Category: Judicial Screening Panels

The New York County Democratic Committee has announced the formation of an Independent Screening Panel to report on candidates for the nomination of the Democratic Party for three (3) vacancies on the New York Supreme Court, First Judicial District (New York County) to be nominated at its Judicial Convention, to be filled in the November general election. The heads of numerous bar associations, community organizations and law schools have been invited to nominate members of the panel, which will be directed to report a total of no more than the nine most highly qualified candidates for the three vacancies.

Candidates for the Court may obtain applications from the administrator of the panel, Mr. Ricardo Oquendo, via email at reo@odpllc.law beginning July 20, 2018. The deadline for submitting completed applications is August 9, 2018, 12 P.M. Questions concerning this year’s panel should be directed via email to the Panel Administrator or the New York County Democratic Committee office at (212) 687-6540.

The New York County Democratic Committee is pleased to announce the formation of an Independent Screening Panel on March 5th, 2018, to report on candidates for nomination by the Democratic Party for three vacancies on the New York County Civil Court, which will be filled in the November 6, 2018 general election. The panel will also report on whether the service for the last 10 years of current sitting Civil Court Judge and Acting Supreme Court Justice Frank Nervo merits his continuation in office. The panel has received 25 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 Civil Court and report out those candidates they deem to be most qualified for election to the Civil Court. The designees and their designating organizations are as follows:

Joseph French, Brehon Law Society

Colleen M. Meenan, National Employment Lawyers Association/NY

Devi Vairavan, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys

Schuyler Carroll, New York City Bar Association

Joam Alisme, New York Law School

Dana Stutman, American Academy of Matrimonial Law

Song Kim, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund

Anais Aguilar-Schiro, Columbian Lawyers Association

Inie Park, Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York

Tiffany Femiano, MFY Legal Services

Evelyn Gong, Asian Bar Association of New York

Pamela B. Goldsmith, The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (Le-Gal)

Sean Farrow, Metropolitan Black Bar Association

Tina Wells, New York State Trial Lawyers Association

Allison Hobbs, Association of Black Women Attorneys

David Kaminsky, Jewish Lawyers Guild

Carlos Mulles, Dominican Bar Association

Stanley Gleaton, Mid Manhattan Branch of the NAACP

Benjamin Metsch, Fortune Society

Ruben Stepanian, Armenian Bar Association

Carolyn M. Caccese, Women’s Trial Lawyers Caucus

Kimberly Warner, Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation

Brandon Hicks, National Action Network

 

On May 1, 2018, the Independent Judicial Screening Panel for Civil Court reported the following candidates as most highly qualified for two (2) county-wide Civil Court vacancies and a single vacancy in the 5th Civil Court District:

Shahabuddeen Ally
Lawrence Bosley
Ariel Chesler
Erik Gray
Hilary Gingold
Elsa Marie Hampton
Elyssa Kates
Ilana Marcus
Valentina Morales
Nicholas Moyne
Grace Park
Robert Rosenthal

Thank you to the panel and its administrator for their diligent work.

Sincerely,
Curtis Arluck and Louise Dankberg
Co-Chairs, Judiciary Committee

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

In April 0f this year, Independent Judicial Civil Court Screening Panels were convened to screen candidates for the endorsement of the Democratic Party for two (2) New York County-wide Civil Court vacancies, (1) one vacancy in the 5th Civil Court District, and (1) vacancy in the 9th Civil Court Districts, to be filled in the November 8, 2017 General Election after the September 12, 2017 Primary Election. The following individuals were designated to County-wide panel:

1. Barrie, Susan – National Lawyers Guild
2. Binns, Christopher – Chair (MBBA)
3. Bloom, Jeffrey – Chair (New York State Trial Lawyers Association)
4. Cittadino, Joshua – Colombian Lawyers Association
5. Cole, Cassye – Chair (Association of Black Women Attorneys)
6. Delince, Patrick J. (NELA – NY)
7. Espinosa, Jeanette- Chair (PRBA)
8. Fitzgerald, Christopher – (Brehon Law Society)
9. Grippo, Jonathan – Jewish Community Relations Council
10. Hill, Julian (NAACP- Mid Manhattan)
11. Hoffman, David (Jewish Lawyers Guild)
12. Jacobs, Fran – (NYC Bar Association)
13. Jentsch. Bernadette – Chair (MFY Legal Services)
14. Kolod, Alexandra – (Le-Gal)
15. Malik, Merium – Chair (Muslim Bar Association of NYC)
16. Mateo, Ray – (Hispanic Bar Association)
17. Min, Richard – Asian Americans for Equality
18. Ogulluk, Sevan – American Bar Association
19. Paramio, Omar Almanzar – Chair (Dominican Bar Association)
20. Park, E. Grace – Chair (Korean American Lawyers)
21. Polner, Kira – New York Law School
22. Sundt, Jennifer (New York Women’s Bar)
23. Varghese, Vinoo – (Asian American Bar)
24. Wu, Jason – Chair (Association of Legal Aid Attorneys)

On May 2, 2017, the Independent Judicial Screening Panel for Civil Court reported the following candidates as most highly qualified for two (2) county-wide Civil Court vacancies and a single vacancies in the 5th and 9th Civil Court District:

1. Suzanne Adams
2. Lawrence Bosley
3. Ariel Chesler
4. Hilary Gingold
5. Elyssa Kates
6. Phaedra Perry
7. Leslie stroth
8. Richard Tsai
9. Kathleen Waterman

Thank you to the panel and its administrator for their diligent work.

Sincerely,
Curtis Arluck and Louise Dankberg
Co-Chairs, Judiciary Committee

Whenever there are vacancies to be filled by election on the Civil or Supreme Court, the Manhattan Democratic Party convenes a screening panel to help select who will run as the Democratic nominee. Instead of having a purely political process, the Manhattan Democratic Party uses a unique Independent Judicial Screening Panel that reviews candidates based on application.

The panelists are selected by organizations which are invited to participate by the Manhattan Democratic Party Judicial Sub-Committee. While the Party selects the organizations, they have no direct say over who becomes a panelist nor in how the panelists vote. Twice each year at least 40 organizations are invited to participate and on average at least 20 representatives are empaneled.

For each empty seat on the court, the panel recommends between two and three candidates from all the available applicants. In the case of a Civil Court vacancy, the District Leaders, elected by Democratic voters in the Primary, vote to endorse one candidate who will gain support throughout entire the borough. In the case of the Supreme Court vacancy, the Judicial Delegates, also elected by Democratic voters in the Primary, then vote for the Democratic nominee from among the qualified candidates at a judicial convention.

The organizations which sent panelists for 2017 are:

1. Barrie, Susan – National Lawyers Guild
2. Binns, Christopher – Chair (MBBA)
3. Bloom, Jeffrey – Chair (New York State Trial Lawyers Association)
4. Cittadino, Joshua – Colombian Lawyers Association
5. Cole, Cassye – Chair (Association of Black Women Attorneys)
6. Delince, Patrick J. (NELA – NY)
7. Espinosa, Jeanette- Chair (PRBA)
8. Fitzgerald, Christopher – (Brehon Law Society)
9. Grippo, Jonathan – Jewish Community Relations Council
10. Hill, Julian (NAACP- Mid Manhattan)
11. Hoffman, David (Jewish Lawyers Guild)
12. Jacobs, Fran – (NYC Bar Association)
13. Jentsch. Bernadette – Chair (MFY Legal Services)
14. Kolod, Alexandra – (Le-Gal)
15. Malik, Merium – Chair (Muslim Bar Association of NYC)
16. Mateo, Ray – (Hispanic Bar Association)
17. Min, Richard – Asian Americans for Equality
18. Ogulluk, Sevan – American Bar Association
19. Paramio, Omar Almanzar – Chair (Dominican Bar Association)
20. Park, E. Grace – Chair (Korean American Lawyers)
21. Polner, Kira – New York Law School
22. Sundt, Jennifer (New York Women’s Bar)
23. Varghese, Vinoo – (Asian American Bar)
24. Wu, Jason – Chair (Association of Legal Aid Attorneys)

The New York County Democratic Committee has announced the formation of an Independent Screening Panel to report on candidates for nomination by the Democratic Party for

• two (2) New York county-wide Civil Court vacancies
• and one (1) Municipal Civil Court District vacancy,

which will be filled in the November general election. The heads of numerous bar associations, community’s organizations and law schools have been invited to nominate members of the panel, which will be directed to report a total of no more than the nine most highly qualified candidates for the three (3) Civil Court vacancies.

Candidates for the Court may obtain applications, via email, from the administrator of the panel:

Tanya M. Branch, Esq., at Brody& Branch LLP,
205 Lexington Avenue 4 th Floor, New York, NY 10016,
telephone number (212) 679-7007;
Email: Tanyabranch@brodybranch.com.

Questions concerning this year’s panel should be directed to the Panel Administrator, or the New York County Democratic Committee office at (212) 687-6540.

The deadline for submitting completed Civil Court applications is Friday, March 10, 2017 at 5PM.

The First Department of the Appellate Division of the State of New York is home to the finest members of the New York State Bar. New York County is filled with brilliant attorneys who aspire to the civil court, transcend to the supreme court, enhance the appellate division and ultimately shape the nation on the New York State Court of Appeals. New York County jurists have also done remarkable things on the federal bench.

In 2016, New York County saw candidates and sitting jurists with unprecedented talent and legal acumen. Many have changed the course of history, providing society with brave interpretations of the law and delivering justice in their various courtrooms. The independent judicial screening process employed by the New York County Democratic Committee has served this County, City, State and Country well. On behalf jolietta in canada of the New York County Democratic Committee and the people of the 1st Judicial District, we thank all those involved, particularly the hundreds of volunteer panel members who have served since 1977, for raising the bar for jurists and the administration of justice nation wide.

Thank you also to the panel and its administrator, Cyril K. Bedford, Esq. for their diligent work.

On July 19, 2016 the New York County Supreme Court Independent Judicial Screening Panel met and began the process of screening candidates for the nomination of the Democratic Party, at its Judicial Convention to be filled in the November General election. The panel screened four incumbents and several candidates for five vacancies on the New York State Supreme Court, 1st Judicial District (New York County). The following individuals were designated to serve on the panel by the corresponding organizations:

Anthony P. Luckie, Columbian Lawyers Association
Bruce N. Lederman, Jewish Lawyers Guild
Christine Bae, Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York
Christoper Carrion, Domincan Bar Association
Daniela Nanau, National Employment Lawyers Association/New York
Deborah Riegel. Esq., New York City Bar Association
Diana Wong, Asian Americans for Equality
Elba Galvan, Esq., National Lawyers Guild, New York City Chapter
Josh Silber, New York State Trial Lawyers Association
Juan Gonzalez, Puerto Rican Bar Association
Kenny Louis, Women’s City Club
Lesley Horton Campbell, Esq., NAACP, Mid Manhattan Branch
Marea L. Wachsman, Esq., Women’s Trial Lawyer Caucus
Meredith Miller, The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (Le-Gal)
Merium Malik, Esq., Muslim Bar Association of New York City
Micahel A. Mosberg, Esq., American Academy of Matrimonial Law
Shu’aib Abdur-Raheem, Fortune Society
Dai Wai Chin Feman, Asian American Bar Association of New York
Trina Moore, Association of Black Women Attorneys
Brenda Gill, Fordham Law School

On August 30th, the Independent Judicial Screening Panel reported that the service of incumbents, Hon. Rolando T. Acosta, Hon. Rosalyn Richter and Hon. Troy Webber merit continuation. The Panel also reported the following candidates as most highly qualified for the six vacancies on the New York State Supreme Court, 1st Judicial District:

Anthony Cannataro
David Cohen
Melissa Crane
Erika Edwards
Paul Goetz
Shawn Kelly
Gerald Lebowitz
Verna Saunders
Jennifer Schecter
Adam Silvera
Lisa Sokoloff
Machelle Sweeting
Alex Tisch

Curtis Arluck & Louise Dankberg
Chair & Co-Cair
Judiciary Committee
New York County Democratic Committee

 

The New York County Democratic Committee has announced the formation of an Independent Screening Panel to report on candidates for nomination by the Democratic Party for one incumbent and four vacancies on the New York State Supreme Court vacancies, 1st Judicial District (New York County), which will be filled in the November general election. The chief operation officer of numerous bar associations, community organizations, and law schools designated the following members to the panel, which will report no more than the twelve most highly qualified candidates for the three Civil Court vacancies and review whether the incumbent’s service merits continuation.

Anthony P. Luckie, Columbian Lawyers Association
Bruce N. Lederman, Jewish Lawyers Guild
Christine Bae, Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York
Christoper Carrion, Puerto Rican Bar Association
Daniela Nanau, National Employment Lawyers Association/New York
Deborah Riegel. Esq., New York City Bar Association
Diana Wong, Asian Americans for Equality
Elba Galvan, Esq., National Lawyers Guild, New York City Chapter
Josh Silber, New York State Trial Lawyers Association
Juan Gonzalez, Hispanic Bar Association
Kenny Louis, Women’s City Club
Kersuze Morancy, Metropolitan Black Bar Association
Lesley Horton Campbell, Esq., NAACP, Mid Manhattan Branch
Marea L. Wachsman, Esq., Women’s Trial Lawyer Caucus
Meredith Miller, The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (Le-Gal)
Merium Malik, Esq., Muslim Bar Association of New York City
Micahel A. Mosberg, Esq., American Academy of Matrimonial Law
Nial MacGiollabhui, Esq., Brehon Law Society
Shu’aib Abdur-Raheem, Fortune Society
Susan Bender, New York Women’s Bar Association
Dai Wai Chin Feman
Trina Moore
Brenda Gill