Judge Yannelli honored by court

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The Criminal Courts Bar Association of Nassau County recently dedicated the Attorney’s Room at the Nassau County Court building in honor of former Rockville Centre Village Justice Frank Yannelli.

Yannelli was honored not for his time as a village justice, but for his reputation as an upstanding criminal practitioner.

“He’s like the heart and soul of all the courthouses he goes to because he’s such a gentleman,” said Martha Krisel, vice president of the Nassau County Bar Association and a former village attorney. “He’s the best of our profession.”

The Attorney’s Room is a small room in the courthouse. It is the only room in the building, Krisel said, where attorneys could sit and have a private conversation with clients and colleagues.

Krisel said that Yannelli was respected by all of his colleagues because he showed them all respect in turn. He spoke to everyone the same, whether it was his wife or his courtroom opponent.

“That’s his trademark,” Krisel said. “You do not sacrifice advocacy by being kind, being courteous and treating everyone with respect.”