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Riverhead Justice Allen Smith to be ‘honored guest’ at bar association event

Riverhead Town Justice Allen Smith will be an “honored guest” at the Suffolk County Bar Association’s Judiciary Night Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Watermill Caterers in Smithtown.

Judge Smith said he has been a bar association member for 50 years.

“It’s a recognition by the Suffolk County Bar Association that’s very much appreciated,” he said in an interview. “It’s recognition of the town and village justices and the role they play. Sometimes it goes unnoticed what we do.”

“It’s an expression of our gratitude for the continued service and dedication to the administration of justice and to the ideals of the legal profession,” said Jane LaCova, executive director of the bar association, adding that the evening will be an informal gathering of bench and bar members.

Judge Smith has been a Riverhead Town justice since 2000 and, along with Southampton Town Justice Deborah Kooperstein, has been instrumental in bringing the East End Regional Intervention Court, better known as “drug court,” to the five East End towns.

In addition to his time as a judge, he has also served as Riverhead town supervisor, town attorney and assistant district attorney. In addition, he’s been a member of the Riverhead Board of Education, a longtime volunteer with the Riverhead Fire Department and a lawyer in private practice.

At next week’s event, the bar association will also honor Southampton Town Justice Andrea Schiavoni of Sag Harbor.

She was elected to the town court in 2008 and, in 2010, was also appointed to establish a justice court in the Village of Sag Harbor, where she was its first judge.

She also was appointed to start an East End Veterans Treatment Court and is involved in the regional drug court.

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