GUILDERLAND — In  a “little ceremony” arranged last Thursday  by Guilderland Town Justice John Bailey, James Milstein — who since 2011 has headed the Albany County Office of the Public Defender, an office representing people who cannot afford to pay a lawyer — was honored for his long service in Guilderland Town Court and other courts across Albany County.

When he became Albany County Public Defender in 2011, Milstein had already been advocating for 27  years is an attorney in the office.

He stepped down from that post early this year  to become Director of the New York State Office of Immigration Services for its  14-county northern region.   But for the last six months, he has continued to work as a public defender while organizing the new office, established to improve legal services for non-citizens facing legal problems and consequences, including deportation.

Milstein will continue to seek a fair shake for defendants, but now —  in his new job — for those appearing before the state’s four Immigrations Courts

On Thursday,  Milstein stood before the bench as a robed Justice Bailey said of him, “Many of the people who come before this this court are in serious trouble. Many of them are without family and friends. In Mr. Milstein, they found an advocate who defended them with skill and commitment.”

The court room, which was full of attorneys and persons who had been summoned to appear that day, gave Milstein a sustained ovation when Judge Bailey concluded his heartfelt-elegy. The defendants in the room may have applauded the loudest.

When the applause died down, presiding Judge Richard Sherwood took his seat, a prisoner from Albany County’s jail was brought forward to face the judge, and Milstein stood at the prisoner’s side, ready to defend.

Corrected on Sept. 29, 2016. The previous version of this article used the wrong first name for former Albany County Public Defender James Milstein.