passed away in 2021 (also at age 99), his vast collection of leather-bound speeches, decisions, paintings, and other materials were donated to the Bartels Library. Phillips and Laflin are working on cataloguing and displaying Judge Weinstein’s treasure trove of materials. When asked which one of these many Judge Weinstein-related items is their favorite, Laflin noted that the library features “a contract from 1929” from Judge Weinstein’s “role in the Broadway production of Murder on the Subway signed by ‘Jackie Winston’ and his mother ‘Bessie Winston,’ also an actor. He made $20 a week for his role.” Additionally, although Judge Weinstein typically wore a suit on the bench, Laflin noted that they have a collection of his judicial robes, including older robes with his initials stitched onto the tag.
Phillips said that her favorite Judge Weinstein item is a beautiful watercolor sketch from the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge, with the World Trade Center behind it. She added that “one of the items we came across in the judge’s chambers was the assortment of books, coloring books, and crayons he had on hand for children.” Phillips added that she was “sure they were well used and kept young minds otherwise occupied while court business was being handled. It gave [her] a better insight into who he was as a person.”
The Eastern District of New York is fortunate to have Phillips and Laflin at the helm of its prestigious library.