Brooklyn Democratic Party nominates seven NYS supreme court justices

August 13, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

The Brooklyn Democratic Party's seven nominees for the New York State Supreme Court include judges with diverse backgrounds: Hon. Keisha Alleyne (Kings County Civil Court), Hon. Inga O’Neale (Kings County Civil Court), Hon. Christopher Robles (Kings County Criminal Court), Hon. Adam Perlmutter (Acting Justice, Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term), Hon. Lisa Lewis (New York City Civil Court), Hon. Jeffrey Sunshine (Supreme Court Justice since 2010), and Hon. Sharen Hudson (Acting Supreme Court Justice, Kings County). Eagle photos by Robert Abruzzese

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The Brooklyn Democratic Party has nominated seven candidates for New York State Supreme Court Justice following the Judicial Convention held on Thursday at Marine Park Golf Course.

Nearly 400 judicial delegates from the county’s 21 Assembly Districts participated in the vote, securing the Democratic slate for the November ballot.

The nominees are Hon. Keisha Alleyne, Hon. Inga O’Neale, Hon. Christopher Robles, Hon. Adam Perlmutter, Hon. Lisa Lewis, Hon. Jeffrey Sunshine and Hon. Sharen Hudson. These candidates, all vetted by the party’s Judicial Screening Committee, bring extensive experience within the legal system.

“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 Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn.

The group of nominees selected for the New York State Supreme Court in Brooklyn brings a diverse range of legal backgrounds and experiences to the bench. Collectively, they have decades of service within the New York State court system, with roles spanning from criminal court judgeships to civil court positions.

Their professional histories include significant contributions in areas such as matrimonial law, criminal defense and civil rights advocacy, reflecting a broad spectrum of expertise that is essential for handling the complex cases that come before the Supreme Court.

In addition to their judicial experience, these candidates have also been involved in legal education, corporate litigation and community-based legal practices. This combination of judicial and legal practice experience positions them well to address the various legal challenges that arise in a jurisdiction as dynamic as Brooklyn. The nominees’ backgrounds demonstrate a commitment to public service and a deep understanding of the legal issues facing the community.

Law Chair Anthony Genovesi, Deputy Law Chair Rachel Demarest Gold, District Leader Joseph Bova (AD 49) Convener, Convention Chair Martin Connor, District Leader Nancy Tong (AD 47) Secretary, Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (AD 42), District Leader Dionne Brown Jordan (AD 46) Timer, Teller Grace Pyun, and District Leader Arleny Alvarado-McCalla Teller, who administered the convention.

Out of the seven nominees, all are currently judges, with five seeking reelection or elevation to the Supreme Court and two already serving as Supreme Court Justices — Hon. Sunshine and Hon. Hudson.

Hon. Keisha Alleyne has served as a Kings County Civil Court judge and previously worked as a corporate litigation attorney. She also operated a small business focused on developing programs for minority students.

Hon. Inga O’Neale has spent 22 years in the New York State court system, including 19 years as an attorney in the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term. She was recently elected as a judge of the Civil Court in Kings County.

Hon. Christopher Robles has served as a judge of the Criminal Court, Kings County, for the past five years, with experience presiding over various court parts. Before his judgeship, he ran a law practice that handled criminal, family, and civil cases.

Hon. Adam Perlmutter is currently an acting justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Criminal Term in Kings County. He has over 35 years of legal experience and has advised the New York State Justice Task Force.

Hon. Lisa Lewis is a judge in the Civil Court of the City of New York with decades of experience, including representing city employees and retirees in matrimonial matters, teaching law and running her own practice.

Hon. Jeffrey Sunshine has been a Supreme Court justice since 2010 and serves as the statewide coordinating judge for matrimonial matters. He has been the supervising judge for matrimonial matters in Kings County since 2008.

Hon. Sharen Hudson has a 40-year career in the New York State Court System, holding various positions, including her current role as an acting Supreme Court justice since 2016. She was first elected as a Civil Court judge in Kings County in 2011.

The New York State Supreme Court is a trial court with general jurisdiction, meaning it can handle a wide range of civil and criminal cases. Unlike in other states where the Supreme Court is the highest court, in New York, it functions as a trial court. The number of justices in each judicial district is determined by the state constitution and can be adjusted based on population. However, some areas, like New York City, have a shortage of justices due to high case volumes. To address this, judges from other courts are sometimes designated as acting Supreme Court justices.

Supreme Court justices in New York are elected for 14-year terms through a process heavily influenced by local political parties. They must retire at the end of the year they turn 70, but they can apply for extensions to continue serving until age 76, although approval for these extensions is not guaranteed.