Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas honored at the Columbian Lawyers Association’s annual gala

April 16, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Hon. Joseph Zayas receives the Charles A. Rapallo and Justice Antonin Scalia Award from Chief Judge Rowan Wilson at the Columbian Lawyers Association's Annual Luncheon at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan. Photos courtesy of Justice Joanne Quinones

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The prestigious Columbian Lawyers Association, First Judicial Department, celebrated its 57th Annual Charles A. Rapallo and Justice Antonin Scalia Award Luncheon at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan. This year’s distinguished honoree was Joseph Zayas, chief administrative judge of New York State, recognized for his significant contributions to the judiciary and his pioneering role as the first Latino to hold this top administrative position in the New York court system.

Introduced by Hon. Rowan Wilson, chief judge of the state, Judge Zayas received the award before an assembly of esteemed colleagues and legal professionals. In his remarks, Chief Judge Wilson highlighted Zayas’ exceptional skills in problem-solving, relationship-building and consensus-building, which are crucial in his role overseeing the operations of approximately 300 courthouses across the state, managing a $3.3 billion budget and leading a 15,000-member workforce.

Yolanda Guadagnoli, president of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn, with Mario Romano at the Rapallo Awards Luncheon.

Despite initially resisting the move to an administrative role, citing a peaceful and intellectually stimulating tenure in the Second Department, Judge Zayas was persuaded to take on the challenges of the chief administrative judge position by a trio of influential figures: his wife Catherine, his mentor former Presiding Justice Rolando T. Acosta and Chief Judge Wilson himself. The decision was pivotal, coming at a time when the Latino legal community felt a leadership vacuum and the broader judicial system faced pressing demands for more inclusivity and efficiency.

Mario Romano with Hon. Joanne Quinones and Christopher Caputo, past president of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn.

Prior to taking over in his current administrative role, Judge Zayas was appointed to the 2nd Department of the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division in 2021. He is also a judge for the New York Supreme Court in Queens County, New York (11th Judicial District). Previously, he served as judge of the Court of Claims, acting Supreme Court justice and judge of the Criminal Court of the City of New York, presiding over drug treatment court, mental health court and youth court.

Earlier in his career, Justice Zayas served as the principal law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Rolando T. Acosta at the Harlem Community Justice Center, a multi-jurisdictional, problem-solving court serving the communities of East and Central Harlem. He is a frequent lecturer and presenter on legal and judicial subjects, including drug, mental health and youth courts, and conducts seminars for new judges.

Justice Zayas received his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Fordham University’s College at Lincoln Center and his JD from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Charles Evan Hughes fellow.