Brooklyn Democratic Party Nominates 3 Civil Court Judges, Diverse & Qualified Slate to Expedite Justice Under Gov. Hochul’s New Court Expansion
Nominations follow Leadership Forum, adding ‘Transformative Transparency’ to the process
From left: Mark Kagan, Tawanna M. St. Louis, Abayomi Ajaiyeoba Wint and Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Democratic Party
Special from Brooklyn Democrats
July 30, 2024
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The Brooklyn Democratic Party’s District Leaders nominated three qualified Civil Court Judges to fill newly-created seats on Sunday. Tawanna M. St. Louis, Mark Kagan and Abayomi Ajaiyeoba Whint will now appear on the November General Election ballot.
“The Brooklyn Democratic Party proudly continues to advance extremely-qualified, diverse and culturally competent judicial nominees,” said County Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. “We congratulate our three new Democratic nominees for Civil Court and are confident that after their November election victories. Brooklynites can count on these champions of justice to steadfastly deliver fairness and equity in the courtroom.”
The nominee’s diverse backgrounds match their deep experience.
Abayomi Ajaiyeoba Whint, Esq., born in Nigeria, immigrated to Brooklyn at age 6, building a 15-year “career immersed in confronting and eradicating injustice whenever it arises,” currently serving as a FDNY Legal Enforcement Attorney among her pro-bono work and community initiatives.
Candidate Whint said she believes “wholeheartedly in social justice and making sure that when people leave court they feel confident that they have been given due process and a fair opportunity to be heard.”
Mark Kagan served as court attorney for the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Brooklyn, since 1996, having drafted over 5,000 decisions and demonstrating a deep commitment to justice.
Tawanna M. St. Louis, Esq. is currently the principal law clerk to the Hon. Cheryl J. Gonzales, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Kings County, and also serves as a small claims arbitrator in Kings County Civil Court.
In her efforts to uplift the community, St. Louis “currently works with High School, College and inquiring Pre-Law students by answering questions they have related to the legal field, assisting students with essay writing and proofreading as they begin their application process.”
From left: Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Mark Kagan, Tawanna M. St. Louis, Party Law Chair Anthony Genovesi and Abayomi Ajaiyeoba Wint. Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Democratic Party
A ‘Transformative Transparency’
All of Brooklyn’s 42 Assembly Districts were represented by in-person or proxy votes from their District Leaders for the nominations in a transparent vote following Party rules, with potential candidates vetted by the Party’s Judicial Screening Panel.
New to the process was a Community Forum, held Saturday, to further Party efforts in “transforming community transparency and knowledge in the judicial nomination process,” said Bichotte Hermelyn.
Civil Court is often Brooklynites’ first encounter with the legal system and that’s when they face intimate, important legal issues.
“We’re making sure voters are educated on who their candidates are, what they do and how they understand their community,” added Bichotte Hermelyn.
The town hall conversation on Saturday featured 11 Civil Court contenders, allowing attendees to take a deeper dive into the experience and temperament of the candidates.
From left: Abayomi Ajaiyeoba Wint, Tawanna M. St. Louis and Mark Kagan. Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Democratic Party
Expediting Fair Justice and Breaking Backlogs in Brooklyn
The swift nominations come on the heels of Gov. Kathy Hochul signing a law in June expanding the number of judges appointed and elected statewide to alleviate a big backlog still stemming from the pandemic. The law added 28 judges in total, with three new Civil Court Judge seats granted to each of the four boroughs.
“This legislation gives our courts the tools to tackle the case backlog and carry out the fair and efficient justice system New Yorkers deserve,” Hochul said when signing the bill (S.9839/A.10540).
New York Civil Court Judges serve 10-year terms and hear cases involving monetary disputes of up to $50,000.
“The turnaround time from the bill being signed to organizing our leaders and staff to ensure this was completed by the deadline speaks volumes of the unity they have and will continue to demonstrate,” Executive Director Yamil Speight-Miller said.
“The Brooklyn Democratic Party deeply thanks our Governor and our Democratic colleagues in the Legislature for expediting the delivery of justice for many of the most critical legal matters affecting our communities,” Party Leader Bichotte Hermelyn concluded.
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BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.
ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.
