2017 Supreme Court Independent Screening Panelists Announced

The New York County Democratic Committee is pleased to announce the formation of an Independent Screening Panel to report on candidates for nomination by the Democratic Party for five vacancies on the New York State Supreme Court vacancies, 1st Judicial District (New York County), which will be filled in the November 8, 2017 general election. The panel has received an unprecedented 32 designees from participating bar associations, law schools, and community groups, demonstrating the extensive outreach on behalf the Manhattan Democratic Party to the legal community and the vitality of the civil society surrounding the judiciary here in Manhattan. The panelists will review applicants to the Supreme Court and report out those candidates they deem to be most qualified for election to the Supreme Court. The designees and their designating organizations are as follows:

Silvia Babikian, Armenian Bar Association
Leona Beane , New York Women’s Bar Association
Cara Berkowitz,  Jewish Board of Family & Childrens’ Services
Tanya N. Blocker,  Metropolitan Black Bar Association
Kieran Conlon, Brehon Law Society
Harley Diamond,  Lesbian & Gay Bisexual & Transgender Community Service Center
Erika Donovan Estades,  Latino Leadership Institute
Gerald Eber, Fortune Society
Jeremy Feigenbaum,  Jewish Community Relations Council of New York
Elizabeth Fischer,  Neighborhood Defenders Service of Harlem
Qian Gao, Asian Bar Association of New York
Megan Goddard,  National Employment Lawyers Association/NY
Janice Grubin,The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (Le-Gal)
Evan Hasbrook, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys
Amin Kassam,  Muslim Bar Association of New York City
James Lee,  Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York
John Low-Beer,  City Club
Elizabeth Lynch,  MFY Legal Services
Steve Madra, Asian Americans for Equality
Nelson Mar,  Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Deborah Martin Owens,Women’s City Club
Scott Occhiogrosso, New York State Trial Lawyers Association
William Pagan, Puerto Rican Bar Association
Carlos Perez-Hall,  New York City Bar Association
Vianny M. Pichardo,  Dominican Bar Association
Ann Schneider,  National Lawyers Guild
Meryl Schwartz,  Women’s Trial Lawyers Caucus
Iris Springer-Elkerson,  Association of Black Women Attorneys
Andrew Targum,  Jewish Lawyers’ Guild
Shanelle Washington,  Mid Manhattan Branch of the NAACP
Kenneth Willis,  New York Urban League
Melissa Ysaguirre,  Legal Services Staff Association

Silvia

Babikian

 Armenian Bar Association

 Leona

Beane

 New York Women’s Bar Association

 Cara

Berkowitz

 Jewish Board of Family & Childrens’ Services

 Tanya N.

Blocker

 Metropolitan Black Bar Association

 Kieran

Conlon

 Brehon Law Society

 Harley

Diamond

 Lesbian & Gay Bisexual & Transgender Community Service Center

 Erika

Donovan Estades

 Latino Leadership Institute

 Gerald

Eber

 Fortune Society

 Jeremy

Feigenbaum

 Jewish Community Relations Council of New York

 Elizabeth

Fischer

 Neighborhood Defenders Service of Harlem

 Qian

Gao

 Asian Bar Assocation of New York

 Megan

Goddard

 National Employment Lawyers Association/NY

 Janice

Grubin

 The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (Le-Gal)

 Evan

Hasbrook

 Association of Legal Aid Attorneys

 Amin

Kassam

 Muslim Bar Association of New York City

 James

Lee

 Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York

 John

Low-Beer

 City Club

 Elizabeth

Lynch

 MFY Legal Services

 Steve

Madra

 Asian Americans for Equality

 Nelson

Mar

 Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund

 Deborah

Martin Owens

 Women’s City Club

 Scott

Occhiogrosso

 New York State Trial Lawyers Association

 William

Pagan

 Puerto Rican Bar Association

 Carlos

Perez-Hall

 New York City Bar Association

Vianny M.

Pichardo

 Dominican Bar Association

 Ann

Schneider

 National Lawyers Guild

 Meryl

Schwartz

 Women’s Trial Lawyers Caucus

 Iris

Springer-Elkerson

 Association of Black Women Attorneys

 Andrew

Targum

 Jewish Lawyers’ Guild

 Shanelle

Washington

 Mid Manhattan Branch of the NAACP

 Kenneth

Willis

 New York Urban League

 Melissa

Ysaguirre

 Legal Services Staff Association