Honoring a
Transformative Legacy
The Lawrence H. Cooke Dispute Resolution Legacy Fund
The Lawrence H. Cooke Dispute Resolution Legacy Fund honors Judge Lawrence H. Cooke (1914-2000), whose visionary leadership in the late 1970s and early 1980s fundamentally transformed how New York State approaches conflict resolution.
Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke
1914 - 2000
As the driving force behind the creation of New York's Community Dispute Resolution Center (CDRC) program—the first statewide network of its kind in the United States—Chief Judge Cooke understood that true justice requires innovative solutions that serve all people, regardless of their economic circumstances.
Through the transformative legacy of Judge Lawrence H. Cooke, this legacy fund ensures that everyone across New York State can access dispute resolution services without the burden of cost preventing them from seeking help. The fund eliminates financial barriers, making our services truly inclusive and accessible to all who need them.
Campaign Leadership
To lead this historic effort, the Honorable Lawrence K. Marks — former Chief Administrative Judge of the New York State Unified Court System and a longstanding champion of access to justice and alternative dispute resolution — is serving as Campaign Chair of the Fund. His leadership underscores the importance of preserving Chief Judge Cooke's vision for future generations.
CAMPAIGN CHAIR
The Honorable Lawrence K. Marks (ret.)
Former Chief Administrative Judge, New York State Unified Court System
Chair, NYSDRA Advisory Board
"Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke challenged us to imagine a justice system that reached beyond the courthouse and into our communities. His vision has strengthened families, neighborhoods, schools, and local businesses for more than forty years. By building this permanent endowment today, we honor not only his extraordinary legacy but our shared responsibility to carry it forward for generations to come."
The 3-Year Goal
$1.5 Million to Carry the Network Forward
This ambitious but achievable goal will allow us to serve everyone, regardless of financial status, while expanding innovative programs that strengthen the relationship between our centers and the courts they serve.
$1.5 M
Campaign Goal
3 Years
to Reach Our Goal
62
Counties Served
18
CDRCs
Plant Your Leaf on the Founding Tree
Every gift, at every level, becomes part of a living tribute - a lasting record of the individuals, organizations, and community leaders helping to ensure that future generations of New Yorkers always have access to mediation, dialogue, and community-based conflict resolution.
One Statewide Network, Rooted in a Single Act of Vision
Every gift to the Fund feeds the same root system: 18 Community Dispute Resolution Centers, reaching into all 62 counties in New York State, each doing the quiet work of keeping conflict out of the courtroom and inside a conversation.
Making a Difference
Your contribution to the Lawrence H. Cooke Dispute Resolution Legacy Fund directly supports Community Dispute Resolution Centers across all 62 counties in New York State. These centers provide essential services including mediation, conflict resolution and restorative justice programs that help individuals, families, and communities resolve disputes peacefully and effectively.
Help the Network Reach Its Next Branch