Criminal Court

Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary


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Criminal Court Judges

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Judge Tamiko Amaker

Judge Tamiko Amaker was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in January 2010. She currently serves as the Supervising Judge of New York County Criminal Court since 2013. She received her undergraduate degree from Vassar College and her law degree from Fordham Law School. Judge Amaker spent her entire legal career in the Bronx County District Attorney's Office where she last served as Deputy Chief of the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Bureau. Appointed January 2010. Reappointed January 2017.

Judge Deepa Ambekar

Judge Deepa Ambekar was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in May 2018 and has been serving in Criminal Court. Judge Ambekar served as a Staff Attorney with the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Division. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she also served with the New York City Council as a Senior Legislative Attorney and Counsel to the Committee on Public Safety. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and received her J.D. from Rutgers Law School. Appointed January 2021. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court May 2018; reappointed January 2019 and January 2020).

Judge Giyang An

Judge Giyang An was appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2021. She is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine and received her J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. She formerly served with the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney in the Criminal Court, Intake, Narcotics and Trial (Gun Readiness Unit) Bureaus. Prior to her appointment, she served with the Office of the New York State Attorney General as an Assistant Attorney General in the Torts Section of the Claims Bureau, Division of State Counsel. She also teaches as an Adjunct Professor of Law, Lawyering, and Legal Writing at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Appointed December 2021. Reappointed December 2022.

Judge Stephen Antignani

Judge Stephen Antignani, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the Criminal Court bench in January 2013. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College and his J.D. from Boston College Law School. He served with the Queens County District Attorney's Office and was the Deputy Chief of the Special Victims Bureau and Chief of the Public Corruption Bureau of the Nassau County District Attorney's Office. Reappointed January 2019. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court July 2012).

Judge Frederick Arriaga

Judge Frederick Arriaga was elected to Civil Court in November 2007. He has been serving in Criminal Court since 2008 and was designated as an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court in January 2013. Judge Arriaga received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from Brooklyn Law School. He began his career with South Brooklyn Legal Services before becoming a senior attorney for the Legal Aid Society's Brooklyn Office for the Aging. He also served as Counsel to former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Reappointed January 2018.

Judge Germaine Auguste

Judge Germaine Auguste was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in August 2021 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She is a graduate of New York University and received her J.D. from Howard University School of Law. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Auguste served with The Legal Aid Society, Queens County Criminal Defense Practice, for almost 30 years, most recently as Supervising Attorney. Appointed October 2022. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court August 2021; reappointed January 2022).

Judge Angela Badamo

Judge Angela Badamo was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in May 2017 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She is a graduate of SUNY Binghamton and received her J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of Law. Judge Badamo previously served with the Legal Aid Society's Criminal Appeals Bureau and subsequently joined the New York State Unified Court System as a Law Clerk in both Criminal and Civil Courts before serving as Assistant Deputy Counsel in the Office of the Chief Administrative Judge. Appointed January 2019. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court May 2017; reappointed January 2018).

Judge Anthony Battisti

Judge Anthony Battisti was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in December 2021 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He received both his undergraduate degree and his J.D. from St. John's University. Judge Battisti was a former Queens County Assistant District Attorney, where he was assigned to the Intake, Criminal Court, Grand Jury, and Supreme Court Bureaus. Thereafter, he entered into a law partnership and soon left to start his own practice. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was a private practitioner in Queens for over 27 years specializing in criminal defense and residential real estate. Appointed October 2023. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court December 2021; reappointed January 2022 and January 2023).

Judge Mary Bejarano

Judge Mary Bejarano was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in May 2017 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She is a graduate of St. John's University and received her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law. She began her legal career with the Queens County District Attorney's Office before becoming a criminal defense attorney in private practice. Prior to her appointment, Judge Bejarano returned to public service as a prosecutor with the Kings County District Attorney's Office. Appointed January 2018. Reappointed January 2024. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court May 2017).

Judge Beth Beller

Judge Beth Beller has been serving as an Acting Supreme Court Justice since January 2021. She was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2017 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She is a graduate of New York University and received her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. Prior to her appointment, Judge Beller served with the New York State Unified Court System for 11 years as a Principal Court Attorney in Supreme Court, Criminal Division, Bronx County. Prior to that, she served with the New York County District Attorney's Office for 17 years. Appointed January 2019. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2017; reappointed January 2018).

Judge Miriam Best

Judge Miriam Best was first appointed to the bench as an Interim Civil Court Judge in 2003. She is a graduate of Yale University and received her J.D. from Yale Law School. She previously worked in the private sector and later served in the Kings County and New York County District Attorney's Offices, as well as in the United States Attorney's Office. Appointed October 2005. Reappointed January 2013; December 2022. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court June 2003; reappointed January 2004 and January 2005).

Judge Laurence Busching

Judge Laurence Busching is a graduate of Boston College and St. John's University School of Law. He has held executive positions with the New York County District Attorney's Office and several city agencies, including Chief of the City-Wide Family Court Division of the New York City Law Department, and most recently as First Deputy Criminal Justice Coordinator. Appointed December 2013. Reappointed January 2022.

Judge Nancy Carrington

Judge Nancy Carrington was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in September 2024. She is a graduate of New York University and received her law degree from Brooklyn Law School. Following her law school graduation, she worked as an Associate at several law firms before joining the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney in the Domestic Violence, Trials and Criminal Court Bureaus. She was later promoted to Deputy Bureau Chief of the Criminal Court Bureau before leaving to join the New York State Unified Court System. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Carrington served as a Principal Court Attorney in Supreme Court, Kings County, Criminal Term. Appointed September 2024.

Judge Heidi Cesare

Judge Heidi Cesare was appointed to the Criminal Court bench in January 2016. She graduated from Columbia College and received her law degree from Boston University School of Law. She served with the Legal Aid Society in the Criminal Defense Division and with the Federal Defender Division, Eastern District of New York and most recently with the Federal Defenders of New York. Reappointed January 2019. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court February 2015).

Judge Phyllis Chu

Judge Phyllis Chu, was appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2016. She is a graduate of Cornell University and received her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law. Prior to her appointment, Judge Chu served with the Kings County District Attorney's Office for 23 years holding various positions, including Senior Assistant District Attorney in the Homicide Bureau. Appointed December 2016. Reappointed January 2022.

Judge Danny Chun

Judge Danny Chun, currently an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was first appointed to the Criminal Court in May 1999. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University and received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. He previously served for 12 years with the New York County District Attorney's Office. Reappointed January 2009; January 2019.

Judge Toni Cimino

Judge Toni Cimino was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in June 2016 and has been presiding in Criminal Court. She received her undergraduate degree from St. John’s University and her law degree from St. John’s University School of Law. Prior to her appointment, she was a criminal defense attorney in private practice, then served with the New York State Unified Court System for nearly 17 years including as a Court Attorney in Supreme Court, Criminal and Civil Term, and as a Court Attorney Referee. Appointed January 2017. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court June 2016).

Judge Abraham Clott

Judge Abraham Clott, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in January 2007. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and his law degree from New York University School of Law. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Clott served with the Legal Aid Society in the Criminal Appeals Bureau and the Federal Defender Division. He was also an associate for a private firm as well as a law clerk to a federal judge. Reappointed January 2009; January 2019. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2004; reappointed January 2005 and January 2006).

Judge Tara Collins

Judge Tara Collins was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in May 2017 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She is a graduate of SUNY Geneseo and received her J.D. from the Jacob D. Fuchsberg Touro Law Center. Prior to her appointment, Judge Collins served with the Legal Aid Society's Criminal Defense Practice for the past 18 years as a Staff Attorney and as a Mental Health Attorney. Appointed January 2018. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court May 2017).

Judge Miriam Cyrulnik

Judge Miriam Cyrulnik was first appointed to the bench in June 2003 as an Interim Civil Court Judge, and was appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2003. She is a graduate of Brooklyn College and received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. She formerly served as a law clerk for more than twenty years. Appointed December 2003; reappointed December 2005 and December 2015. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court June 2003).

Judge Edward Daniels

Judge Edward Daniels was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in April 2024. He is a graduate of Yale University and received his J.D. from Stanford Law School. After graduating from law school, Judge Daniels joined a private firm in Washington D.C. After briefly establishing a solo practice in New York, he went on to join another firm as an Associate handling complex criminal and civil matters at trial and appeal. Thereafter he joined the Brooklyn Defender Services as a Staff Attorney in Criminal Practice. Prior to his appointment, Judge Daniels was serving as a Senior Staff Attorney in the Homicide Practice of the Brooklyn Defender Services. Appointed April 2024.

Judge Claudia Daniels-DePeyster

Judge Claudia Daniels-DePeyster was appointed to the Criminal Court in April 2015. She graduated from SUNY at Buffalo and received her law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Law. Prior to her appointment, Judge Daniels-DePeyster was a solo practitioner with a concentration in criminal and civil law, an attorney with the Bureau of Investigations and Trials of the New York City Fire Department, and last served with the New York City Police Department as an Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Trials for 11 years. Reappointed January 2018.

Judge Samuel David

Judge Samuel David was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in January 2024. He received his undergraduate degree, with honors, from Columbia University and his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Judge David was a former Assistant District Attorney with the New York County District Attorney’s Office for nearly eighteen years. He was assigned to various Bureaus and units including the Domestic Violence and Sex Crimes Units, Trial Bureau 50 and Trial Bureau 80. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he last served as Chief of Trial Bureau 80. Appointed January 2024.

Judge Abena Darkeh

Judge Abena Darkeh was appointed to the Criminal Court in February 2015. She graduated from Georgetown University and received her law degree from Hofstra University School of Law. Prior to her appointment, Judge Darkeh served with the Kings County District Attorney's Office and with the New York State Office of Court Administration as a Court Attorney/Citywide Domestic Violence Coordinator for New York City Criminal Court and as Assistant Deputy Counsel in the Office of Policy and Planning. She most recently served as Deputy Commissioner for Regional Affairs and Federal Programs for the New York State Division of Human Rights. Appointed February 2015. Reappointed January 2020.

Judge Bruna DiBiase

Judge Bruna DiBiase was first appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2013. She received her undergraduate degree from Queens College and her law degree from Hofstra University School of Law. She worked for the Legal Aid Society and as a solo practitioner for almost 14 years prior to serving in various capacities with the New York State Unified Court System including as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Policy and Planning. Appointed December 2013; reappointed January 2015.

Judge Althea Drysdale

Judge Althea Drysdale was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in February 2015 and had been serving in Criminal Court. She received her undergraduate degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and her law degree from Syracuse University College of Law. Prior to her appointment, Judge Drysdale served as a Staff Attorney for the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Division, and most recently served as a Senior Trial Attorney for the New York County Defender Services. Appointed January 2016. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court February 2015).

Judge Keshia Espinal

Judge Keshia Espinal was appointed to the Criminal Court in May 2017. She is a graduate of St. Joseph’s College and received her J.D. from Western New England University School of Law. Prior to her appointment, Judge Espinal served with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office for 16 years in several bureaus, including as a Supervising Assistant District Attorney for the Domestic Violence Bureau. Appointed May 2017. Reappointed January 2021.

Judge Ralph Fabrizio

Judge Ralph Fabrizio, currently serving as an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2001. He received his bachelor's degree from Fairfield University, his master's degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and his law degree from St. John's University School of Law. He served with the New York County District Attorney's Office for 17 years where he held various positions including Deputy Chief of a Trial Bureau. Reappointed January 2008; January 2018.

Judge Curtis Farber

Judge Curtis Farber was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in July 2012 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He received his undergraduate degree from George Washington University and his law degree from Boston University School of Law. Prior to his appointment, he served with the Bronx County District Attorney's Office and was a solo criminal defense practitioner for 20 years. Appointed December 2012. Reappointed January 2020. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court July 2012).

Judge Dale Fong-Frederick

Judge Dale Fong-Frederick was appointed to the Criminal Court in October 2022. He received his bachelor’s degree from Queens College, CUNY and his law degree from Hofstra University, School of Law. Judge Fong-Frederick began his legal career with The Legal Aid Society, Queens County Criminal Defense Division and then New York County Defender Services. He was also a former solo practitioner, Principal Law Clerk and prior to his appointment to the bench, he was as a Court Attorney-Referee in Kings County Surrogate’s Court. Appointed October 2022. Reappointed January 2023.

Judge Diego Freire

Judge Diego Freire was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in December 2021 and has been serving in Criminal Court. Judge Freire is a graduate of Queens College and received his law degree from Temple University, Beasley School of Law. For 14 years, he served with The Legal Aid Society, Queens County Criminal Defense Practice and prior to his appointment to the bench, he held dual titles of Senior Staff Attorney and Adolescent Intervention and Diversion Attorney. Appointed October 2023. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court December 2021; reappointed January 2022 and January 2023.

Judge Michael Gaffey

Judge Michael Gaffey was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2019 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He is a graduate of Adelphi University and received his law degree from Hofstra University School of Law. Judge Gaffey has been a criminal law practitioner for 32 years and most recently served as Supervising Attorney and Deputy Director at the Queens Law Associates. Prior to that, he was a Staff Attorney at The Legal Aid Society, was in a partnership, and had his own practice. Appointed January 2020. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2019).

Judge Jeffrey Gershuny

Judge Jeffrey Gershuny was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in March 2018 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He is a graduate of SUNY Binghamton University and received his J.D. from Hofstra University Law School. Judge Gershuny most recently served as Chief Counsel to the Administrative Judge of New York City Criminal Court. Prior to that, he was a Supervising Court Attorney in Criminal Court, New York County for seven years. Appointed April 2019. Reappointed January 2022.(Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court March 2018; reappointed January 2019).

Judge Joshua Glick

Judge Joshua Glick was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in August 2021. He received his undergraduate degree from Queens College and law degree from Temple University, Beasley School of Law. Judge Glick began his legal career with The Legal Aid Society, Queens County Criminal Defense Practice where he served for eight years before joining Queens Defenders where he remained for 14 years while opening his own practice. Thereafter, he was briefly employed as a Principal Law Clerk to a New York State Supreme Court Justice and as an associate with a private firm. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he returned to Queens Defenders as a Supervising Attorney for nearly nine years and also maintained his own practice. Appointed August 2021.

Judge Pamela Goldsmith

Judge Pamela Goldsmith was appointed to the Criminal Court in April 2023. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and received her J.D from Hofstra University Law School. Judge Goldsmith began her legal career at the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office where she started as an Assistant District Attorney in the Criminal Court Bureau, she was also assigned to the Grand Jury Bureau and finally Trial Bureau 30. She then joined the New York State Unified Court System as a Court Attorney in Supreme Court, Bronx County and in Criminal Court, New York County. Prior to her appointment, she was a Principal Court Attorney in Supreme Court, Bronx County, Criminal Term. Appointed April 2023.

Judge Matthew Grieco

Judge Matthew Grieco was appointed to the Criminal Court in February 2023. He is a graduate of Brown University and received his J.D. from Columbia University Law School. Judge Grieco served with the New York State Unified Court System for 28 years in the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department. He held various titles over the years, including Court Attorney, Assistant Deputy Chief Court Attorney, and Special Counsel to the Presiding Justice. Prior to his appointment, he served as Chief Court Attorney. Appointed February 2023.

Judge Eugene Guarino

Judge Eugene Guarino was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in June 2016 and has been presiding in Criminal Court. He received his undergraduate degree from Fordham University and his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. He formerly served with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office and was in private practice. Prior to his appointment, Judge Guarino was Principal Court Attorney in Queens County Criminal and Supreme Courts. Appointed January 2017. Reappointed December 2022. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court June 2016).

Judge Simiyon Haniff

Judge Simiyon Haniff was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in December 2021 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He is a graduate of St. John’s University, cum laude and received his law degree from Brooklyn Law School. He began his legal career with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office serving in the Intake, Domestic Violence, Appeals and Trial Bureaus. After two partnerships, he opened his own practice which he maintained for nearly eight years. Thereafter, he returned to the Queens County District Attorney’s Office first serving as an Assistant District Attorney in the Criminal Court and Domestic Violence Bureaus and last served as Supervising Attorney of the Criminal Court Bureau’s Part AP-2, prior to his appointment to the bench. Appointed October 2022. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court December 2021; reappointed January 2022).

Judge Danielle Hartman

Judge Danielle Hartman was appointed to the Criminal Court in May 2017. She is a graduate of Emory University and received her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School. Prior to her appointment, Judge Hartman served with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office for eight years and most recently served as Principal Court Attorney in the Supreme Court, Criminal Term, Queens County. Appointed May 2017. Reappointed January 2022.

Judge Michael Hartofilis

Judge Michael Hartofilis was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in February 2018 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He is a graduate of New York University and received his J.D from Temple University School of Law. Judge Hartofilis was with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office for eight years before starting his own criminal defense practice, which he maintained for the last 22 years. Appointed January 2019. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court February 2018).

Judge John Hecht

Judge John Hecht, currently an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in September 2011. He received his undergraduate degree from Yale College and his J.D. from Boston University School of Law. Prior to his appointment, he served as a Principal Court Attorney in Supreme Court, was a Supervising Attorney for the Legal Aid Society, was a litigation associate for private firms, and clerked for a federal judge. Reappointed January 2018 and January 2020. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2011).

Judge Carolina Holderness

Judge Carolina Holderness was appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2021. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received her J.D. from Columbia Law School. She began her legal career as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Lawrence M. McKenna in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. She subsequently joined the New York County District Attorney's Office as an Assistant District Attorney and served in various capacities for 14 years, including as Criminal Court Supervisor, Chief of the Human Trafficking Response Unit of the Special Victims Bureau and prior to her appointment, as the Deputy Chief of the Special Victims Bureau. Appointed December 2021.

Judge Steven Hornstein

Judge Steven Hornstein was appointed to the Criminal Court in January 2013. He graduated from S.U.N.Y. at Albany and received his law degree from New York Law School. He served with the Bronx County District Attorney's Office and was a criminal defense attorney in private practice for over 20 years. Appointed January 2013; reappointed December 2015.

Judge Jerry Iannece

Judge Jerry Iannece was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in May 2017 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He is a graduate of New York University and received his J.D. from St. John's University School of Law. Prior to his appointment, Judge Iannece began his legal career as a prosecutor with the Bronx County District Attorney's Office and subsequently went into private practice, maintaining a general practice partnership, including criminal defense work, for 29 years. Appointed January 2018. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court May 2017).

Judge Laura Johnson

Judge Laura Johnson was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2013 and had been serving in Criminal Court. She received her undergraduate degree from Barnard College and her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law. Prior to her appointment, she served with the New York County District Attorney's Office and the Legal Aid Society including as Attorney-in-Charge of the Criminal Appeals Bureau. She also served as an Assistant Solicitor General, and clerked for the Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. Appointed January 2016. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2013; reappointed January 2014 and January 2015).

Judge Michael Kitsis

Judge Michael Kitsis was appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2016. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and received his J.D. from the University of Virginia, School of Law. Prior to his appointment, Judge Kitsis served with the New York County District Attorney’s Office for 33 years in various positions including Bureau Chief of the Frauds Bureau and Senior Investigative Counsel of Major Economic Crimes. Appointed December 2016. Reappointed January 2019.

Judge Biju Koshy

Judge Biju Koshy was appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2021. Judge Koshy is a graduate of Pace University and received his J.D. from Seton Hall Law School. He was formerly with the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office in the Criminal Court Bureau and General Crimes Bureau. He went on to serve the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office where he became Supervisor, then Deputy Chief of the Criminal Court Bureau before joining the New York State Unified Court System as a Court Attorney. He served in this capacity for a little over two years before opening his own practice in Richmond County representing clients on felony and misdemeanor cases in Supreme and Criminal Courts, as well as serving as a court evaluator and appointed counsel on Guardian cases in Supreme Court. Appointed December 2021.

Judge Kacie Lally

Judge Kacie Lally was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in September 2024. She is a graduate of Harvard University and received her J.D. from Cornell University Law School. After graduating from law school, she joined a private firm as a Litigation Associate and later clerked for United State District Court Judge Paul A. Crotty. Thereafter, Judge Lally served with the Office of the New York State Attorney General in the Law Enforcement Group, Litigation Bureau as an Assistant Attorney General and as Deputy Section Chief. She then joined the New York State Unified Court System as a Court Attorney in New York County Criminal Court and Supreme Court, Criminal term. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Lally was serving as a Court Attorney in Supreme Court, Civil term, Kings County. Appointed September 2024.

Judge Marty Lentz

Judge Marty Lentz was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court judge in December 2021 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She is a graduate of Loyola University in Chicago and received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. She was a former Law Clerk in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C. Judge Lentz also served with The Legal Aid Society for 17 years as a Staff Attorney assigned to the Brooklyn Criminal Defense Practice, Misdemeanor Brooklyn Treatment Court, and the Red Hook Community Justice Center, prior to her appointment to the bench. Appointed December 2022. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court December 2021; reappointed January 2022).

Judge Donald Leo

Judge Donald Leo, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the Criminal Court bench in December 2015. Judge Leo is a graduate of New York University and Brooklyn Law School. Prior to his appointment, he served with the New York County District Attorney's Office for over a decade before becoming Deputy Bureau Chief of the Sex Offender Management Bureau with the New York State Attorney General's Office. Appointed December 2015. Reappointed January 2019.

Judge Daniel Lewis

Judge Daniel Lewis was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in April 2024. He is a graduate of Cornell University and received his M.S. from St. John’s University and his law degree from Brooklyn Law School. After graduating from law school, Judge Lewis joined a private firm as an Associate. He also began serving as an Operational Law Attorney for the New York Army National Guard/United States Army Reserve before joining the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney in the Criminal Court, Domestic Violence, Investigations/Narcotics, and Economic Crimes Bureaus. Thereafter, Judge Lewis served as the Lead Attorney in the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Criminal Investigations Division. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Lewis was serving as Unit Chief of the Crimes Against Revenue Unit of the Fraud Bureau in the Queens County District Attorney’s Office. Appointed April 2024.

Judge Melissa Lewis

Judge Melissa Lewis was appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2021. She received her undergraduate degree from St. John’s University and law degree from New York Law School. She began her legal career with the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office where she remained for 14 years serving in the District Court Misdemeanor Trial Bureau, County Court Felony Trial Bureau, and Major Offense Bureau. She last served as a Deputy Bureau Chief of the County Court Felony Trial Bureau and as Director of Recruitment. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she served with the New York State Unified Court System as Deputy Chief of Staff. Appointed December 2021. Reappointed December 2022.

Judge Wanda Licitra

Judge Wanda Licitra was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2019 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz and received her J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law. Judge Licitra has practiced criminal law for nearly 33 years and most recently served as a Supervising Attorney in Arraignments at the Queens Law Associates. Prior to that, she served as a Staff Attorney in The Legal Aid Society in both Kings and Bronx counties. Appointed January 2020. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2019).

Judge Judith Lieb

Judge Judith Lieb, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in July 1999. She was subsequently appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2004. She graduated from Yale University and received her law degree from Michigan Law School. She was a litigation associate for a private firm and served with the United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York. Appointed December 2004. Reappointed January 2012; January 2022. (Formerly reappointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2002; January 2003; January 2004).

Judge Sara Litman

Judge Sara Litman was appointed to the Criminal Court in October 2022. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and law degree from Brooklyn Law School. She was a former Kings County Assistant District Attorney who started in the Red Zone Trial Bureau and eventually became a Senior Assistant District Attorney in the Sex Crimes Bureau. She subsequently joined the New York State Unified Court System as a Principal Law Clerk in Supreme Court in Kings, New York and Bronx Counties. She last served as a Principal Court Attorney in Supreme Court, Kings County, Law Department. Appointed October 2022. Reappointed December 2022.

Judge Julieta Lozano

Judge Julieta Lozano was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2024 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She is a graduate of Williams College and received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Judge Lozano started her legal career with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office prior to joining the New York State Attorney General’s Office, Criminal Division/Division of Criminal Justice where she held the title of Deputy Attorney General. She then joined the State of New York Executive Chamber before serving with the New York County District Attorney’s Office, Major Economic Crimes Bureau. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she held cross designated roles as Bureau Chief of the Major Economic Crimes Bureau as well as Special Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Appointed February 2024. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2024.)

Judge Robert Mandelbaum

Judge Robert Mandelbaum was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in January 2008, and is currently an Acting Supreme Court Justice. Judge Mandelbaum received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his law degree from New York University School of Law. He served as former Chief Judge Judith Kaye's law clerk, was with the New York County Defenders Services, the Legal Aid Society's Criminal Defense Division as a criminal defense attorney and Acting Director of Training. Judge Mandelbaum was also previously with New York University's School of Law as an Acting Assistant Professor of Clinical Law and as a Research Instructor in their Lawyering Program. Reappointed January 2018. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court in November 2006; reappointed in January 2007).

Judge Margaret Martin

Judge Margaret Martin, was appointed to the Criminal Court in January 2017. She is a graduate of Boston University and received her J.D. from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law. Prior to her appointment, Judge Martin was an Assistant Deputy Counsel in the Office of Court Administration's Office of Policy and Planning. Prior to this, she served with the Legal Aid Society over 21 years, including as Senior Staff Attorney in the Capital Division. Reappointed January 2018.

Judge Marisol Martinez Alonso

Judge Marisol Martinez Alonso was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in February 2018 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She is a graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice and received her J.D. from the New York Law School. Judge Martinez Alonso was a former Deputy Chief of a Trial Bureau at the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, where she had served for over 16 years in various bureaus. Appointed January 2019. Reappointed December 2022. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court February 2018).

Judge Joseph McCormack

Judge Joseph McCormack was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in May 2017 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He is a graduate of SUNY Albany and received his J.D. from St. John's University School of Law. Prior to his appointment, Judge McCormack served for 31 years with the Bronx County District Attorney's Office, where he last served as Chief of the Trial Division/Vehicular Crimes Bureau. Appointed January 2018. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court May 2017).

Judge Janet McDonnell

Judge Janet McDonnell was appointed to the Criminal Court in February 2023. She is a graduate of Iona College and received her J.D. from CUNY School of Law. Judge McDonnell began her legal career with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, where she served for over 21 years in the Orange Zone, Crimes Against Children Bureau and Early Case Assessment Bureau/Arraignments. She also served as Deputy Bureau Chief of the Domestic Violence Bureau and as Deputy Unit Chief of the Criminal Court. In 2019, she went on to serve with the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office as Deputy Bureau Chief and Acting Bureau Chief of Criminal Court. Prior to her appointment, she last served as the First Deputy Chief of the Criminal Court Bureau.

Judge Kevin McGrath

Judge Kevin McGrath was appointed to the Criminal Court bench in January 2009. He has been serving as the Supervising Judge of New York County Criminal Court since March 2018. Judge McGrath graduated from the Catholic University of America and received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. For 15 years, he worked for the Kings County District Attorney's Office, where he last served as the Bureau Chief of the Criminal Court Bureau. Appointed January 2009. Reappointed January 2019. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court September 2008).

Judge John McPadden

Judge John McPadden was appointed to the Criminal Court in April 2023. He is a graduate of St. Francis College and received his J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law. Judge McPadden began his legal career as a criminal defense attorney in a private firm. He then joined the New York State Office of Court Administration where he served in various capacities including as Associate Court Attorney and Principal Law Secretary to several Supreme Court Justices. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Supervising Court Attorney to the Supervising Judge of New York County Criminal Court. Appointed April 2023.

Judge Felicia Mennin

Judge Felicia Mennin was appointed to the Criminal Court in February 2008. She graduated from Princeton University and received her law degree from Columbia University Law School. Judge Mennin practiced litigation at several private firms, served with the New York County District Attorney's Office, and held executive positions at the New York City Department of Investigation and the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board. Appointed February 2008. Reappointed January 2012; January 2022.

Judge Guy Mitchell

Judge Guy Mitchell was appointed to the Criminal Court in February 2015. He graduated from SUNY at Brockport and received his law degree from Ohio Northern School of Law. Judge Mitchell was a former prosecutor with the Bronx County District Attorney's Office, Chief of the Criminal Division in the United States Virgin Islands Department of Justice, and was most recently an Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Harlem/Bronx Regional Office. Appointed February 2015. Reappointed January 2022.

Judge Valentina Morales

Judge Valentina Morales was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in August 2021. She graduated summa cum laude from Wellesley College and received her law degree from Columbia Law School. After graduating law school, Judge Morales joined the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (“NDSH”) as a Kirkland & Ellis Fellow and created defensaNDS – a project dedicated to providing bilingual holistic representation to monolingual Spanish speakers accused of crimes in upper Manhattan. After the end of her fellowship, she continued to serve the NDSH as the Project Director of defensaNDS. Thereafter, she was a Senior Associate with the International Arbitration Group at a private firm for five years before returning to public service as Principal Attorney-in-Charge, Mental Hygiene Legal Service, First Judicial Department. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Morales was Senior Director of Justice Initiatives with Fedcap Group where she created and directed innovative criminal justice programming with a focus on specialized populations including The Women’s Project. Appointed August 2021.

Judge Gia Morris

Judge Gia Morris was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in September 2011 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She received her undergraduate degree from Ithaca College and her law degree from Cardozo School of Law. She was an associate for private law firms, a former prosecutor in Kings County, and held executive positions in city and state investigative agencies. Appointed January 2013. Reappointed December 2022. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court September 2011; reappointed January 2012).

Judge Herbert Moses

Judge Herbert Moses was appointed to the Criminal Court in January 2017. He is a graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice and received his law degree from CUNY School of Law. Judge Moses served with the Kings County District Attorney's Office for five years. Subsequently, he became a solo practitioner specializing in criminal defense for 20 years. Reappointed January 2018.

Judge Edwin Novillo

Judge Edwin Novillo was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in February 2018 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He is a graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice and received his J.D. from Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center. Judge Novillo has served with the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Practice for 14 ½ years, most recently as a Senior Staff Attorney in Queens County. Appointed January 2019. Reappointed January 2020. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court February 2018).

Judge Craig Ortner

Judge Craig Ortner was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in February 2023 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He is a graduate of Cornell University and received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. Judge Ortner started his legal career as an Associate with a private firm. He served as a Clerk for both a United States District Court Judge for the Middle District of Florida and a United States Court of Appeals Judge for the 11th Circuit. Judge Ortner was a former New York County Assistant District Attorney for 19 years, serving in various capacities including as Criminal Court Supervisor in Trial Bureau 80. Prior to his appointment, he served as Deputy Bureau Chief of Trial Bureau 60. Appointed December 2023. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court February 2023).

Judge Kathryn Paek

Judge Kathryn Paek was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in February 2015. She received her undergraduate degree from New York University and her law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. Judge Paek was a Staff Attorney for the Legal Aid Society in Nassau County and a Staff Attorney in the Criminal Defense Division and Civil Division, Immigration Unit in Kings County. Prior to her appointment she served as Principal Court Attorney in Supreme Court, Criminal Term, Kings County and as Chief of Staff in the Office of Policy and Planning for the New York State Office of Court Administration. Appointed February 2015. Reappointed January 2024.

Judge Srividya Pappachan

Judge Srividya Pappachan was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in December 2021 and has been serving in Criminal Court. Judge Pappachan is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts – Amherst and received her J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law. She began her legal career with The Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Practice as a Staff Attorney. She also served as Court Attorney to a New York County Criminal Court Judge. Appointed October 2022. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court December 2021; reappointed January 2022).

Judge Jung Park

Judge Jung Park was appointed to the Criminal Court in April 2023. She is a graduate of Cornell University and attained an MSW from the Columbia University School of Social Work before receiving her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. Judge Park began her legal career with the New York County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney, where she served for over twenty years in the Appeal Bureau and Trial Bureau 80, eventually becoming Deputy Bureau Chief of the latter. Prior to her appointment she served as the Bureau Chief of Trial Bureau 80. Appointed April 2023.

Judge Rachel Pauley

Judge Rachel Pauley was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in December 2021 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She received her dual bachelor's and master's degrees from Columbia University's Barnard College and School of International and Public Affairs, respectively, and her law degree from Fordham University School of Law. Judge Pauley was a former Kings County Assistant District Attorney and a Principal Court Attorney in Supreme Court, Criminal Term. She also served with the New York State Attorney General's Office and the New York State Inspector General's Office. Most recently, she was Director of Government Programs, Social Justice Initiatives and a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School. Appointed October 2022. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court December 2021; reappointed January 2022).

Judge Kim Petersen

Judge Kim Petersen was appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2016. She is a graduate of Queens College and received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. Prior to her appointment, Judge Petersen served with the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office as Bureau Chief of Criminal Court. She began her legal career with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office and subsequently served as Principal Court Attorney in the Appellate Division, First Department, Departmental Disciplinary Committee, as well as, in Supreme Court, Criminal Term, Queens County. Appointed December 2016.

Judge Linda Poust Lopez

Judge Linda Poust Lopez was elected to Civil Court in January 2011. She has been serving in Criminal Court since 2011 and was designated as an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court in 2017. Judge Poust Lopez received her undergraduate degree from Herbert H. Lehman College and her law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She served with the Legal Aid Society for nearly 18 years in both the Manhattan and Bronx Criminal Defense Practice. She also maintained a solo practice focusing on Criminal and Family Court appellate matters. Reappointed January 2021.

Judge Raja Rajeswari

Judge Raja Rajeswari was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in April 2015. She graduated from the College of Staten Island and received her law degree from Brooklyn Law School. Prior to her appointment, Judge Rajeswari worked with the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office her entire career in several bureaus including Criminal Court, Narcotics, Supreme Court, and the Sex Crimes Special Victims Bureau where she last served as Deputy Chief. Appointed April 2015. Reappointed January 2019.

Judge Archana Rao

Judge Archana Rao was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2019 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She is a graduate of Vassar College and received her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. Judge Rao served with the New York County District Attorney's Office for 17 years. Prior to her appointment to the bench she was the the Bureau Chief of the Financial Frauds Bureau. Appointed January 2020. Reappointed January 2024. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2019).

Judge Raymond Rodriguez

Judge Raymond Rodriguez was appointed to the Criminal Court bench in December 2013. He received his undergraduate degree from St. John's University and his law degree from Widener University School of Law. Prior to his appointment, he served with the Richmond County District Attorney's Office and was a solo practitioner for almost nine years specializing in criminal defense, family law, and civil litigation. Reappointed January 2018 and January 2020. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2013).

Judge Jeffrey Rosenblueth

Judge Jeffrey Rosenblueth was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in May 2017 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He is a graduate of New York University and received his J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Prior to his appointment, Judge Rosenblueth was with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office before becoming a criminal defense attorney in private practice. He also previously served with the New York State Unified Court System as a Principal Law Clerk in Supreme Court, Criminal Term, Queens County. Appointed January 2019 (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court May 2017; reappointed January 2018).

Judge Michael Ryan

Judge Michael Ryan was appointed to the Criminal Court in October 2022. He received his undergraduate degree from SUNY Stony Brook and J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. Shortly after his graduation from Brooklyn Law School he began his legal career and served with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office up until his appointment to the bench. During his tenure, he was assigned to various bureaus and held several titles. Including but not limited to serving as Deputy Bureau Chief of the Early Case Assessment, Rackets and Criminal Court Bureaus; and as Bureau Chief of the Human Trafficking Bureau and Investigations Division. He last served as Chief of the Criminal Courts Unit. Appointed October 2022. Reappointed January 2023.

Judge Quynda Santacroce

Judge Quynda Santacroce was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2019 and has been serving in Criminal Court. Judge Santacroce previously served with the New York State Unified Court System as a Principal Court Attorney in Criminal Court, Queens County in the Integrated Domestic Violence Part/Queens Youth Part. Prior to that, she served with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office in several bureaus. She is a graduate of Cornell University and received her J.D. from Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center. Appointed January 2021. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2019; reappointed January 2020).

Judge Ann Scherzer

Judge Ann Scherzer was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2012 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She graduated from the University of Michigan and received her law degree from Boston University School of Law. Prior to her appointment, she served with the New York County District Attorney's Office, the New York City Law Department, and the Appellate Division's Departmental Disciplinary Committee. Appointed January 2013. Reappointed January 2019. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2012).

Judge Toko Serita

Judge Toko Serita was appointed to the Criminal Court in October 2005. She is a graduate of Vassar College and received her J.D. from City University of New York Law School. Prior to her appointment, Judge Serita served as the Executive Assistant to the Administrative Judge of Queens County Supreme Court, and has worked in a variety of capacities in the New York State Unified Court System since 1999. She also served with the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Appeals Bureau, from 1989 through 1999. Appointed October 2005. Reappointed January 2007;January 2009 January 2019.

Judge Joseph Sorrentino

Judge Joseph Sorrentino was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in September 2024. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and received his law degree from St. John’s University School of Law. Following his law school graduation, he joined the Law Department of the Appellate Division, Second Department as an Assistant Appellate Court Attorney. After subsequent promotions to Appellate Court Attorney and Senior Appellate Court Attorney he served as Principal Law Clerk and Supervisor of the Motions Department. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Sorrentino was the Chief Appellate Court Attorney for the Appellate Division, Second Department. Appointed September 2024.

Judge Steven Statsinger

Judge Steven Statsinger was appointed to the Criminal Court in January 2013. He received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his law degree from Columbia University School of Law. Prior to his appointment, he served with the Legal Aid Society in the Criminal Appeals Bureau and the Federal Defender Division, and as a Supervisor and Training Director for the Federal Defenders of New York. Appointed January 2013. Reappointed January 2014; January 2024.

Judge Audrey Stone

Judge Audrey Stone was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2019 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She is a graduate of Brown University and received her J.D. from New York University School of Law. Judge Stone most recently served with the New York State Unified Court System as the Chief Counsel on Family Violence cases for the Office of Policy and Planning. Prior to that, she was with the Legal Aid Society's Criminal Defense Division and the Westchester County District Attorney's Office. Appointed January 2020. Reappointed January 2022. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2019).

Judge Jonathan Svetkey

Judge Jonathan Svetkey was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2019 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He is a graduate of the University of Rochester and received his J.D. from Catholic University School of Law. Judge Svetkey most recently served with the New York State Unified Court System as an Associate Court Attorney in Criminal Court, New York County. Prior to this, Judge Svetkey served as a prosecutor with the Kings and Bronx County District Attorney’s Office before establishing a partnership specializing in criminal defense, immigration and personal injury. Appointed January 2020. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2019).

Judge Jennifer Tubridy

Judge Jennifer Tubridy was appointed to the Criminal Court in February 2023. She is a graduate of Columbia University and received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. Judge Tubridy is a former Queens County Assistant District Attorney, with assignments to Criminal Court and Intake Bureau, Supreme Court Narcotics Trials Bureau, and Career Criminal Major Crimes Division. She then joined the New York State Unified Court System as Principal Law Clerk to a Queens County Supreme Court Justice. Prior to her appointment, she served as a Court Attorney in Criminal Court, New York County.

Judge Jane Tully

Judge Jane Tully, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the Criminal Court in January 2013. She graduated from New York University and Columbia University School of Law. Prior to her appointment, she worked for the New York City Law Department, and served as a Deputy Chief with the New York County District Attorney's Office and Bureau Chief with the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor. Appointed January 2013. Reappointed January 2019.

Judge Frances Wang

Judge Frances Wang was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2017 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She is a graduate of St. John's University and received her J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law. Prior to her appointment Judge Wang served with the New York State Unified Court System for six years as a Principal Court Attorney in Supreme Court, Criminal Term, Bronx County. Prior to that, she served with the Bronx County District Attorney's Office. Appointed January 2018. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2017).

Judge Kerry Ward

Judge Kerry Ward was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2019 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She is a graduate of Pace University and received her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law. Judge Ward most recently served with the New York State Unified Court System as Chief of Staff in the Office of Policy and Planning. Prior to that, she served as a Principal Law Clerk and Principal Court Attorney in Supreme Court Criminal and Civil Terms. Appointed January 2020. Reappointed January 2022.(Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2019).

Judge Elizabeth Warin

Judge Elizabeth Warin was appointed to the Criminal Court bench in December 2015. Prior to her appointment, she served as a Law Clerk with the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, then served with The Legal Aid Society and was Of Counsel to two firms specializing in criminal defense. Judge Warin received her undergraduate degree from Yale University and her law degree from New York University School of Law. Appointed December 2015. Reappointed January 2020.

Judge Joanne Watters

Judge Joanne Watters was appointed to the Criminal Court bench in December 2015 and has been serving as the Supervising Judge of Queens County Criminal Court since 2021. She received her undergraduate degree from Fordham University and her law degree from Pace University School of Law. Judge Watters formerly worked with the Bronx County District Attorney's Office before joining the Department Advocate's Office with the New York City Police Department. Prior to joining the bench she served as Court Attorney to the Supervising Judge of Kings County Criminal Court. Appointed December 2015. Reappointed January 2024.

Judge Michelle Weber

Judge Michelle Weber was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in April 2024. She is a graduate of CUNY Queens College and received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. After graduating from law school, she joined the Kings County District Attorney’s Office where she began her legal career as a Misdemeanor Line Assistant in the Red Trial Zone. She went on to serve as Grand Jury Assistant and Senior Assistant District Attorney in different Trial Zones including the Special Victims Bureau, and Crimes Against Children before becoming the Deputy Bureau Chief of the Domestic Violence Bureau, Integrated Domestic Violence Court. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Weber was serving as the Unit Chief of the Elder Abuse Unit of the Domestic Violence Bureau. Appointed April 2024.

Judge Jay Weiner

Judge Jay Weiner was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in April 2019 and has been serving in Criminal Court. Judge Weiner has worked with Appellate Advocates, served as an Assistant District Attorney in both Queens and Kings counties, and established his own solo practice. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he served with the New York State Unified Court System as a Principal Law Clerk in the Appellate Division, Second Department. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. Appointed January 2021. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court April 2019; reappointed January 2020).

Judge Cori Weston

Judge Cori Weston was appointed to the Criminal Court in June 2016. She received her undergraduate degree from Hofstra University and her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. She formerly served as an attorney with the New York County Defender Services for nearly 19 years and The Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Division for seven years. Appointed June 2016. Reappointed January 2021.

Judge Christopher Whitehair

Judge Christopher Whitehair was appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in April 2024. He is a graduate of Fordham University and received his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. After graduating from law school, he joined Staten Island Legal Defense Services. Judge Whitehair then left to join the Queens Defenders (formerly known as Queens Law Associates), where he served for fifteen years. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Whitehair was a Supervising Attorney while serving as the Director of Recruitment and Hiring at the Queens Defenders. Appointed April 2024.

Judge Michael Yavinsky

Judge Michael Yavinsky was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2009 and has been serving in the Criminal Court. Since 2012, he has been the Supervising Judge of Kings County Criminal Court. He received his undergraduate degree from Connecticut College and his law degree from Northeastern University School of Law. Judge Yavinsky was formerly with the Legal Aid Society's Criminal Defense Division, Queens Law Associates, and the New York State Unified Court System where he last served as Chief Court Attorney for New York City Criminal Court. Appointed January 2010. Reappointed January 2019. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court January 2009).

Judge Alvin Yearwood

Judge Alvin Yearwood, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the Criminal Court in January 2003. He is a graduate of Lafayette College and received his J.D. from Boston University School of Law. He spent most of his career at the Bronx County District Attorney's Office. Appointed January 2003. Reappointed December 2005; January 2009; January 2019.

Judge Stephanie Zaro

Judge Stephanie Zaro was appointed to the Criminal Court in February 2008. She is a graduate of John Jay University and received her law degree from Cardozo School of Law. Judge Zaro began her career by serving in the Inspector General's Office of the New York City Department of Finance and then served with the Queens County District Attorney's Office. She also practiced criminal and civil law at a private firm. For the past nearly 20 years, she has been a criminal defense attorney. Appointed February 2008. Reappointed January 2010 and January 2020.

Judge Jeffrey Zimmerman

Judge Jeffrey Zimmerman was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in February 2018 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and received his J.D. from Columbia University Law School. Judge Zimmerman most recently served as Deputy Director of Crime Strategies and Public Safety at the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. He also served as an Assistant District Attorney in New York County as well as Chief of the General Crimes Unit at the United States Attorney’s Office. Prior to this, Judge Zimmerman spent 17 years at Time Warner Cable where he last served as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. Appointed January 2019. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court February 2018).

Judge John Zoll

Judge John Zoll was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in September 2010 and has been serving in Criminal Court. He received his undergraduate degree from Hofstra University and his law degree from Hofstra University School of Law. Prior to his appointment, he served as a Principal Court Attorney and Supervising Court Attorney in Criminal Court, he was a solo practitioner, and a criminal defense attorney for Queens Law Associates and the Legal Aid Society. Appointed December 2011. Reappointed December 2012; December 2022. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court September 2010; reappointed January 2011).