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