2018 Civil Court Independent Screening Panel

February 17, 2018

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 two (2) vacancies on the New York County Civil Court and two (2) Municipal Civil Court District vacancies, which will 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 twelve most highly qualified candidates for the four vacancies.

Candidates for the Court may obtain applications from the administrator of the panel, Mr. Joshua Brian Irwin, via email at joshuabrianirwin@gmail.com beginning February 17, 2018. The deadline for submitting completed applications is March 5, 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.

Announcing 74th Assembly District Committee Meeting to Select Democratic Nominee for Member of the New York State Assembly for the April 24th, 2018 Special Election

Due to the election of former State Assemblymember for the 74th Assembly District Brian P. Kavanagh to the State Senate for the 26th Senate District, the Democratic Party will convene a meeting of the 74th Assembly District Committee to select the Party’s nominee for the April 24th, 2018 Special Election as proclaimed today, February 5, 2018, by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Any individual interested in seeking the Party’s nomination for the position of State Senator from the 74th District, New York County, should email the New York County Democratic Committee at manhattandems@gmail.com for more information.

Proclamation of 2018 Special Elections by Governor Andrew Cuomo

Announcing 26th Senate District Committee Meeting to Select Democratic Nominee for Member of the New York State Assembly for the November 7th Special Election

Due to the resignation of former State Senator Dan Squadron, effective on August 11th, the Democratic Party will convene a meeting of the 26th Senate District Committee to select the Party’s nominee for the November 7th General Election. Any individual interested in seeking the Party’s nomination for the position of State Senator from the 26th District, New York and King’s Counties, should email the New York County Democratic Committee at manhattandems@gmail.com for more information.

Announcing 71st Assembly District Committee Meeting to Select Democratic Nominee for Member of the New York State Assembly for the November 7th Special Election

The New York County Democratic Committee is proud to salute Assembly Member Herman “Denny” Farrell, upon his resignation, from 43 years of service  to the people of the State of New York and our great Nation. Due to his resignation, effective on September 5th, the Democratic Party will convene a meeting of the 71st Assembly District Committee to select the Party’s nominee for the November 7th General Election. Any individual interested in seeking the Party’s nomination for the position of Member of Assembly from the 71st District, New York County, should email the New York County Democratic Committee at manhattandems@gmail.com for more information.

Assembly Member Farrell Resignation Letter

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

2017 Demmy Awards

Please join County Leader Keith L.T. Wright and the New York County Democratic Committee for the Demmy Awards on Monday, July 17th, 2017 at 7PM at School of Visual Arts Theatre- 333 West 23rd Street.

The Demmys is Manhattan’s premier Democratic event to honor those New Yorkers who make our city, our state and our nation great.

For more information and to purchase tickets online CLICK HERE

Have questions? Need help? Email us at thedemmys@gmail.com.

THE DEMMY AWARDS NOMINATION PROCESS IS NOW OPEN!

Know someone who you would like to nominate for Manhattan Democrat of the Year or Young Democrat of the Year? Great! Submit a nomination by emailing us at thedemmys@gmail.com with the word “nomination” in the subject line.

Would you like to see your club win a Demmy this year? Go for it! Send us your nomination at thedemmys@gmail.com with “club of the year” in the subject line.

The nominating process closes on July 6th at 12PM. Don’t delay send in your nominations today!

2017 Endorsements of the New York County Democratic Committee

On May 17, 2017 the New York County Democratic Committee Executive Board met to vote on endorsements for city-wide and county-wide elections. Below is the list of endorsed candidates. You can see the full minutes of the meeting here.

  • Mayor – Bill DeBlasio
  • Comptroller – Scott Stringer
  • Manhattan DA – Cy Vance
  • Manhattan BP – Gale Brewer
  • County-wide Civil Court Judge – Phaedra Perry
  • County-wide Civil Court Judge – Richard Tsai

2017 Civil Court Independent Judicial Screening

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

Welcome Democrats!

Keith Wright Image

PROGRESS- LEADERSHIP- INCLUSION- ACTION

Welcome to the New York County Democratic Committee website! Here you’ll find important information regarding upcoming events, relevant news and photos, and information about how to get involved.

New York County is the most historic and important democratic region in America. Each day we carry the banner for progress while fighting to make our borough one of inclusivity and pride. We are elated to welcome you to that fight.

Democrats believe that all people deserve the ability to pursue their dreams and fulfill their potential. We fiercely protect and promote access to opportunity for all New Yorkers, and we believe in lending a hand when necessary and unifying to meet our community’s collective challenges.

Join us.

Keith L.T. Wright
County Leader, New York County Democratic Committee

Independent Judicial Administration Panel 2017

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)