Notice to NY Judicial Candidates (2026 General Election)
September 1, 2026
Re: Judicial Screening Panel of LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York
Dear LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York members,
As we hope you are aware, our Judiciary Committee (the “Committee”) interviews and evaluates all candidates for judicial office who seek our evaluations and ratings to assist voters in New York City and its surrounding communities. In advance of the general election in November, we are making diligent efforts to invite all candidates in New York City and Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, Suffolk and Nassau Counties for Civil, Supreme, and Surrogate Court Judgeship, using available information from the Board of Elections of the City of New York and other sources. However, we have been informed that in years past some candidates did not receive their invitations and were disappointed that they did not have the opportunity to meet with us. Because we want to evaluate as many candidates as possible, we have decided to use our organization's contacts to help spread the word.
If you currently are a candidate in New York City or Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, Suffolk or Nassau Counties for Judge of the Civil Court, Justice of the Supreme Court, or Surrogate Judge, we invite you to interview before the Committee. And if you know someone who is currently a candidate in New York City or Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, Suffolk or Nassau Counties for Judge of the Civil Court, Justice of the Supreme Court, or Surrogate Judge we ask that you pass along our invitation.
Current candidates who would like to be evaluated should forward a completed copy of a recent Uniform Judicial Questionnaire, a questionnaire submitted to a county or district judicial screening panel, or other similar application and include a resume, references, and writing samples, even if the application does not require them, via e-mail as one pdf attachment to judiciary@le-gal.org. We also encourage you to include information demonstrating your commitment to the equality of rights for all LGBTQ+ people. Interviews are scheduled on a first come, first served basis, and we may not be able to accommodate candidates who respond after September 20.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the e-mail address set forth above. Thank you for your interest and participation.
Very truly yours,
Janice B. Grubin Alexandra P. Kolod
Judiciary Committee Co-Chair Judiciary Committee Co-Chair