LeGaL Announces Judicial Ratings for 2021 Primaries
The Judiciary Committee of the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (LeGaL) is pleased to announce its ratings of candidates in the contested primary elections for the five counties of New York City for the following offices: Judge of the New York Civil Court; District Attorney; and Surrogate.
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 had to be satisfied that the candidate, once on the bench or elected as District Attorney, 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 the judicial or prosecutorial roffice; 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 candidate had to demonstrate that they possess all 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.
Bronx County
Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of Bronx County
Angel Cruz — Failed to Appear
Jessica Flores — Highly Approved
Yadhira Gonzalez-Taylor — Approved
Verena C. Powell — Approved
John Rodriguez — Failed to Appear
Kings County
District Attorney
Eric Gonzalez — Failed to Appear
Rohan Marshall — Failed to Appear
Surrogate
Dweynie Esther Paul — Approved
Rosemarie Montalbano — Highly Approved
Civil Court — Countywide
Heela Doreen Capell — Approved
Charles Finkelstein — Failed to Appear
Sharen D. Hudson — Failed to Appear
Inga M. O’Neale — Approved
Casilda Elena Roper-Simpson — Approved
Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of Kings County
Marva C. Brown — Approved
Lisa Lewis — Approved
Lola Waterman — Approved
Civil Court — Seventh Municipal Court District of Kings County
Keisha Alleyne — Failed to Appear
Philip Grant — Failed to Appear
Carmen A. Pacheco — Failed to Appear
New York County
District Attorney
Tahanie Aboushi — Approved
Alvin L. Bragg Jr. — Failed to Appear
Elizabeth R. Crotty — Approved
Diana J. Florence — Failed to Appear
Thomas Kenniff — Failed to Appear
Lucy J. Lang — Highly Approved
Eliza Orlins — Approved
Dan Quart — Failed to Appear
Tali Farhadian Weinstein — Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Countywide
Kim M. Parker — Failed to Appear
Jeffrey S. Zellan — Approved
Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of New York County
Christopher Chin — Approved
Betty Lugo — Approved
Edward Irizarry — Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Fifth Municipal Court District of New York County
Hasa A. Kingo — Highly Approved
Orlando Molina — Failed to Appear
Queens County
Civil Court—Countywide
Michael H. Goldman — Highly Approved
Andrea S. Ogle — Failed to Appear
Soma S. Syed — Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Fourth Municipal Court District of Queens County
Cassandra A. Johnson — Failed to Appear
Devian Shondel Daniels — Failed to Appear
To download a pdf version of these ratings, please click here.
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Members of 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. (On sabbatical 2021)
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.