The small tree-lined parking area adjacent to 360 Adams St. has been used as a judicial parking lot for a number of years. And this, surprisingly, seems to rankle some people.

In the interests of full disclosure, I confess that I once regularly used this parking area on a regular basis. Granted it was a different time and a different era--it was when I was a hard-working night student at Brooklyn Law School.

But almost every weekday night--and sometimes on weekends--I would drive downtown to Brooklyn Law, located on Willoughby Street at that time, and regularly park near what is now known as Columbus Park. Then I would cross Boerum Place to take copious notes at the learned lectures of professors such as Richard Maloney, Robert Reuben Sugarman, Dean Jerome Prince, Robert Miller, Solly Klein, William Shakespeare Hermann, Peter Thornton, Joe Crea and others.

Most of these famed law men are now gone, but the parking lot remains. And it's created a mini-controversy that is being deftly and patiently handled in recent months by Acting Administrative Judge Abe Gerges.

Recently, and there is a certain degree of irony in the latest issue of the simmering tempest, Justice Gerges reached an agreement with Brooklyn Law School--now located right across the way on Joralemon Street--enabling the school's students and faculty to use that parking lot starting at 5:50 p.m. each day and on weekends.

In addition, Justice Gerges has moved to reduce by about one-third the number of spaces used by judges in a broad walkway separating the space from Borough Hall. Brooklyn Law School Dean Joan Wexler quickly accepted the offer of space by Justice Gerges and told the Daily News in an interview that "Right this minute, I'm looking out my window, and it looks like a parking lot to me."

Minimized in this entire situation is the fact that if they're deprived of this directly accessible spot right outside the southern exit of 360 Adams St., the jurists will have to be accompanied across Boerum Place and beyond by a court officer--twice each court day.

While an agile, youngish reporter was able to negotiate this treacherous trek--by the way, a woman in her early 60s was killed at the crossing a month ago--in about six minutes, most jurists are not that young or agile. As to the "security issue," so easily dismissed by a spokeswoman for the Brooklyn Heights Association and a guy from Transportation Alternatives--a group dedicated to issues such as expanding bicycle traffic--anyone current with the news or even slightly familiar with court life knows that security is indeed an issue.

Each day, these judges make decisions that impact the lives of hundreds of litigants, decisions that may take away their property or other rights. It seldom makes the news, but on occasion, these litigants nurse grudges.

It should go without saying that security is always a challenge where these jurists are concerned. But unfortunately, it must be said, and Justice Gerges, demonstrating the kind of patience and diplomacy that marked his success as a city councilman for many years, is communicating a total message of cooperation and determination to do what's right for all concerned.

Excluding 'Senior Women' From Community Board?

While the debate goes on about the merits of public judicial elections, it might be worthwhile to consider the story of Justice Gerard Rosenberg. Since he once served as law secretary to late Justices Aaron Koota and Irving Radar--at different times, of course--some might assume that he came up through "regular" Democratic ranks.

Not entirely true. In fact, Justice Rosenberg started his elective judicial career by defeating regular nominee Judge Pat Bonamo for a civil court judgeship more than 23 years ago. His performance on that bench led to his nomination and election to the Supreme Court here in 1999.

How did he beat a popular Democratic incumbent back then? Basically, observers agree, because he and his wife Harriet were very popular and well-known civic leaders in the greater Bay Ridge area, which made up a significant portion of the West Brooklyn judicial district that also included parts of Bensonhurst and Borough Park.

His civic activities included serving as the director of the 68th Precinct Farm (baseball) League, heading the 68th Precinct Youth Council, and working on behalf of a number local organizations such as the Bay Ridge Community Council, the Guild For Exceptional Children and the Ragamuffin Parade Committee.

Harriet Rosenberg's civic resume was equally impressive. After helping her husband get elected back in 1985, she has continued as a community leader, most notably as a member Community Board 10, where she headed a number of committees and recently completed her 25th year. Considering her exemplary career, it came as a surprise to many when Bay Ridge area Councilman Vinnie Gentile refused to reappoint her for another term. After a quarter century she was told, in effect, to retire. She did not take kindly to her abrupt dismissal.

Her response, delivered dramatically at the last Board 10 meeting, was, "I was surprised and saddened to have been removed by Councilman Gentile. There seems to be a pattern of discrimination against senior women on this board."

In truth, a number of senior women, all of whom disagreed with the councilman on occasion, have been removed by him from the community board in the past few years. Yet, none of these prior actions had the impact--reflected in dramatic and sympathetic front-page coverage by local papers--of the dismissal of Harriet Rosenberg,

Councilman Gentile, up for re-election to his possible final term next year, may technically have the authority to dismiss community board members who don't go along in lockstep with his wishes. But, whether his controversial practice regarding board re-appointments--especially where "senior women" are concerned--is wise will be determined in the 2009 party primary and election.

Induct Hermalee Patel As BWBA President

Acting Justice Jeffrey Sunshine and Justice Abe Gerges did the swearing-in honors last week when Hermalee Patel officially succeeded Pamela Elisofon as president of the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association (BWBA).

In ceremonies held at the Brooklyn Bar Association headquarters on Remsen Street, other officers inducted included Vice Presidents Joanne Quinones, Pamela Roth and Sue Novick Wasko; Treasurer Andrea Composto; Recording Secretary Carrie Ann Cavallo; and Corresponding Secretary Judge Ellen Spodek, Kings Civil Court supervising judge.

Among the BWBA's directors are Judge Margaret Chan, Joanne Minsky Cohen, Sadia Graham, Barbara Grcevik, Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Lisa Ottley, Roni Pall, Holly Peck, Ella Royzmn, Lisa Schreibersdorf, Paula Styles and Pamela Elisofon. Delegates include Nancy Bannon, Theresa Ciccotto, Judge Deborah Kaplan and Meredith Lusthaus.

PRO BONO BARRISTER is a weekly column dedicated to telling about the good that lawyers do. Send your comments or suggestions to this writer care of this newspaper or to COTEYESQ@aol.com.

Notice: Readers seeking legal representation on a Pro Bono Publico basis should not contact this columnist. Rather, they should seek out the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project at (718) 624-3894.