October 26, 2020 — The Judiciary Committee of the LGBT Bar Association of New York (LeGaL) is pleased to announce its ratings of candidates for judicial office in New York City in advance of the November 3, 2020 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.
JUSTICES OF THE NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT
Supreme Court — First Judicial District (New York County)
David B. Cohen — Approved
Melissa Crane — Highly Approved
Ta-Tanisha James — Highly Approved
Carol Sharpe — Highly Approved
Supreme Court — Second Judicial District (Kings County)
Theresa M. Ciccotto — Failed to Appear
Lizette Colon — Failed to Appear
William F. Mastro — Approved
Beth Parlato — Failed to Appear
Karen B. Rothenberg — Failed to Appear
Delores J. Thomas — Approved
Carolyn E. Wade — Approved
Supreme Court — Eleventh Judicial District (Queens County)
Karina Alomar — Approved
Evelyn L. Braun — Failed to Appear
Tracy A. Catapano-Fox — Highly Approved
Lance P. Evans — Failed to Appear
Darrell L. Gavrin — Failed to Appear
Michele A. Johnson — Approved
Joseph F. Kasper — Failed to Appear
Kevin J. Kerrigan — Approved
Mojgan Cohanim Lancman — Failed to Appear
Leonard Livote — Approved
John C. Spataro — Approved
Supreme Court — Twelfth Judicial District (Bronx County)
Andrew J. Cohen — Failed to Appear
Orlando Molina — Failed to Appear
Bianca Perez — Highly Approved
Kim Adair Wilson — Highly Approved
Supreme Court — Thirteenth Judicial District (Richmond County)
Mario F. Mattei — Failed to Appear
Lisa Grey — Failed to Appear
JUDGES OF THE NEW YORK CITY CIVIL COURT
Civil Court — Second Municipal Court District of Bronx County
Wanda Y. Negron — Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Third Municipal Court District of Kings County
Maria Aragona — Approved
Civil Court — Fifth Municipal Court District of Kings County
Saul Stein — Failed to Appear
Civil Court — New York County (Countywide)
Michael L. Katz — Highly Approved
Leticia M. Ramirez — Highly Approved
Eric Schumacher — Highly Approved
Civil Court — First Municipal Court District of New York County
Carolruth Feinman — Failed to Appear
John Zhuo Wang — Highly Approved
Civil Court — Sixth Municipal Court District of New York County
Seth A. Steed — Highly Approved
Civil Court — Ninth Municipal Court District of New York County
Gerald Lebovits — Approved
Civil Court — Queens County (Countywide)
Nestor H. Diaz — Approved
Jessica Earle-Gargan — Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Fourth Municipal Court District of Queens County
Denise N. Johnson — Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Sixth Municipal Court District of Queens County
Leigh K. Cheng — Failed to Appear
Civil Court — Richmond County (Countywide)
Ronald Castorina Jr. — Failed to Appear
Allyn J. Crawford — Approved
The 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.
Harley D. Diamond, Esq.
David S. Flugman, Esq.
Michael B. Gallub, Esq.
Martha L. Golar, Esq.
Alexandra P. Kolod, Esq.
Kaegan Marie Mays-Williams, Esq.
Craig M. Notte, Esq. (On sabbatical 2020.)
Andrew P. Merten, Esq.
Ethan D.B. Rice, Esq.
Christopher Salloum, Esq
ABOUT THE LGBT BAR ASSOCIATION OF 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 its 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 New York’s courts are staffed by fair and impartial judges who will uphold the rights of LGBTQ people.
For more information on LeGaL, visit lgbtbarny.org.
