Judge John Higgitt has been appointed as the judicial co-chair of the chief administrative judge’s Advisory Committee on Civil Practice, Justice Joseph Zayas announced on Monday. 

Justice Higgitt, who previously served as a member of the committee, will now work alongside long-standing Chair George Carpinello. The Advisory Committee plays a key role in providing input and advice on various civil practice issues, including making recommendations on potential statutory and regulatory changes.

“Justice Higgitt is a highly regarded judge whose legal acumen and leadership skills will be assets to long-serving Chair George Carpinello and the members of the Advisory Committee on Civil Practice,” Chief Administrative Judge Zayas said. “I am delighted he will be joining the Committee in this new capacity and eager to work with him in his role as judicial co-chair.”

Since May 2021, Justice Higgitt has served as an associate justice of the Appellate Division, First Department, which hears appeals in civil and criminal cases originating in the State Supreme Court, Surrogate’s Court, Family Court and the Court of Claims in Manhattan and The Bronx. His judicial career began with his appointment to the New York State Court of Claims in June 2018. He later served as an acting Supreme Court Justice in Bronx County, was elected to the county’s Supreme Court bench, and subsequently was appointed as an associate justice in the Appellate Term, First Department.

“I am extremely grateful to Chief Administrative Judge Zayas for the opportunity to serve as the Committee’s co-chair with the inimitable George Carpinello,” said Justice Higgitt. “I look forward to working with the Committee in its continuing effort to improve our procedural law for the benefit of the bench and bar and the parties who turn to our court system.”

Before ascending to the bench, Justice Higgitt held various positions within the Unified Court System. These included appellate court attorney in the Appellate Division, Second Department; principal law clerk in State Supreme Court in New York County and later in the Appellate Division, First Department; court attorney referee in State Supreme Court in the Bronx; and chief court attorney in both the Appellate Term, First Department, and State Supreme Court in the Bronx.

Justice Higgitt is a graduate of Albany Law School and is actively involved in several committees, including the Association of Supreme Court Justices’ Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions (Civil) and the New York State Bench Book Committee. He also serves on the New York State Supreme Court E-Filing Advisory Committee to the chief administrative judge.

His appointment as Judicial Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee on Civil Practice is effective immediately.