Announcement from the Puerto Rican Bar Association (PRBA):
MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS LUIS A. GONZALEZ TO ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
Mayor de Blasio today announced the appointment of Luis A. Gonzalez to the Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, who was the first Latino individual to have been appointed a Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court in the State’s history.
“Luis Gonzalez has much to be proud about, being the first Hispanic to serve as a Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division in New York State,” said Mayor de Blasio. “But he also has a solid track-record serving New Yorkers as a Housing Court and Civil Court Judge, as well as a New York State Supreme Court Justice. I’m confident that he will continue to serve the best interests of New Yorkers on the Advisory Committee.”
Luis A. Gonzalez was the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court’s First Judicial Department from 2009 through the end of December 2015. Justice Gonzalez was designated a Justice for the Appellate Division’s First Judicial Department by Governor George E. Pataki in 2002, and appointed Presiding Justice in 2009 by Governor David Paterson. Justice Gonzalez was appointed by Mayor de Blasio alongside Justices Eugene Nardelli and Christopher Chang, who were nominated by former Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals Jonathan Lippman and the Presiding Justice of the Second Judicial Department Randall T. Eng respectively. On the Advisory Committee, Justice Gonzalez will be responsible for recruiting, screening and nominating highly qualified candidates for judicial appointment to the Family Court and Criminal Court of New York City, as well as the Civil Court for interim appointment.
About Luis Gonzalez
Luis Gonzalez has been an instructor at Lehman College since 1991. Prior to serving on the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court’s First Judicial Department, Justice Gonzalez served as a New York Supreme Court Justice in the 12th Judicial District from 1992 to 2002. In addition, Gonzalez served on the New York City Civil Court as a Housing Court and a Civil Court Judge. He also was General Counsel for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1978 to 1980. Justice Gonzalez began his career at the New York City Department of Investigation. Justice Gonzalez received his B.A. from Eastern Mennonite University, and holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School.
About the Advisory Committee on the Judiciary
The Committee recruits, screens, and nominates highly qualified candidates for judicial appointment to the Family Court and Criminal Court of New York City, as well as the Civil Court for an interim appointment. Based on the Committee’s nominations, the Mayor makes appointments to these courts. The Committee also evaluates incumbent judges for reappointment to these courts and submits its recommendations to the Mayor.