A coalition of New York City Jewish bar associations is demanding that Mayor Zohran Mamdani correct an apparent failure to appoint a single Jewish member to his newly formed Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, according to a July 27 letter obtained by NBC New York. The panel of 18 members, named by the mayor on July 22, is responsible for evaluating and appointing judges to the city’s family and criminal courts to serve 10-year terms, as well as naming interim judges to civil courts.
Jewish Bar Associations Demand Correction Over Panel Exclusion
The coalition expressed deep disappointment in the July 27 letter, urging the mayor to correct the exclusion and reaffirm that Jewish New Yorkers deserve the same representation, respect, and protection as every other community. Elizabeth Forspan, president of the Brandeis Association of Queens, stated in an interview with NBC New York that omitting members of her faith from such a high pool of qualified Jewish lawyers, former lawyers, and law professors cannot be an oversight. She called on the mayor to reverse course if it was indeed a mistake.
Copies of the letter were sent to several state, city, and judicial officials, including Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and New York State Chief Judge Rowan Wilson. The committee evaluates candidates who make critical decisions ranging from placing children in foster care to presiding over hate crime cases amid rising antisemitism.
Mayoral Response and Past Administration Differences
Mamdani Press Secretary Joe Calvello stated that the mayor has appointed a dozen qualified judges from various backgrounds, including Jewish judges, and emphasized that any suggestion the decision was motivated by religion is false. However, the statement did not directly address the specific allegation that zero Jewish members were named to the 18-member panel. Ramzi Kassem, the mayor’s chief legal counsel, previously described the appointees as offering a truly representative cross-section of the city’s legal profession.
The current panel differs from the Eric Adams administration, which included several Jewish lawyers on the committee. Former members under Adams included George J. Silver, who chaired the panel and served as deputy chief administrative judge for New York City courts, along with Ronald Richter, Judy Harris Kluger, and Rebecca Roiphe. John Leventhal, a retired associate justice of the Appellate Division and a Jewish former committee member under Adams, was nominated by Chief Judge Wilson for Mamdani’s panel but was passed over. Calvello explained that the administration chose not to move forward with Leventhal’s appointment after learning he represented Ghislaine Maxwell during her federal sex trafficking appeal.
Did You Know?
Shortly after taking office in January, Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order directing the Advisory Committee on the Judiciary to engage the broad legal community, publish demographic data on applicant pools, and create a searchable public database to track judicial appointments.
Expert Insight
While advisory boards often shift with incoming mayoral administrations, transparency in the selection of the screening panels themselves remains limited under current city procedures.
Diversity of the Appointed Committee
While lacking Jewish representation, Mamdani’s committee features members with varied credentials, including former prosecutors, former judges, law professors, public defenders, and divorce lawyers. Appointees include Joseph Drayton of Proskauer Rose, Dianisbeth Acquie, who graduated summa cum laude from Harvard and worked in the Eastern District U.S. Attorney’s office, and Julia Hernandez, who co-directs a family defense clinic at CUNY School of Law.
The conflict unfolds as members of New York City’s Jewish community feel increasingly unsettled by the mayor’s critical rhetoric regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a local rise in antisemitism, which includes an alleged hate crime stabbing on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the Advisory Committee on the Judiciary?
Members evaluate and appoint judges to the city’s family and criminal courts for 10-year terms, and they also name interim judges to civil courts.
Who signed the July 27 letter to Mayor Mamdani?
A coalition of the city’s Jewish bar associations, including Brandeis Association of Queens President Elizabeth Forspan, sent the letter, which was also copied to Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and Chief Judge Rowan Wilson.
Why was John Leventhal excluded from the new committee?
According to Press Secretary Joe Calvello, the administration chose not to move forward with Leventhal’s appointment after learning he served on Ghislaine Maxwell’s legal team during her federal sex trafficking appeal.
How will the administration respond to ongoing calls for community representation on municipal boards?