January 27, 2023
New York – New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams now announced 21 judicial appointments and reappointments to Relatives Courtroom, Prison Court, and Civil Court. Particularly, Mayor Adams appointed three Relatives Court docket judges, and a person Felony Court docket decide, and reappointed a few Spouse and children Court judges, 10 Prison Court docket judges, and 4 interim Civil Court judges.
“Serving to our justice process work more competently and properly, and deal with some of the bottlenecks that resulted from the pandemic, is a significant part of our administration’s eyesight for a safer metropolis,” said Mayor Adams. “These appointees are fully commited to carrying out that mission, and we are happy to have them serving our town to make it extra just and equitable for all.”
“At the felony justice summit Mayor Adams convened in October, we heard from a numerous array of stakeholders about concrete methods we can get to preserve New Yorkers safe and sound,” mentioned Chief Counsel to the Mayor and Town Corridor Brendan McGuire. “A consistent concept that emerged from the summit was the will need for a nicely-resourced judicial process to handle the huge caseload that proceeds to hold off justice for also quite a few New Yorkers. These judicial appointees have the expertise, experience, and dedication essential to tackle the issues our metropolis faces, and we thank them for their service to our town.”
Mayor Adams appointed the following judges to Household Court:
Choose Gigi Parris was 1st appointed as an interim Civil Courtroom choose in March 2021 and has been presiding in Family Court docket. She was a previous company affiliate with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, and Loved ones Protection Practice staff members legal professional with The Bronx Defenders. She also served as a supervising legal professional of the Family Protection Workforce at Neighborhood Defender Company of Harlem, an associate court docket attorney, and last served as supervising court lawyer to the supervising judge of Queens County Relatives Court.
Judge Janet McFarland was 1st appointed as an interim Civil Court docket decide in March 2021 and has been presiding in Spouse and children Court. Decide McFarland was a previous Bronx County assistant district legal professional. She also formerly served with the Psychological Hygiene Authorized Assistance as principal lawyer at Woodhull Healthcare Middle, and as a court docket lawyer referee in Richmond County Relatives Court.
Choose Stephanie Schwartz was first appointed as an interim Civil Court judge in December 2021. She began her legal vocation with The Legal Help Culture, Legal Defense Division and later on served with the New York City Administration for Children’s Expert services in New York and Bronx counties for around nine many years. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she was a courtroom legal professional referee in New York County Relatives Court docket.
Mayor Adams appointed the pursuing judge to Criminal Courtroom:
Judge Marty J. Lentz was initially appointed as an interim Civil Court choose in December 2021 and has been serving in Criminal Court docket. She started her profession as a law clerk in the Superior Court docket of the District of Columbia. She then served as a employees legal professional with The Lawful Assist Culture for 18 years. Her assignments provided the Brooklyn Criminal Protection Exercise, Misdemeanor Brooklyn Treatment Court docket, and Purple Hook Community Justice Heart.
Mayor Adams reappointed the pursuing judges to Family members Courtroom:
Decide Gregory Gliedman was first appointed as a Relatives Court choose in January 2019. Judge Gliedman earlier served with The Authorized Aid Culture, Juvenile Legal rights Division right before developing and keeping his have follow. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Gliedman was a assist justice of the peace in Richmond County Household Court.
Choose Melody Glover has been presiding in Loved ones Court considering that June 2017. She started her occupation with The Lawful Aid Modern society and served in numerous capacities including as assistant lawyer-in-charge of the Kings County Juvenile Legal rights Division. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she managed a solo apply specializing in family and criminal legislation though serving with the Queens Regulation Associates for 20 yrs.
Choose Robert Hettleman was very first appointed as a Relatives Courtroom decide in December 2013 and served for four many years. He was appointed to the Family Court docket all over again in April 2021. Judge Hettleman was a previous New York County assistant district attorney for almost 15 many years, acquiring served in many capacities including as main of the Little one Abuse Unit.
Mayor Adams reappointed the subsequent judges to Felony Court docket:
Decide Giyang An has been a Prison Courtroom judge given that December 2021. Judge An was a former Bronx County assistant district attorney in the Felony Courtroom, Ingestion, Narcotics and Demo (Gun Readiness Unit) bureaus. She also served with the Business of the New York Lawyer Common as an assistant legal professional standard in the Torts Part of the Claims Bureau, Division of Condition Counsel.
Judge Miriam Best was appointed as an interim Civil Court judge in June 2003 and then appointed as a Felony Courtroom judge in October 2005. Early in her lawful profession, Judge Very best was a litigation associate for a non-public business. She was also a previous prosecutor for the Appeals Bureau of the Kings County district attorney’s workplace and assistant U.S. lawyer in the U.S. District Courtroom for the Eastern District of New York, Criminal Division. Choose Ideal then went on to serve as senior investigative counsel for the Office of the Specific Narcotics Prosecutor. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Decide Ideal was deputy main of the Frauds Bureau in the New York County district attorney’s place of work.
Decide Dale Fong-Frederick was appointed as a Prison Court choose in Oct 2022. He formerly served with The Authorized Assist Society, Legal Protection Division in Queens County as a senior personnel legal professional. He subsequently went on to provide with the New York County Defender Solutions and was principal regulation clerk to a Felony Court docket judge briefly just before returning to The Legal Support Society. Choose Fong-Frederick was also a former solo practitioner. He then grew to become employed with the New York Condition Unified Court Method and served in numerous capacities. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he presided as a courtroom lawyer-referee in Kings County Surrogate’s Court.
Judge Eugene Guarino was appointed as a Prison Court docket choose in January 2017. He was to start with appointed as an interim Civil Court decide in June 2016, serving in Prison Court docket. Decide Guarino began his lawful job with the Queens County district attorney’s place of work before starting up a private apply. Prior to his appointment, Choose Guarino was principal court lawyer in Queens County Prison and Supreme Courts.
Choose Melissa Lewis was appointed to the Legal Court docket in December 2021. She previously served with the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office environment for 14 years in the District Courtroom Misdemeanor Demo Bureau, County Courtroom Felony Demo Bureau, and Big Offense Bureau. She final served as a deputy bureau main of the County Court Felony Demo Bureau and as director of recruitment. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she served with as deputy main of personnel at the New York Point out Unified Court System.
Decide Sara Litman has been a Criminal Court docket judge considering the fact that Oct 2022. She was a previous Kings County assistant district lawyer who ultimately turned a senior assistant district lawyer in the Intercourse Crimes Bureau. She subsequently joined the New York Condition Unified Courtroom Program as a principal law clerk in Supreme Courtroom in Kings and Bronx counties, and previous served as a principal courtroom legal professional in Kings County Supreme Courtroom.
Judge Marisol Martinez Alonso was appointed to the Prison Court docket in January 2019. She was initially appointed as an interim Civil Court docket decide in February 2018, presiding in Legal Courtroom. Judge Martinez Alonso previously served with the Bronx County district attorney’s business for much more than 16 a long time in several bureaus together with as the former deputy main of a Demo Bureau.
Judge Gia Morris has been a Criminal Courtroom choose considering that January 2013. She was 1st appointed as an interim Civil Court docket judge in September 2011, serving in Prison Court. She was an affiliate for private regulation companies, a former prosecutor in Kings County, and held govt positions in town and state investigative companies, such as as inspector standard with the New York Town Division of Investigation. Prior to her appointment, she served as assistant commissioner for investigations at the New York Metropolis Division of Corrections.
Judge Michael Ryan has been a Legal Court decide because Oct 2022. He was a previous prosecutor with the Kings County District Attorney’s Business, up right until his appointment to the bench. All through his tenure, he was assigned to numerous bureaus and held several titles, which include but not confined to serving as a deputy bureau chief of the Early Case Assessment, Rackets and Criminal Court Bureaus, and as bureau chief of the Human Trafficking Bureau and Investigations Division. He very last served as chief of the Felony Courts Unit prior to his appointment to the bench.
Judge John Zoll has been serving in Felony Court, initially as an interim Civil Court docket choose, appointed in September 2011, and then as a Legal Courtroom judge, appointed in January 2013. He was a former solo practitioner and a prison defense lawyer for Queens Law Associates and The Legal Help Society. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Choose Zoll was a principal court lawyer and supervising courtroom lawyer in Prison Courtroom.
Mayor Adams reappointed the pursuing judges to Civil Courtroom:
Decide Diego Freire was first appointed as an interim Civil Courtroom judge in December 2021 and has been serving in Legal Court docket. He began his lawful occupation with The Authorized Aid Modern society, Queens County Prison Defense Apply, in which he served for 14 a long time. Prior to his appointment, he held the dual titles of senior workers attorney in Adolescent Intervention and diversion legal professional.
Choose Anthony Battisti was initially appointed as an interim Civil Court docket decide in December 2021 and has been serving in Legal Courtroom. Decide Battisti was a previous prosecutor with the Queens County District Attorney’s Business office ahead of starting a law partnership. Prior to his appointment, he ran his possess exercise for 27 many years in Queens, specializing in legal defense cases.
Choose Liberty Aldrich was 1st appointed as an interim Civil Courtroom choose in June 2021 and has been serving in Relatives Court docket. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she served with the Center for Court docket Innovation for approximately two decades, including as standard counsel, director of Gender-based mostly Violence and Family members Court Systems, as well as handling director. She was also the senior director of the Domestic Violence and Immigration Law Initiatives at Protected Horizon. During her tenure with Mobilization for Youth Lawful Companies (now known as Mobilization for Justice Lawful Products and services), Judge Aldrich aided set up Legal Info for Households Now, a non-financial gain facts support for spouse and children courtroom litigants.
Judge Cynthia Lopez was initially appointed as an interim Civil Court docket choose in June 2021 and has been serving in Family Courtroom. She formerly served with the New York City Administration for Children’s Solutions for 20 several years exactly where she held various titles in Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Brooklyn, including as supervising lawyer of the Manhattan and Staten Island Relatives Courtroom Lawful Solutions. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Decide Lopez served as the borough main of the Brooklyn Household Courtroom Legal Expert services.
