Brooklyn judge Ben Darvil reflects on marine dreams and legal journey

August 14, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Judge Ben Darvil shares his journey from aspiring U.S. Marine to Family Court Judge during a virtual "Lunch with a Judge" event hosted by the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association. Screenshot via Zoom

Share this:

Brooklyn Judge Ben Darvil has made a name for himself in the legal community as a judge in the Family Court, but on Wednesday, he sat down with members of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association and explained how a football injury derailed a potential career in the Marines.

It was 1994, and Darvil was a student at Midwood High School at the time. It was a snowy winter, and with so much snow on the ground, he and his friends thought it would be fun to sneak onto the field at Brooklyn College to play tackle football.

“We snuck in during a blizzard,” Darvil recalled. “There might have been two feet of snow on the ground. I fell, I hurt my back, broke both arms. I had to walk home in a little sling that I made.” The injury, which required surgery and left him with metal plates in his arms, abruptly ended his dream of joining the Marines.

When it came time to apply to join the Marines, Darvil was informed that he was considered disabled. There was a potential surgery that he could undergo, but it seemed risky and painful. So he decided not to join the Marines and instead changed his focus on attending Long Island University in Brooklyn, eventually heading to St. John’s University School of Law.

“When I was applying for law school, it was a money concern to even apply,” Darvil said. “Each application was $50.” He explained that he only went down the path of law because of his strong LSAT scores, which led St. John’s University to offer him a free application. “All of a sudden, I realized what a good school it was.”

Judge Darvil, who was born in Florida and moved to Brooklyn at the age of eight, was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in March 2016 and has been serving in Kings County Family Court ever since.

His focus in the courtroom has been on child abuse, neglect, custody and visitation cases. Before his appointment to the bench, Darvil served for nearly a decade as a law clerk with the Appellate Division, Second Department, where he gained extensive experience in legal research and writing. His career in law began with the Family Court Legal Services of the New York City Administration for Children’s Services.

Members of the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association engage with Judge Ben Darvil as he reflects on his career path and the challenges of working in Family Court during the virtual event. — Members of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association engage with Judge Ben Darvil as he reflects on his career path and the challenges of working in Family Court during the virtual event. Screenshot via Zoom

Darvil’s journey to the bench was heavily influenced by his mentor, former Justice John Leventhal. Initially content with his work in the Appellate Division, Darvil had not considered a judicial career until Leventhal encouraged him to apply.

“Working with Judge Leventhal was one of the best things that has ever happened in my professional career,” Darvil said. The appointment process, though daunting, was made easier with the support of his mentors, including Hon. Cheryl Chambers, Hon. Raymond Rivera, and Hon. L. Priscilla Hall, who helped him prepare for the rigorous interviews and evaluations.

During the “Lunch with a Judge” event, Darvil also offered advice to those interested in practicing family law and explained the need for dedicated practitioners in the field.

“Family Court is an insulated place because people either only practice there, or they want nothing to do with it,” he explained. He encouraged attendees to familiarize themselves with family law through bar associations.

Judge Darvil did warn the audience of the emotional toll of working in Family Court, where cases often involve deeply personal and challenging issues; however, he pointed out that the emotionally fulfilling aspect of helping families and children can often balance this out.

“It is emotionally taxing,” he said. “You hate to see a situation where the difficulty of making a decision keeps you from making a decision.” To manage the stress, Darvil talked about the importance of having outside interests and staying physically fit.

“You can’t let the stress of the work overwhelm you,” said Judge Darvil. “You have to see through the haze and do what’s best for the family.”

The event provided a candid and inspiring look into the life of a judge who, despite early setbacks, has built a career dedicated to serving the families of Brooklyn.

Save the date

The Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association and President Cenceria Edwards recently announced that the association will host its annual Holiday Party on Wednesday, Dec. 4, and has asked members of the Brooklyn legal community to save the date. While last year’s event was held at Brooklyn Law School, the location for the 2024 event has not yet been announced.