In the News: Judge Christopher Chin Prevails in Floor Vote for Manhattan Supreme Court Nomination

As reported in the New York Law Journal on August 11, at the Manhattan Democratic Judicial Convention on August 10, Justice Christopher Chin won the nomination for a vacant Supreme Court seat against Judge Ilana Marcus in a floor vote (90-65). Justice Chin will join Acting Supreme Court Justices Kathleen Waterman-Marshall and Hasa Kingo on the general election ballot to fill three Manhattan Supreme Court vacancies. 

The vote was followed by personal moments throughout each of the Justice’s speeches at the convention: Acting Justice Nicholas Moyne declined his nomination and described his neurodivergence as his greatest strength in his declination speech; Acting Justice Kingo reflected on his path to the bench; and Justice Chin spoke on his childhood where his family faced racial discrimination under a dictatorship in Burma. “I’m happy to say that I don’t feel like a second-class citizen anymore,” Chin said during his acceptance speech. 

AABANY congratulates Justice Chin, an AABANY member, on his nomination and commends fellow AABANY members Hon. L. Austin D’Souza, Hon. Ilana Marcus, Hon. Eric Schumacher, Hon. Richard Tsai, and Hon. John Zhou Wang for their participation in the nominating convention.

To read the full article, click here (subscription required). 

In the News: Congratulations to Judge L. Austin D’Souza on His Appointment as Supervising Judge of Manhattan Civil Court

L-R: (top row): Judge Carmen A. Pacheco of Kings County (Brooklyn) Civil Court, Judge Edwin I. Novillo of Queens County Criminal Court, and Judge L. Austin D’Souza of New York County (Manhattan) Civil Court, (bottom row) Judge Ira R. Greenberg of Queens County Civil, Judge Taisha L. Chambers of Bronx County Civil Court, and Judge Frances Ortiz of New York County Housing Court.

Judge L. Austin D’Souza has been appointed as the Supervising Judge of the Manhattan Civil Court, succeeding Judge Shahabuddeen Ally. This significant and prominent elevation attests to Judge D’Souza’s strong leadership and dedication to public service.

Judge D’Souza is part of a group of new judicial leaders appointed across New York City, including Hon. Frances Ortiz, Hon. Ira Greenberg, Hon. Edwin Novillo, Hon. Taisha Chambers, and Hon.  Carmen Pacheco, each taking charge of key courts in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn.

Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas praised the appointees for their “sound judgment, fairness, integrity, innovative spirit, and commitment to public service.” First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George also recognized their innovative and adaptable approaches to addressing the challenges of the legal system.

Judge D’Souza, an active member of AABANY, has consistently demonstrated a commitment to creating diversity and advancing the legal profession. His involvement with AABANY shows his passion for community engagement, further reflecting the qualities that make him a renowned and well-respected leader in the judiciary. Please join AABANY in congratulating Judge D’Souza on this noteworthy accomplishment and wishing him every success in his future judicial endeavors.

To read the full article in the New York Law Journal, click here.