LeGaL Announces Judicial Ratings for the 2022 General Election

November 2, 2022

The Judiciary Committee of the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (LeGaL) is pleased to announce its ratings of candidates for judicial office in New York City in advance of the November 8, 2022, general election. 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 Panel must be satisfied that the candidate, once on the bench, will: 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.

In order to obtain a rating of "Highly Approved," the candidate must possess all of the characteristics required for an "Approved" rating to an outstanding degree, and in addition must have demonstrated a commitment to the equality of rights for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

To download a pdf version of these ratings, please click here.

JUSTICES OF THE NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT:*

Supreme Court — First Judicial District (New York County):

Sabrina B. Kraus — Highly Approved

Dakota D. Ramseur — Approved

Lisa A. Sokoloff — Highly Approved

Supreme Court — Second Judicial District (Kings County)

Ellen M Spodek — Approved

Richard Velasquez — Approved

Robin K. Sheares — Approved

Aaron D. Maslow — Approved

Dweynie Esther Paul — Approved

Cheryl J. Gonzales — Approved

Craig S. Walker — Approved

Anne J. Swerne — Approved

Lorna McAllister — Approved

Patria Frias-Colon — Approved

Cenceria Edwards — Approved

Supreme Court — Eleventh Judicial District (Queens County)

Denise N. Johnson — Failed to Appear

Leigh K. Cheng — Failed to Appear

Lee A. Mayersohn — Approved

Nestor Diaz — Approved

Supreme Court — Twelfth Judicial District (Bronx County)

Myrna Socorro — Approved

Fidel Gomez — Approved

Connie Morales — Approved

Supreme Court — Thirteenth Judicial District (Richmond County)

Judith N. McMahon — Approved

Brendan T. Lantry — Failed to Appear

Ann Thompson — Approved

JUDGES OF THE NEW YORK CITY CIVIL COURT:

Civil Court — Bronx County (Countywide)

Michele Davila — Failed to Appear

Steven L. Alfasi — Failed to Appear

Yadhira Gonzalez-Taylor — Approved

Nicholas A. Marricco — Failed to Appear

Sophia Hershman — Approved

Cynthia Isales — Highly Approved

Civil Court — First Municipal Court District of Bronx County

Taisha Chambers — Approved

Lucianna Locorotondo — Failed to Appear

Civil Court — Kings County (Countywide)

Robin S. Garson — Failed to Appear

Edward H. King — Failed to Appear

Pamela Patton Fynes — Approved

Pat Hayes Torres — Approved

Sherveal R. Mimes — Approved

Civil Court — First Municipal Court District of Kings County

Devin R. Robinson — Approved

Civil Court — Seventh Municipal Court District of Kings County

Beverly Tatham — Failed to Appear

Civil Court — Seventh Municipal Court District of Kings County

Brian L. Gotlieb — Failed to Appear

Civil Court — New York County (Countywide)

E. Deronn Bowen — Approved

Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of New York County

Carmen Pacheco — Approved

Civil Court — Third Municipal Court District of New York County

Leroy Austin D'Souza — Highly Approved

Civil Court — Fourth Municipal Court District of New York County

Matthew Bondy — Approved

Civil Court — Ninth Municipal Court District of New York County

Dan Quark — Approved

Civil Court — Queens County (Countywide)

Karen Lin — Highly Approved

William D. Shanahan — Failed to Appear

Maria T. Gonzalez — Failed to Appear

Daniel Kogan — Failed to Appear

Civil Court — Richmond County (Countywide)

Matthew J. Santamauro — Failed to Appear

Mary Alice Kavanagh — Failed to Appear

COUNTY SURROGATES:

Surrogate of New York County

Hillary Gingold — Approved

CANDIDATES RATED BUT NOT APPEARING ON THE BALLOT:

David Evan Marcus — Highly Approved for NYS Supreme Court

Philip Grant — Not Approved for NYC Civil Court

*All candidates are listed in the order in which they will appear on the applicable general election ballots.

LeGaL's Judiciary Committee:

Janice B. Grubin, Esq., Co-Chair

Michael J. Weiner, Esq., Co-Chair

Pamela B. Goldsmith, Esq., Vice-Chair

Craig A. Convissar, Esq.

Lee Coppage, Esq.

David S. Flugman, Esq.

Michael B. Gallub, Esq.

Martha L. Golar, Esq.

Alexandra P. Kolod, Esq.

Gregory A. Locke, Esq.

Concepcion A. Montoya, Esq.

Jason Oliveri, Esq.

Anthony J. Perrotto, Esq.

Ethan D.B. Rice, Esq.

Christopher Salloum, Esq.

Jorge Tenriero, Esq.

Beth L. Williams, Esq.