Calls promotion to Supreme Court justice ‘a very sobering moment’
From left: Henry Butler, assemblymember, D-56, and vice chair of the Kings County Brooklyn Democratic Party; Hon. Lisa Lewis; and Mistress of Ceremonies Olanike Alabi. Brooklyn Eagle Photo by Mario Belluomo
By Wayne Daren Schneiderman
March 21, 2025
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DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — With more than 25 years of experience in various areas of law, including criminal and family law, Brooklyn-born Lisa Lewis has finally ascended to the bench as a justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Lewis was officially inducted on March 16 at a well-attended ceremony at St. Francis College.
Speakers at the event included Assemblymember and Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn; Hon. Frank Seddio, Democratic commissioner of the Kings County Board of Elections, City of New York, and past chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party; Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez; Henry Butler, assemblymember, D-56, and vice chair of the Kings County Brooklyn Democratic Party; District Leader Kenesha Traynham-Cooper, D-56; Hon. Annette Robinson; Hon. Alan Schiff; Marianna Squillace, Esq.; and Timothy Cecere, president of St. Francis College.
Hon. Cheryl Chambers, associate justice of the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, performed the oath of office.
“Now that my induction is over, I feel a renewed sense of commitment to uphold my oath and serve the people who appear before me,” Lewis told the Brooklyn Eagle. “Taking an oath in front of a room full of family and friends was a very sobering moment,” she added. “[Ultimately] I want everyone who leaves my courtroom to know that I hear them, and I empathize with them, and I will do everything I can to reach a just resolution under the law.”
Lewis has extensive legal experience in civil, criminal, family and matrimonial matters. She served as a court attorney to Justice Cheryl Chambers in the New York County Criminal Court and the Civil Term of the Kings County Supreme Court.
Prior to her election, Lewis was an attorney for District Council 37, representing New York City employees in Supreme Court matrimonial matters. She remained there until she was elected to the Kings County Civil Court.
As a Civil Court judge, Lewis worked to promote justice and judicial education through the Equal Justice in the Courts Committee, the Judicial Education and Training Committee, and as co-chair of the Civil Court Judicial Internship Lecture Committee.
Lewis is deeply committed to public service and remains dedicated to civic engagement and diversity. Among her many professional and community affiliations, she is a proud member of the National Association of Women Judges.
Lewis also served on the Grievance Committee, the Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission and as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, Eighth Congressional District.
In addition, Lewis is co-chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee for the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association.
Lewis earned her juris doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law. After law school, Lewis obtained her Master’s Degree in Liberal Science in International Economics and Political Science from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
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