Judicial jack of all trades Hon. Jacob Zelmanovitz inducted in Brooklyn Borough Hall
The presentation of colors by the New York State Courts Ceremonial Unit. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Mario Belluomo
By Wayne Daren Schneiderman
March 7, 2025
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DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Jacob Zelmanovitz, referred to by his colleagues as a “lawyer’s lawyer,” was officially inducted as Civil Court judge at Brooklyn Borough Hall’s Ceremonial Courtroom on March 6. However, he will ultimately be seconded to Criminal Court for an undisclosed amount of time, he told the Brooklyn Eagle.
Over the course of his more than 20-year career, Zelmanovitz’s practice focused on litigation in state and federal courts, as well as before arbitration panels and administrative tribunals. He has also handled criminal, bankruptcy, real estate, corporate, and transactional matters. Zelmanovitz was frequently retained to handle motions, appeals, and other work on behalf of colleagues at law firms.
In 2022, Zelmanovitz became associate court attorney at the New York City Civil Court, Kings County, where he presently assists Hon. Saul Stein in the wide variety of litigation that comes before the court, including commercial landlord-tenant cases, credit card and consumer debt litigation, and no-fault insurance disputes.
When asked about his reaction to being inducted, Zelmanovitz said he was “feeling absolutely great, elated, proud and humbled.”
“I have previously represented large firms, small businesses, individuals, criminal and civil litigation — the whole gamut,” he explained. “I really hope to bring humility to the bench and an understanding of what people who appear before me are going through.”
Zelmanovitz received his law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 2001. He currently resides in Brooklyn with his wife and children.
Speakers at the induction included Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso; Henry Butler, assemblyman, D-56, and vice chair of the Kings County Brooklyn Democratic Party; Assemblymember Shaquana Boykin, D-57; and District Leader Diana Gonzalez, D-44.
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