Rachel Freier sworn in as NY’s first Hasidic female supreme court judge

November 21, 2023 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Attorney General Letitia James conducts the historic swearing-in ceremony for Rachel Freier, the first Hasidic female judge on the New York Supreme Court.
Photos courtesy of Justice Rachel Freier.

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Judge Rachel Freier made history in New York’s legal community on Wednesday by becoming the first Hasidic female judge to serve on the New York Supreme Court.

Her induction ceremony, held at Brooklyn Law School in Downtown Brooklyn, was a significant event attended, among others, by Holocaust survivors, including her 100-year-old father-in-law and 99-year-old aunt. Elected officials and her daughter Leah Freier also attended, celebrating Freier’s commitment to community service and her journey against opposition.

Born and raised in Borough Park, Freier’s journey began in a traditional Hasidic Jewish family. Despite the constraints of her community, she pursued higher education, starting as a legal secretary and paralegal, supporting her husband through his studies. She later graduated from Touro College with a political science degree and earned her law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 2005.

Justice Freier’s career has been marked by advocacy for the Hasidic community, legal practice in estate law, and political engagement, including an internship with then-U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton.

Freier’s commitment to public service is evident in her founding of Chasdei Devorah, Inc., a nonprofit aiding Jewish families, and B’Derech, a GED program for at-risk Haredi youth. Her notable achievements include establishing Ezras Nashim, an all-female Orthodox Jewish volunteer EMT ambulance service. Freier has served on Borough Park’s Community Board 12 and done significant pro bono work for the NYC Family Court.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams presents a citation to Justice Rachel Freier, commemorating her groundbreaking appointment to the NY Supreme Court.

Attorney General Letitia James led the ceremony at Brooklyn Law School, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams presented Freier with a citation, marking this historic moment.