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Announcing our Ratings for the 2024 General Election

October 31, 2024

In advance of the November 5, 2024, general election, The Judiciary Committee of the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (LeGaL) is pleased to announce its ratings of all candidates: (i) for elective judicial office in New York City; (ii) for New York State Supreme Court in 9th Judicial District (comprising Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, and Westchester Counties); and (iii) for New York State Supreme Court in the 10th Judicial District (Nassau and Suffolk Counties). 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.

Click here to download the Press Release.

JUSTICES OF THE NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT:

Supreme Court — First Judicial District (New York County)

  • Cynthia S. Kern — Highly Approved
  • Gerald Lebovits — Highly Approved

Supreme Court — Second Judicial District (Kings County)

  • Keisha Alleyne—Approved
  • Sharen D. Hudson—Approved
  • Lisa Lewis—Approved
  • Inga O’Neale—Highly Approved
  • Adam D. Perlmutter—Approved
  • Christopher J. Robles—Failed to Appear
  • Jeffrey S. Sunshine—Failed to Appear

Supreme Court — Ninth Judicial District (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester Counties)

  • Brett Broge—Approved
  • Colleen D. Duffy—Highly Approved
  • Thomas Humbach—Failed to Appear
  • Leslie Kahn—Failed to Appear
  • Kyle C. McGovern—Approved
  • Edward R. Mevec—Approved
  • Karen A. Ostberg—Failed to Appear
  • Mary Anne Scattaretico-Naber—Not Approved    
  • Mark T. Starkman—Failed to Appear
  • Rachel E. Tanguay—Highly Approved    

Supreme Court — Tenth Judicial District (Nassau and Suffolk Counties)    

  • Andrew A. Crecca—Failed to Appear
  • Alfred C. Graf—Failed to Appear
  • Paul E. Hennings—Failed to Appear
  • Paul M. Hensley—Failed to Appear
  • James F. Matthews Jr.—Failed to Appear
  • Terence P. Murphy—Failed to Appear
  • Deanna D. Panico—Failed to Appear
  • Gregg Roth—Failed to Appear

Supreme Court — Eleventh Judicial District (Queens County)

  • John C.V. Katsanos—Approved
  • Claudia Lanzetta—Approved
  • Delsia G. Marshall—Failed to Appear
  • Lumarie Maldonado-Cruz—Approved
  • Gary Muraca—Failed to Appear
  • Andrea S. Ogle—Failed to Appear
  • Kathy Wu Parrino—Failed to Appear
  • Alan J. Schiff—Failed to Appear

Supreme Court — Twelfth Judicial District (Bronx County)

  • Matthew Parker-Raso—Highly Approved

JUDGES OF THE NEW YORK CITY CIVIL COURT:

Civil Court — Bronx County (Countywide)

  • Dawn Guglielmo—Approved
  • Scott Krompinger—Highly Approved
  • Deidra Moore—Highly Approved
  • Eliezer Rodriguez—Not Approved

* Angel Cruz and Diomarys Escano-Bell were added to the ballot after the primary election and pursuant to the enactment of legislation adding seats to the New York City Civil Court Bench, see NY LEGIS 204 (2024), 2024 Sess. Law News of N.Y. Ch. 204 (S. 9839) (McKinney’s). Accordingly, the Committee did not have adequate time to extend invitations to interview to those candidates.

Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of Bronx County

  • Brenda Rivera—Failed to Appear

Kings County Surrogate

  • Cassandra A. Johnson—Approved
  • Stephen H. Weiner—Approved

Civil Court — Kings County (Countywide)

  • Tehiliah H. Berman—Approved
  • Turquoise Haskin—Highly Approved (rating carried over from 2023)
  • Alexis Riley—Approved

* Mark Kagan, Tawanna Marie St. Louis, and Abayomi O. Whint were added to the ballot after the primary election and pursuant to the enactment of legislation adding seats to the New York City Civil Court Bench, see NY LEGIS 204 (2024), 2024 Sess. Law News of N.Y. Ch. 204 (S. 9839) (McKinney’s). Accordingly, the Committee did not have adequate time to extend invitations to interview to those candidates.

Civil Court — Fifth Municipal Court District of Kings County  

  • Benjamin J. Lieberman—Failed to Appear
  • Hemalee Patel—Highly Approved
  • Jacob Zelanovitz—Failed to Appear

Civil Court — Sixth Municipal Court District of Kings County  

  • Janice Robinson—Approved
  • Norma J. Jennings—Highly Approved

Civil Court — New York County (Countywide)

  • Harold H. Bahr—Approved
  • Louis L. Nock—Failed to Appear
  • Allison R. Greenfield—Highly Approved
  • Malaika Scott-McLaughlin—Approved

* Elizabeth Shamas and Crystal Villaseñor were added to the ballot after the primary election and pursuant to the enactment of legislation adding seats to the New York City Civil Court Bench, see NY LEGIS 204 (2024), 2024 Sess. Law News of N.Y. Ch. 204 (S. 9839) (McKinney’s). Accordingly, the Committee did not have adequate time to extend invitations to interview to those candidates.

Civil Court — First Municipal Court District of New York County

  • Ilona B. Coleman—Failed to Appear

Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of New York County

  • Alice Tam Tien—Highly Approved

Civil Court — Fifth Municipal Court District of New York County

  • Ralph L. Wolf—Approved

Civil Court — Eighth Municipal Court District of New York County

  • Jose A. Padilla Jr.—Failed to Appear

Civil Court — Tenth Municipal Court District of New York County

  • J. Machelle Sweeting—Failed to Appear

Civil Court — Queens County (Countywide)

  • Stephen C. Dachtera—Failed to Appear
  • Amish Doshi—Failed to Appear
  • Mary-Ann E. Maloney—Failed to Appear
  • Sharifa M. Nasser-Cuellar—Approved
  • Glenda M. Hernandez—Highly Approved
  • William David Shanahan—Failed to Appear

* Peter F. Lane and Melissa DeBerry were added to the ballot after the primary election and pursuant to the enactment of legislation adding seats to the New York City Civil Court Bench, see NY LEGIS 204 (2024), 2024 Sess. Law News of N.Y. Ch. 204 (S. 9839) (McKinney’s). Accordingly, the Committee did not have adequate time to extend invitations to interview to those candidates.

Civil Court — Fourth Municipal Court District of Queens County  

  • Elizabeth J. Newton—Approved

 

LGBT Bar NY's Judiciary Committee

Janice B. Grubin, Esq., Co-Chair
Michael J. Weiner, Esq., Co-Chair
Pamela B. Goldsmith, Esq., Vice-Chair (On sabbatical spring 2024)
Alexandra P. Kolod, Esq., Vice-Chair 
James A. Naumann, Esq., Secretary

George D. Adames, Esq.
Christine M. Browne, Esq.
Jason Canales, Esq. (On sabbatical – spring 2024)
Craig A. Convissar, Esq. 
Lee Coppage, Esq.
David S. Flugman, Esq. (On sabbatical – fall 2024)
Michael B. Gallub, Esq.
Martha L. Golar, Esq.
Robert H. King, Esq.
Gregory A. Locke, Esq.
Concepcion A. Montoya, Esq. (On sabbatical 2024)
Joseph H. Rochman, Esq.
Richard Saenz, Esq.
Christopher Salloum, Esq.
Jorge Tenreiro, Esq.
Dante Bellardita Fernández – Post-J.D. Intern