Judith J. Gische

September 28, 2026

In Memoriam: The Hon. Judith J. Gische

Blank Rome mourns the loss of our friend and colleague, the Hon. Judith J. Gische, who passed away on September 25, 2026.

Judge Gische joined Blank Rome in 2023 following a distinguished career of public service spanning more than three decades on the New York State bench. Most recently, she served as an Appellate Division Justice, First Department, where she decided appeals in civil and criminal cases. Over the course of her judicial career, she served at all levels of the New York State Court System, including as a trial court judge presiding over bench and jury trials and handling complex commercial, tort, matrimonial, and real estate matters.

Throughout her career, Judge Gische was widely respected for her intellect, integrity, and sound judgment. Her impact on the law was considerable. She served on appellate panels deciding more than 6,000 appeals, presided over thousands of cases at the trial level, and authored hundreds of reported decisions. She also contributed to the legal profession as an author, educator, and frequent speaker, including through her service on the New York Pattern Jury Instructions Committee and the New York State Chief Judge’s Committee on Evidence.

At Blank Rome, Judge Gische brought her extraordinary depth of experience to the firm’s litigation practice, concentrating on alternative dispute resolution and commercial litigation and serving as a trusted adviser and mentor to her colleagues.

While her professional accomplishments were remarkable, those who knew Judy will remember her equally for her warmth, generosity, humility, and genuine care for others. We are deeply grateful for her many contributions to Blank Rome and for the lasting impact she had on all those who had the privilege of knowing and working with her.

Our thoughts remain with Judy’s family, friends, and colleagues. She will be deeply missed.

♦

In Judge Gische’s memory, donations may be made to the Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer or the Blanche Gische and Helen Schurkman Endowment Fund for Elder Justice at the University of Buffalo Law School.