10/28/2025
A New York State Supreme Court justice who brings empathy and education into his courtroom to help married couples avoid the all-too-often contentious process of dissolving their union will speak on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at SUNY Cortland.
The Hon. Kevin Kuehner, who currently serves as the senior justice in Onondaga County’s Dedicated Matrimonial Part, will address “Divorce Court: Managing Chaos with Order” at 4:30 p.m. in Moffett Center, Room 2125.
The event, which is free and open to the public, is the second in the 2025-26 Rozanne M. Brooks Lecture Series, themed this year on “The Culture of Turmoil.” The topic springs out of upheaval ordinary people find almost everywhere: in their grocery bill, current news feeds, health decisions, family issues, travel plans or any other daily activity. This year’s speakers aim to address some of today’s most distressing of concerns.
Seating will be limited, so attendees are advised to arrive early. A reception will precede the talk at 4 p.m. at the Rozanne M. Brooks Museum in Moffett Center, Room 2126.
Kuehner is serving an elected, 14-year term as a trial court judge who hears cases in New York’s 5th Judicial District, which encompasses the counties of Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego.
According to him, much has been done in New York state to make divorce easier on the partners.
A legally binding marriage can be unilaterally dissolved in court, he noted. However, only the New York State Supreme Court has jurisdiction to grant a divorce. Since 1980, reforms have made divorce less costly and courts no longer require proof of the cause for divorce. Custody decisions are now focused on the child’s right to have a relationship with both parents. Revisiting financial decisions made during the marriage is largely prohibited. Discussing the divorce or other parent with children is prohibited.
“While these reforms have improved the process, they can unintentionally cause emotional disconnection,” Kuehner said. “Parties often feel alienated when told their personal grievances ‘don’t matter,’ which can lead to confusion, frustration and disengagement.”
He encourages lawyers and judges to acknowledge these feelings and explain to the parties the system’s evolution.
“They can help litigants understand and accept the process, leading to better outcomes and more constructive resolutions,” Kuehner said.
A Le Moyne College graduate who earned a B.S. in biology, he received his Juris Doctor from the Syracuse University College of Law, where he was twice honored with the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Medal for Excellence in Trial Advocacy.
Kuehner is board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy both as a civil trial lawyer and a civil practice lawyer. He earned the highest peer review rating of Preeminent by peer reviewer Martindale-Hubbell and is a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Advocates, one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the U.S.
An adjunct professor at Syracuse University, Kuehner teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses including Trial Practice and the Psychology of Police Interrogation in the Renée Crown Honors Program.
Additional series presentations include:
March 25 — U.S. Politics in Turmoil: New Era or Same Old Story? — Joseph Anthony, a SUNY Cortland assistant professor of political science, will dive into the key topics and questions surrounding the recent polarization in U.S. politics, which many scholars see as rivaling the nation’s most divided periods. Anthony will touch on many questions prompted by the current political maelstrom, including whether there’s something that people can do to help shape the U.S. democracy into a more effective and representative system.
April 8 — The Love Recession — Jill Murphy, a SUNY Cortland associate professor of health, will explore how our society is experiencing a decline in various aspects of interpersonal connection and additional public health challenges, which all together can be viewed as part of a broader “Love Recession.” Murphy will strive to identify opportunities toward reversing the trend.
The Brooks Series honors the late Rozanne M. Brooks, SUNY distinguished teaching professor emerita of sociology/anthropology at SUNY Cortland, whose donated special collection of ethnographic objects to the Sociology/Anthropology Department established the Brooks Museum in 2001.
The 2025-26 Brooks Lecture Series is co-sponsored by the Cortland Auxiliary Services and the Cortland College Foundation. For more information, contact the Brooks Lecture Series organizer and SUNY Distinguished Professor of Sociology/Anthropology Sharon Steadman at 607-753-2308.