LGBT Bar NY Announces Judicial Ratings for the 2018 General Election.

Eric Lesh
5 min readOct 26, 2018

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October 25, 2018 — The Judicial Screening Panel of The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (LeGaL) is pleased to announce its ratings for judicial candidates in the general election on November 6, 2018. 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.

“The communities that LeGaL serves depend on fair and impartial courts to ensure access to justice for LGBT people,” said Eric Lesh, executive director of LeGaL. “The work of our Judiciary Committee is a vital component to reducing bias, improving fair outcomes, and engendering trust in the courts and legal system.”

“LeGaL’s Judiciary Screening Panel interviewed a record thirty-one (31) candidates for New York State judicial office this season,” said Janice Grubin, chair of LeGaL’s Judiciary Committee which runs the screening panel. “The sixteen (16) lawyer members who participated are deeply committed to the careful and thorough review and evaluation of each candidate. LeGaL’s Judicial Screening Panel is one of the few judicial candidate review boards in the country primarily dedicated to ensuring fair, sensitive, and impartial judges who will uphold the rights of LGBT people. We are very proud of our work”

Justice of the Supreme Court — First Judicial District

Lynn R. Kotler — Highly Approved

Mary V. Rosado — Approved

Alexander M. Tisch — Highly Approved

Justice of the Supreme Court — Second Judicial District

Debra Brown — Failed to Appear

Anthony Caccamo — Failed to Appear

Devin P. Cohen — Approved

Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix — Pending Interview

Ingrid Joseph — Approved

Lisa Ottley — Approved

Eric I. Prus — Failed to Appear

Wayne Saitta — Approved

Douglas Seidman — Failed to Appear

Angharad Vaughan — Failed to Appear

Michelle G. Weston — Failed to Appear

Justice of the Supreme Court — Eleventh Judicial District

Valerie Brathwaite Nelson — Pending Interview

David A. Bellon — Failed to Appear

Maureen A. Healy — Failed to Appear

Joseph F. Kasper — Failed to Appear

Lawrence L. Love — Failed to Appear

Ushir Pandit-Durant — Failed to Appear

Justice of the Supreme Court — Twelfth Judicial District

Benjamin R. Barbato — Failed to Appear

Mary Ann Brigantti — Approved

Bob Cohen — Failed to Appear

Benison DeFunis — Failed to Appear

James B. Gisondi — Failed to Appear

Ronald J. Kim — Failed to Appear

Michael Lausell — Failed to Appear

Patricia Latzman — Failed to Appear

Gino A. Marmorato — Failed to Appear

Eddie McShan — Failed to Appear

Marsha D. Michael — Pending Interview

Julio Rodriguez — Approved

Llinet Rosado — Highly Approved

Kenneth D. Schaeffer — Failed to Appear

Mark Schneider — Failed to Appear

Elizabeth A. Taylor — Failed to Appear

Robert E. Torres — Approved

Justice of the Supreme Court — Thirteenth Judicial District

Anthony Catalano — Highly Approved

Orlando Marrazzo Jr. — Failed to Appear

Marina Cora Mundy — Failed to Appear

Ralph J. Porzio — Failed to Appear

Judge of the Civil Court — First Municipal Court District of Bronx County

Connie Morales — Approved

Naita A. Semaj — Approved

Judge of the Civil Court — Kings County (Countywide)

Loren Baily — Approved

Vincent F. Martusciello — Failed to Appear

Rupert V. Barry — Failed to Appear

Judge of the Civil Court — First Municipal Court District of Kings County.

Anne J. Swern — Failed to Appear

Judge of the Civil Court — Fourth Municipal Court District of Kings County

Jill R. Epstein — Failed to Appear

Judge of the Civil Court — Eighth Municipal Court District of Kings County

Gina Levy — Failed to Appear

Judge of the Civil Court — New York County.

Shahabudeen A. Ally — Failed to Appear

Ariel D. Chesler — Highly Approved

Judge of the Civil Court — First Municipal Court District of New York County

Frank P. Nervo — Approved

Judge of the Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of New York County

Wendy C. Li — Failed to Appear

Judge of the Civil Court — Third Municipal Court District of New York County

Hillary Gingold — Approved

Judge of the Civil Court — Fifth Municipal Court District of New York County

Ilana J. Marcus — Approved

Judge of the Civil Court — Sixth Municipal Court District of New York County

Nicholas W. Moyne — Highly Approved

Judge of the Civil Court — Ninth Municipal Court District of New York County

Kathleen W. Waterman — Highly Approved

Judge of the Civil Court — Tenth Municipal Court District of New York County

Jeanine R. Johnson — Failed to Appear

Judge of the Civil Court — Queens County

Karina E. Alomar — Approved

Ira R. Greenberg — Approved

Lourdes M. Ventura — Approved

Surrogate of Kings County

Harriet Thompson — Failed to Appear

Surrogate of Richmond County

Ronald Castorina Jr. — Not Approved

Matthew J. Titone — Approved

About The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (LeGaL)

LeGaL is the nation’s first bar association of the LGBT legal community and remains one of the largest and most active organizations of its kind in the country. Over our 40-year history, the lawyers, judges and law student members of LeGaL have been dedicated to promoting justice in and through the legal system for the LGBT community. Through our Foundation, LeGaL provides vital legal services to hundreds of low-income LGBT New Yorkers each year. In addition to ensuring full equality for members of the LGBT community through our impact litigation, education and advocacy work, LeGaL is committed to advancing the expertise of New York’s LGBT legal professionals and students.

LeGaL’s Judiciary Committee works to ensure that NewYork’s courts are staffed by fair and impartial judges who will uphold the rights of LGBTQ people.

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Eric Lesh

Executive Director, LeGaL @lgbtbarny. Attorney promoting justice in & through the legal profession for the #LGBT community. 40 Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40.