By Alexa Reilly
Alexa also interned with O’Connor, O’Connor, Bresee & First, P.C., the New York State Assembly Minority Counsel’s Office, and the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services. She also served as the 2025-26 Editor-in-Chief of International Law Studies, an independent forum for the publication of international law and comparative law research.
Prior to attending law school, Alexa graduated magna cum laude from Siena University where she earned a B.A. in Political Science. She then went on to serve on active duty as a Field Artillery Officer in the U.S. Army.
In August, she returned to O’Connor First as a full-time law clerk until she is admitted to the bar, at which time she will remain with O’Connor First as an associate attorney.
Modern problems require modern solutions. But how do courts manage to maintain laws that will remain relevant and efficient in a modern society while respecting precedent?
This paper seeks to answer that question through the examination of the jurisprudence of a single judge–Chief Judge Rowan Wilson of New York's highest court, the Court of Appeals. Chief Judge Wilson’s opinions reflect an ongoing struggle between stare decisis and the evolving demands of contemporary society. By analyzing a selection of his opinions and dissents, this article explores how Chief Judge Wilson balances institutional stability with the need for legal evolution in areas facing social, political, and technological changes.
Ultimately, this paper demonstrates how Chief Judge Wilson masterfully navigates the tension between stare decisis and modernization, and how such tension continues to shape the judiciary in a rapidly changing society.
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To read the paper, open HERE.
