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)