top of page

LeGaL Announces Judicial Ratings for 2021 General Election


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 2, 2021 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)


Margaret A. Pui Yee Chan — Approved

John J. Kelley — Approved


Supreme Court — Second Judicial District (Kings County)


Dena E. Douglas — Invitation Pending

Robert S. Mazzuchin Jr. — Failed to Appear

Lillian Wan — Highly Approved

Carolyn Walker-Diallo — Highly Approved

Consuelo Mallafre Melendez — Highly Approved

Gina Levy Abadi — Failed to Appear

Joy F. Campanelli —Approved

Richard J. Montelione — Highly Approved


Supreme Court — Eleventh Judicial District (Queens County)


Denis J. Butler — Failed to Appear

Deborah Axt — Failed to Appear

Kenneth C. Holder — Failed to Appear

Bob Cohen — Failed to Appear

Laurentia S. McKentney Butler — Failed to Appear

David J. Kirschner — Approved

Karen Gopee — Approved

John C. Spataro — Approved

Michele R. Titus — Failed to Appear

Supreme Court — Twelfth Judicial District (Bronx County)


George R. Villegas — Approved

Anthony G. Marecki — Failed to Appear

Patsy D. Gouldborne — Highly Approved

Paul L. Alpert — Approved

Marissa Soto — Failed to Appear

Naita A. Semaj — Approved

Supreme Court — Thirteenth Judicial District (Richmond County)


Ann Thompson — Approved

Paul Marrone Jr. — Failed to Appear

Charles M. Troia — Approved

Ronald Castorina Jr. — Failed to Appear


 

JUDGES OF THE NEW YORK CITY CIVIL COURT:


Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of Bronx County


Jessica Flores — Highly Approved

Verena C. Powell — Approved


Civil Court — Kings County (Countywide)


Inga M. O’Neale — Approved

Sharen D. Hudson — Failed to Appear

Heela Doreen Capell — Approved


Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of Kings County


Lisa Lewis — Approved


Civil Court — Seventh Municipal Court District of Kings County


Keisha M. Alleyne — Failed to Appeal


Civil Court — New York County (Countywide)


Jeffrey S. Zellan — Approved

Kim M. Parker — Failed to Appear


Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of New York County


Betty Lugo — Approved

Christopher Chin — Approved


Civil Court — Third Municipal Court District of New York County


Paul A. Goetz — Highly Approved


Civil Court — Fifth Municipal Court District of New York County


Hasa A. Kingo — Highly Approved


Civil Court — Ninth Municipal Court District of New York County


Barbara Jaffe — Approved


Civil Court — Queens County (Countywide)


Soma S. Syed — Failed to Appear

William D. Shanahan — Failed to Appear

Andrea S. Ogle — Failed to Appear


Civil Court — Third Municipal Court District of Queens County


Paul A. Vallone — Approved

Joseph F. Kasper — Failed to Appear


Civil Court — Fourth Municipal Court District of Queens County


Cassandra A. Johnson — Failed to Appear

Daniel Kogan — Failed to Appear


Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of Richmond County


Maria Novak — Failed to Appear

Brendan T. Landry — Not Approved


 

COUNTY SURROGATES:


Surrogate of Kings County


Rosemarie Montalbano — Highly Approved



 

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.

William Crosby, Esq. (On sabbatical 2021)

Harley D. Diamond, Esq.

David S. Flugman, Esq.

Michael B. Gallub, Esq.

Martha L. Golar, Esq.

Alexandra P. Kolod, Esq.

Kaegan M. Mays-Williams, Esq.

Andrew P. Merten, Esq.

Concepcion A. Montoya, Esq.

Craig M. Notte, Esq. (On sabbatical 2021)

Ethan D.B. Rice, Esq.

Christopher Salloum, Esq.

Jorge Tenriero, Esq.

Beth L. Williams, Esq.

Matthew Mayers, Student Intern (J.D. Expected 2023)

687 views0 comments
bottom of page