Ramon Reyes confirmed as federal judge for Eastern District of New York

November 13, 2023 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Hon. Ramon Reyes has been elevated to the position of district court judge and the EDNY has announced that it has created a Merit Selection Panel to replace his position as magistrate judge. Photo: Brooklyn Law School.

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The U.S. Senate has confirmed U.S. Magistrate Judge Ramon Reyes for a federal district court judgeship in Brooklyn, marking President Joe Biden’s 151st judicial appointment.

The confirmation makes Reyes only the second Latino man to serve on the bench in the Eastern District of New York.

Senator Charles Schumer announced Reyes’ confirmation, emphasizing his extensive legal background, including his innovative work on Hurricane Sandy cases and his dedication to equal justice. Reyes, recommended by Schumer for the prestigious role, has a track record of fighting for voting rights, worker protections, and against healthcare fraud.

“Ramon E. Reyes built a national reputation in the legal world as a United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of New York,” said Schumer, a senator since 1999. “Notably, in his work on Hurricane Sandy cases, he resolved cases for countless New Yorkers struggling to recover from the storm. On these cases, he helped oversee an innovative method of coordinating case management and resolution that continues to be widely used by judges.

“Through his extensive experience as a judge, he has showed that he possesses the temperament and skillset needed to be a fair and reasoned judge for the EDNY,”

Reyes’s experience spans serving as a federal prosecutor, working in private practice, and teaching at Brooklyn Law School. The confirmation is seen as a significant step in ensuring the court represents the varied populace it serves.

With a legal career that began with clerking in the very court he will now preside over, Reyes brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the bench. His service as a United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of New York has been marked by fairness and innovation, particularly in coordinating the management and resolution of over 1,500 insurance cases post-Superstorm Sandy.

Judge Reyes has a distinguished legal career, including a clerkship in the Eastern District, where he will serve as a district judge. His credentials include degrees from Cornell University and Brooklyn Law School, as well as New York University. Beyond his clerkship, Judge Reyes’s experience includes roles as an attorney in private practice, a federal prosecutor, and as a lecturer at Brooklyn Law School.