Lucy P. Bernier, Oneonta’s first female city prosecutor and city court judge, died Feb. 5 in Oneonta. She was 69.
Bernier obtained her law degree from Albany Law School, and in 1981, joined her mother’s private law practice, believed to be the first mother-daughter law firm in New York state.
Bernier was recognized in July 2021 with the city’s Trailblazer Award, presented by then-Mayor Gary Herzig. in addition to being recognized as the first woman to hold those offices, the award recognized Bernier for starting the City Court Internship Program, serving as a law guardian and attorney for children and parents in Family Court and providing legal assistance at free legal aid clinics and training in domestic violence to town and village justices.
“We all know Lucy as Judge Lucy,” Herzig said at the time. “She always does what’s right for the city and for the litigant.”
During the presentation, Bernier said she was blessed to have the support of her family and she rules from the bench fairly.
“I believe in leveling the playing field,” Bernier said. “No matter who they are, what race, religion or gender they are, I try to judge fairly. I hope for good results for the city and the person. If you forget about their humanity you treat them like a machine and I don’t want to do that.”
Bernier served as president of both the Oneonta Concert Association and the Catskill Choral Society and sang soprano with the latter for many years. She was also a writer and published a series of mystery novels featuring a woman attorney in Upstate New York.
Her obituary can be seen on page 5 of today’s newspaper.