Desirée Kim has been appointed as the new special counsel for appointments and Unified Court System (UCS) Advisory Groups, overseeing judicial appointments and the coordination of key court system commissions.

The appointment was announced by Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas and First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George following Jordan Dressler’s recent move to the New York City Civil Court’s Housing Part in Queens County.

“Desirée Kim is tailor-made for this pivotal assignment,” said Chief Administrative Judge Zayas. “For over two decades, she served as executive director and counsel for the New York City Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, where she demonstrated exceptional leadership and judgment, playing an integral part in promoting a highly qualified and diverse bench in New York City’s courts. She brings vast expertise and experience to the critically important role of special counsel for appointments and UCS Advisory Groups. I look forward to working with her.”

Kim will oversee the administrative functions related to judicial appointments, including judges, judicial hearing officers, and various commissions and task forces within the New York State Courts in this role. She will also serve as a liaison to the Governor’s Office, the New York City Mayor’s Office and the New York State Board of Elections to ensure statutory compliance and timely distribution of judicial assignments.

A graduate of Barnard College and Brooklyn Law School, Kim has spent more than two decades as executive director and counsel for the New York City Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, where she helped with judicial appointments for three mayoral administrations. 

She also served the New York State court system as special inspector general for bias matters, which oversees investigations into discrimination claims. 

Kim previously worked with the New York City Department of Investigation, where she handled fraud and corruption cases. She began her legal career as an assistant corporation counsel at the New York City Law Department, where she litigated civil rights cases in both state and federal courts. 

Kim has received several accolades, including the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s Best Lawyers Under 40 award.

“I am honored and thrilled to be returning to the court system with a wonderful opportunity to work with OCA’s dynamic leadership team,” Kim said. “As special counsel for appointments and UCS Advisory Groups, I will be able to use my wealth of experience to oversee the critical work involved in addressing judicial appointments and to continue my relationships with court leaders, committee and task force members, and stakeholders. 

“I subscribe to the notion that collaboration is among the key components to effect successful change and could not be more excited to explore new ideas to further support the delivery of justice in New York State courts,” she said.