On Thursday evening, Brooklyn gained seven Democratic Supreme Court justice nominees, after the Kings County Democratic Party’s Judicial Convention’s nearly 400 judicial delegates voted for the slate to appear on the November ballot.

The Supreme Court nominees are Hon. Keisha Alleyne, Hon. Inga O’Neale, Hon. Christopher Robles, Hon. Adam D. Perlmutter, Hon. Lisa Lewis, Hon. Jeffrey Sunshine and Hon. Sharen Hudson. 

The Judicial Convention, which took place at Marine Park Golf Course, was a transparent and efficient process for the largest county Democratic Party in the nation, with judicial delegates from the county’s 21 assembly districts voting efficiently at the crowded public venue.

“We sincerely congratulate these seven Democratic nominees for Supreme Court, who are champions for justice with proven track records of progressive judicial and courtroom achievements, and who also deeply understand the needs and intricacies of our diverse communities,” said Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.

Supreme Court Justices have a massive impact on Brooklyn and beyond, presiding over New York’s “trial court with the broadest jurisdiction, both in criminal and civil matters,” and “can hear virtually any type of case,” except for claims brought against the state.

Driving deep experience and diversity to the vital bench

The nominees were first vetted by the Party’s Judicial Screening Committee, and all have decades of experience in the court system, as well as legal community advocacy efforts as diverse as the borough they serve. 

Notably, all seven candidates on Monday were also endorsed by the Brooklyn Democratic Party’s district leaders, who “carefully assessed and supported candidates to advance fair and equitable justice for their communities,” Bichotte Hermelyn said. 

Further, the Democratic Party continues to drive diversity to the court. The Party chair said, “In the year that we have the first Black woman, Vice President Kamala Harris, running for President on the Democratic ticket, the Brooklyn Democratic Party is honored to break barriers by sending three exemplary Black women to the Supreme Court of New York State.”

This historic slate of nominations is on the heels of the Brooklyn Democratic Party nominating three Civil Court Judges to fill newly-created seats, which added two more capable Black women to the Brooklyn bench.

Engaging Brooklynites, energizing enthusiasm and educating voters

With the Presidential Election two months away, voters’ minds might be distracted, but the Brooklyn Democratic Party has been holding dynamic grassroots forums to “both educate and engage,” says Bichotte Hermelyn. 

District leaders’ myriad events aim to get voters up-to-speed on judicial candidates and allow the community to ask questions face-to-face before the nominations and General Election. 

“We know just how important judges are both on the federal and local level,” Brooklyn Democratic District Leader Josue Pierre (AD-42) said at one such meeting, held at the esteemed Shirley Chisholm Dem Club. 

Many of Brooklyn’s awarded top influential local political clubs held similarly dynamic forums, including the storied Vanguard Independent Democratic Association, led by Brooklyn Dems’ Vice President Henry Butler.

 “It’s a double win for Democrats; we get voters into judicial races and boost turnout at the General Election,” Bichotte Hermelyn said. 

A brief background on the nominees

Judge Inga O’Neil has dedicated her entire 22-year legal career to public service in the New York State court system. Prior to her most recent election as a judge of the Civil Court in Kings County, Inga served as an attorney in the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term, for 19 years.

Justice Jeffrey S. Sunshine was elected as a Supreme Court Justice in 2010 and serves as the Statewide Coordinating Judge for Matrimonial Matters since being appointed in 2018. Since 2008, he has also served as the Supervising Judge for Matrimonial Matters in Kings County Supreme Court, while continuing to hear matrimonial cases in Brooklyn.

Judge Sharen Hudson has an extensive 40-year career in the New York State Court System, holding various positions, most recently being appointed as an Acting Supreme Court Justice in 2016, first elected as a Civil Court judge of Kings County in 2011.

Judge Lisa Lewis currently serves as judge in the Civil Court of the City of New York and has decades of diverse experience, including representing New York City employees and retirees in matrimonial matters, teaching as a law professor and running her own law practice. 

Judge Adam D. Perlmutter serves as Acting New York State Justice Supreme Court Justice, Criminal Term-Kings County and advisor with the New York State Justice Task Force, with over 35 years of legal experience in the public and private arenas, including founding a law practice focused on criminal defense, civil rights and environmental justice.

Judge Christopher Robles has served for the past five years as Judge of the Criminal Court, Kings County, presiding over every court part. Prior to being a judge, he operated a community-based, walk-in law practice handling a variety of cases in the areas of criminal practice, family law, civil practice and litigation, among other esteemed legal roles. 

Judge Keisha Alleyne worked as a corporate litigation attorney practicing in New York Civil & Supreme Court for two decades, owned and operated a small business developing enrichment programs for minority students and currently serves as a Kings County Civil Court judge. 

“I’m ecstatic to see this historic slate of diverse nominees ascend, and Democrats are thrilled to vote to move our judicial system upwards towards more fairness, equity and impartiality in November,” Bichotte Hermleyn concluded.