January 27, 2023
New York – New York Town Mayor Eric Adams today announced 21 judicial appointments and reappointments to Loved ones Court, Prison Court, and Civil Courtroom. Specially, Mayor Adams appointed three Family members Courtroom judges, and a single Prison Court choose, and reappointed 3 Household Courtroom judges, 10 Criminal Courtroom judges, and four interim Civil Courtroom judges.
“Encouraging our justice system run extra efficiently and proficiently, and deal with some of the bottlenecks that resulted from the pandemic, is a significant component of our administration’s vision for a safer metropolis,” said Mayor Adams. “These appointees are fully commited to carrying out that mission, and we are very pleased to have them serving our metropolis to make it extra just and equitable for all.”
“At the legal justice summit Mayor Adams convened in Oct, we read from a varied array of stakeholders about concrete actions we can get to continue to keep New Yorkers protected,” stated Chief Counsel to the Mayor and Town Corridor Brendan McGuire. “A reliable concept that emerged from the summit was the need for a perfectly-resourced judicial program to address the enormous caseload that carries on to hold off justice for way too quite a few New Yorkers. These judicial appointees have the expertise, expertise, and perseverance necessary to deal with the problems our metropolis faces, and we thank them for their company to our town.”
Mayor Adams appointed the pursuing judges to Household Court docket:
Choose Gigi Parris was initial appointed as an interim Civil Courtroom judge in March 2021 and has been presiding in Family members Court docket. She was a previous company affiliate with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, and Loved ones Defense Follow personnel legal professional with The Bronx Defenders. She also served as a supervising legal professional of the Family members Protection Workforce at Community Defender Service of Harlem, an affiliate court docket lawyer, and previous served as supervising courtroom lawyer to the supervising judge of Queens County Household Court.
Judge Janet McFarland was initially appointed as an interim Civil Court decide in March 2021 and has been presiding in Spouse and children Court docket. Decide McFarland was a previous Bronx County assistant district lawyer. She also formerly served with the Psychological Hygiene Lawful Company as principal legal professional at Woodhull Health care Middle, and as a court docket legal professional referee in Richmond County Loved ones Court.
Decide Stephanie Schwartz was 1st appointed as an interim Civil Court docket decide in December 2021. She started her lawful vocation with The Lawful Help Modern society, Felony Protection Division and afterwards served with the New York City Administration for Kid’s Services in New York and Bronx counties for in excess of nine a long time. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she was a court docket lawyer referee in New York County Family Courtroom.
Mayor Adams appointed the pursuing decide to Prison Courtroom:
Decide Marty J. Lentz was first appointed as an interim Civil Court docket decide in December 2021 and has been serving in Legal Court docket. She started her job as a legislation clerk in the Superior Courtroom of the District of Columbia. She then served as a staff legal professional with The Authorized Support Culture for 18 years. Her assignments included the Brooklyn Felony Protection Observe, Misdemeanor Brooklyn Cure Courtroom, and Red Hook Local community Justice Centre.
Mayor Adams reappointed the next judges to Household Court:
Choose Gregory Gliedman was 1st appointed as a Relatives Court decide in January 2019. Choose Gliedman earlier served with The Lawful Assist Culture, Juvenile Legal rights Division ahead of creating and protecting his possess observe. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Decide Gliedman was a aid justice of the peace in Richmond County Loved ones Court.
Choose Melody Glover has been presiding in Household Court docket considering the fact that June 2017. She started her job with The Lawful Aid Society and served in different capacities which include as assistant legal professional-in-demand of the Kings County Juvenile Legal rights Division. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she managed a solo apply specializing in loved ones and felony regulation when serving with the Queens Legislation Associates for 20 many years.
Judge Robert Hettleman was first appointed as a Spouse and children Court docket decide in December 2013 and served for four decades. He was appointed to the Family Court docket once again in April 2021. Choose Hettleman was a former New York County assistant district legal professional for virtually 15 yrs, getting served in various capacities which includes as chief of the Baby Abuse Device.
Mayor Adams reappointed the following judges to Felony Court docket:
Decide Giyang An has been a Prison Court decide given that December 2021. Judge An was a previous Bronx County assistant district legal professional in the Prison Court docket, Consumption, Narcotics and Trial (Gun Readiness Device) bureaus. She also served with the Office environment of the New York Attorney Common as an assistant attorney common in the Torts Part of the Promises Bureau, Division of Point out Counsel.
Decide Miriam Most effective was appointed as an interim Civil Courtroom choose in June 2003 and then appointed as a Felony Court judge in Oct 2005. Early in her lawful profession, Decide Ideal was a litigation affiliate for a personal agency. She was also a former prosecutor for the Appeals Bureau of the Kings County district attorney’s office and assistant U.S. legal professional in the U.S. District Courtroom for the Eastern District of New York, Legal Division. Decide Very best then went on to serve as senior investigative counsel for the Business office of the Unique Narcotics Prosecutor. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Decide Most effective was deputy chief of the Frauds Bureau in the New York County district attorney’s place of work.
Judge Dale Fong-Frederick was appointed as a Legal Court decide in October 2022. He formerly served with The Lawful Aid Culture, Prison Defense Division in Queens County as a senior employees lawyer. He subsequently went on to serve with the New York County Defender Solutions and was principal law clerk to a Legal Court choose briefly just before returning to The Legal Support Culture. Decide Fong-Frederick was also a former solo practitioner. He then became employed with the New York Condition Unified Court Procedure and served in many capacities. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he presided as a court attorney-referee in Kings County Surrogate’s Court.
Decide Eugene Guarino was appointed as a Felony Courtroom decide in January 2017. He was 1st appointed as an interim Civil Court docket decide in June 2016, serving in Criminal Courtroom. Judge Guarino commenced his lawful profession with the Queens County district attorney’s place of work before starting up a private practice. Prior to his appointment, Choose Guarino was principal court lawyer in Queens County Prison and Supreme Courts.
Judge Melissa Lewis was appointed to the Criminal Court docket in December 2021. She formerly served with the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office for 14 decades in the District Court Misdemeanor Trial Bureau, County Court Felony Demo Bureau, and Key Offense Bureau. She previous served as a deputy bureau main of the County Courtroom Felony Trial Bureau and as director of recruitment. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she served with as deputy chief of team at the New York State Unified Courtroom Technique.
Judge Sara Litman has been a Felony Courtroom decide considering that October 2022. She was a previous Kings County assistant district legal professional who eventually turned a senior assistant district legal professional in the Sex Crimes Bureau. She subsequently joined the New York Point out Unified Court docket Method as a principal law clerk in Supreme Courtroom in Kings and Bronx counties, and very last served as a principal courtroom legal professional in Kings County Supreme Court.
Judge Marisol Martinez Alonso was appointed to the Felony Courtroom in January 2019. She was very first appointed as an interim Civil Court docket judge in February 2018, presiding in Prison Court. Judge Martinez Alonso earlier served with the Bronx County district attorney’s office environment for much more than 16 decades in many bureaus like as the former deputy main of a Demo Bureau.
Judge Gia Morris has been a Felony Court docket judge since January 2013. She was very first appointed as an interim Civil Court judge in September 2011, serving in Felony Court. She was an affiliate for private legislation firms, a previous prosecutor in Kings County, and held executive positions in metropolis and condition investigative agencies, including as inspector standard with the New York Metropolis Office of Investigation. Prior to her appointment, she served as assistant commissioner for investigations at the New York Metropolis Division of Corrections.
Decide Michael Ryan has been a Legal Court choose considering the fact that October 2022. He was a former prosecutor with the Kings County District Attorney’s Workplace, up until his appointment to the bench. During his tenure, he was assigned to numerous bureaus and held a number of titles, including but not limited to serving as a deputy bureau main of the Early Situation Evaluation, Rackets and Prison Courtroom Bureaus, and as bureau chief of the Human Trafficking Bureau and Investigations Division. He final served as main of the Criminal Courts Device prior to his appointment to the bench.
Decide John Zoll has been serving in Criminal Courtroom, 1st as an interim Civil Court judge, appointed in September 2011, and then as a Prison Court decide, appointed in January 2013. He was a previous solo practitioner and a criminal protection legal professional for Queens Regulation Associates and The Authorized Assist Society. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Choose Zoll was a principal court docket legal professional and supervising courtroom legal professional in Criminal Courtroom.
Mayor Adams reappointed the subsequent judges to Civil Court:
Choose Diego Freire was first appointed as an interim Civil Courtroom choose in December 2021 and has been serving in Felony Courtroom. He started his lawful career with The Lawful Aid Culture, Queens County Criminal Defense Follow, where he served for 14 years. Prior to his appointment, he held the twin titles of senior team legal professional in Adolescent Intervention and diversion attorney.
Judge Anthony Battisti was initial appointed as an interim Civil Courtroom decide in December 2021 and has been serving in Legal Courtroom. Choose Battisti was a former prosecutor with the Queens County District Attorney’s Place of work ahead of commencing a law partnership. Prior to his appointment, he ran his have apply for 27 decades in Queens, specializing in criminal protection cases.
Judge Liberty Aldrich was very first appointed as an interim Civil Court docket judge in June 2021 and has been serving in Loved ones Court docket. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she served with the Middle for Courtroom Innovation for approximately two a long time, which include as general counsel, director of Gender-based mostly Violence and Family Court docket Plans, as perfectly as taking care of director. She was also the senior director of the Domestic Violence and Immigration Law Projects at Harmless Horizon. All through her tenure with Mobilization for Youth Authorized Expert services (now identified as Mobilization for Justice Authorized Products and services), Decide Aldrich helped establish Authorized Facts for Family members Right now, a non-financial gain info support for spouse and children court litigants.
Choose Cynthia Lopez was first appointed as an interim Civil Court judge in June 2021 and has been serving in Household Court docket. She previously served with the New York Metropolis Administration for Children’s Solutions for 20 years the place she held numerous titles in Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Brooklyn, together with as supervising lawyer of the Manhattan and Staten Island Household Courtroom Authorized Expert services. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Choose Lopez served as the borough main of the Brooklyn Family Court docket Authorized Services.