Announcing our Ratings for the 2026 General Election
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judiciary@lgbtbarny.org | lgbtbarny.org
For Immediate Release
Announcing our Ratings for the 2026 General Election
October 26, 2026 – In advance of the November 3, 2026 General Election, the Judiciary Committee of the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York is pleased to announce its ratings of all candidates for: (i) New York State Supreme Court in the 1st, 2nd, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th Judicial Districts (comprising New York, Kings, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Bronx, and Richmond Counties); (ii) New York City Civil Court in Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond Counties; and (iii) Surrogate in Bronx and New York Counties. Candidates were eligible to receive the following ratings: "Highly Approved," "Approved," "Not Approved," or "Failed to Appear."
In order to obtain an "Approved" rating, the Judiciary Committee’s Rules require that the Judiciary Committee be satisfied that the candidate, once on the bench, would: 1) demonstrate a commitment to the equality of rights for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people; 2) possess the integrity, intellect, experience, and temperament required of judicial office; and 3) perform judicial duties without bias or prejudice against or in favor of any person and will not permit discrimination against any minority in his or her courtroom or office.
To obtain a rating of "Highly Approved," the Judiciary Committee’s Rules require that the candidate demonstrates that they possess all the characteristics required for an "Approved" rating to an outstanding degree and, in addition, must have demonstrated a history of commitment to the equality of rights for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
CANDIDATES FOR JUSTICE OF THE NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT
Supreme Court — First Judicial District (New York County)
Shlomo S. Hagler—Approved
Amy S. Taylor—Failed to Appear
Manuel J. Mendez—Approved
Joshua E. Goldfein—Failed to Appear
Saliann Scarpulla—Highly Approved
Sienna Fontaine—Failed to Appear
Hasa A. Kingo—Highly Approved
Bob Cohen— Failed to Appear
Kathleen Waterman-Marshall—Highly Approved
Jeffrey W. Rizzo— Failed to Appear
Christopher Chin—Approved
Supreme Court — Second Judicial District (Kings County)
Betsey Jean-Jacques—Approved
Hemalee J. Patel —Not Approved
William D. Spain Jr.—Failed to Appear
Sherveal Mimes—Approved
Lola Waterman—Approved
Supreme Court — Ninth Judicial District (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester Counties)
Maria Rosa —Approved
George Fufido— Failed to Appear
Richard S. Fava-Pastilha — Failed to Appear
John Ciampoli — Failed to Appear
Alden Wolfe —Highly Approved
Supreme Court — Tenth Judicial District (Nassau and Suffolk Counties)
Karen M. Wilutis—Failed to Appear
John Iliou— Failed to Appear
Richard Ambro—Failed to Appear
William D. Wexler—Failed to Appear
F. Scott Carrigan— Failed to Appear
Mary E. Porter—Highly Approved
Leonard D. Steinman— Failed to Appear
Joy M. Watson— Failed to Appear
Stephen L. Ukeiley— Failed to Appear
Eric Sachs—Approved
John Kelly— Failed to Appear
Anthony R. Portesy—Failed to Appear
Jonathan D. Estreich—Failed to Appear
Supreme Court — Eleventh Judicial District (Queens County)
Edwin I. Novillo—Approved
Gary Muraca — Failed to Appear
Oma D. Phillips—Approved
David A. Bellon — Failed to Appear
Gail A. Adams —Failed to Appear
Supreme Court — Twelfth Judicial District (Bronx County)
Alvin M. Yearwood—Highly Approved
Supreme Court — Thirteenth Judicial District (Richmond County)
Kelvin Richards—Failed to Appear
Michael J. Pinto—Failed to Appear
CANDIDATES FOR JUDGE OF THE NEW YORK CITY CIVIL COURT
Civil Court — First Municipal Court District of Bronx County
Jodi L. Morales—Highly Approved
Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of Bronx County
Sara A. Collins-Sedey—Highly Approved
Civil Court — Kings County (Countywide)
Danielle A. Noel —Highly Approved
Linda Lo Cascio—Highly Approved
Celeste Felix—Approved
Christine G. Ortiz —Approved
Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of Kings County
Lauren J. Brown-Akowe—Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Third Municipal Court District of Kings County
Tamara Ortiz—Approved
Civil Court — Fourth Municipal Court District of Kings County
Anthony W. Vaughn Jr.—Approved
Aaron Franklin—Failed to Appear
Xavier Carr—Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Sixth Municipal Court District of Kings County
Janice P. Purvis—Approved
Michelle DeSouza-Forte—Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Seventh Municipal Court District of Kings County
Bridget Hamblin—Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Eighth Municipal Court District of Kings County
Susan A. Liebman—Approved
Etan C. Harris—Failed to Appear
Civil Court — New York County (Countywide)
Josh E. Hanshaft—Approved
Emily Morales-Minerva—Failed to Appear
Vlad Frants—Approved
Civil Court — First Municipal Court District of New York County
Eric Flores—Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Third Municipal Court District of New York County
Steven Benathen—Highly Approved
Civil Court — Fourth Municipal Court District of New York County
Faith Bondy—Approved
Civil Court — Seventh Municipal Court District of New York County
Keshia Espinal—Highly Approved
Aija Tingling—Failed to Appear
Matthew Levy—Approved
Karen Cortes-Tower—Highly Approved
Civil Court — Ninth Municipal Court District of New York County
Jennifer Frankola-Crawford—Highly Approved
Brian J. Krist—Approved
Civil Court — Queens County (Countywide)
Edmond Wong—Failed to Appear
Thomas D. Barra—Failed to Appear
Julie M. Milner— Failed to Appear
Jasmine I. Valle-Bueno—Highly Approved
Michael Mossa— Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of Queens County
Janet Ellen Keller—Approved
Stephen C. Dachtera—Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Third Municipal Court District of Queens County
Michelle Ann McSweeney-Ortiz—Failed to Appear
William David Shanahan— Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Fourth Municipal Court District of Queens County
Edward Irizarry—Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Richmond County (Countywide)
Tashanna Golden—Highly Approved
Glenn A. Yost— Failed to Appear
Civil Court — First Municipal Court District of Richmond County
John A. Vitucci —Approved
Carrie Ann Low— Failed to Appear
CANDIDATES FOR SURROGATE
Surrogate — Bronx County
Nelida Malave Gonzalez—Approved
Surrogate — New York County
Rita Mella—Highly Approved
The Judiciary Committee[1]
Janice B. Grubin, Esq., Co-Chair
Alexandra P. Kolod, Esq., Co-Chair
George D. Adames, Esq., Executive Team Member
Christina M. Browne, Esq., Executive Team Member (on sabbatical)
James A. Naumann, Esq., Secretary (on sabbatical)
Lisa Angeles, Esq.
Dante Bellardita Fernández, Esq. (on sabbatical)
Lee Coppage, Esq.
Walter Cosby, Esq.
Michael B. Gallub, Esq.
Brendan M. Gibbons, Esq. (on sabbatical)
Martha L. Golar, Esq.
Robert H. King, Esq. (on sabbatical)
Christopher Lynch, Esq.
Gregory A. Locke, Esq.
Concepcion A. Montoya, Esq. (on sabbatical)
Drake Reed, Esq. (on sabbatical)
Ethan Rice, Esq.
Joseph H. Rochman, Esq.
Christopher Salloum, Esq.
Michael J. Weiner, Esq.
Lauren J. Zimmerman, Esq.
[1] All affairs of the Judiciary Committee including, without limitation, the interviews, deliberations, ratings and evaluations of judicial candidates, are conducted with no involvement of Association President, the Honorable Eric J. Wursthorn.