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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 013-08
January 14, 2008

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SWEARS IN EIGHTEEN JUDGES

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today swore in eighteen judges to serve in the City's Family, Criminal, and Civil Courts. The swearing-in ceremony included the appointment of three new Criminal Court judges, one new Family Court judge, and three new Civil Court judges.  The Mayor also reappointed two Family Court judges, eight Criminal Court judges, and one Civil Court judge. Mayor Bloomberg was joined by Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs Carol Robles- Román at the swearing-in ceremony in the New York County Surrogate's Court.

"The public must have confidence that the rule of law - the bedrock of our society - is being fairly administered in its courts," said Mayor Bloomberg. "I am pleased to appoint such a distinguished group of judges who have demonstrated expert knowledge of the law and balanced judicial temperament. Their decisions have a tremendous impact on thousands of families and individuals in our City and I am confident that the men and women being sworn in today will continue to honor the public trust.

The Mayor swore in the following judges:

New Appointments

Family Court

Honorable Monica Drinane was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in August 2004. She has been serving in the Family Court. She is a graduate of St. John's University, she received her master's degree from Fordham University, and her law degree from New York University School of Law. She had spent her entire legal career with the Legal Aid Society for nearly 23 years, where she last served as Attorney-in-Charge of the Juvenile Rights Division. She resides in Manhattan.

Criminal Court

Honorable Anthony Ferrara was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2004.  He has been serving in Criminal Court. Judge Ferrara is a graduate of Manhattan College and received his J.D. from Columbia Law School. Judge Ferrara formerly served in the New York County District Attorney's Office and was also in private practice. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and has two children.

Honorable Elisa Koenderman was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in July 2007. She has been serving in Criminal Court. Judge Koenderman is a graduate of Barnard College and received her J.D. from Boston University School of Law. Judge Koenderman was formerly with the Bronx County District Attorney's Office for 23 years where she last served as the Chief of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau. She resides in Queens with her husband and her two children.

Honorable Robert Mandelbaum was first appointed to the bench as an Interim Civil Court Judge in November 2006. He has been serving in Criminal Court. Judge Mandelbaum received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his law degree from New York University School of Law. He most recently served as Chief Judge Judith Kaye's law clerk for over three years and prior to that, 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. He resides in Manhattan.

Civil Court

Honorable Gilbert Hong was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in July 2007. He has been presiding in Criminal Court. Judge Hong received his undergraduate degree from Columbia College and his law degree from Cornell Law School. He served with the New York County District Attorney's Office, New York City's Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, and was the Criminal Law Liaison for the United States Department of Justice/American Bar Association's Criminal Law Reform Project in Moscow, Russia. Judge Hong resides in Manhattan.

Honorable Jeanette Ruiz was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in July 2007. She has been presiding in Family Court. Judge Ruiz received her undergraduate degree from Hunter College, her master's degree from Columbia University's School of Social Work, and her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Prior to her appointment, Judge Ruiz served as a law clerk, was with New York City's Law Department and the Department of Business Services, served as General Counsel to the Harlem Dowling West Side Center for Children and Family Services, and most recently served as the Deputy Commissioner, Division of Family Permanency Services for New York City's Administration for Children's Services. Judge Ruiz resides in Manhattan with her husband.

Honorable Marc Whiten was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in July 2007. He has been presiding in Criminal Court. Judge Whiten graduated from Carroll College and New York Law School. His legal career includes service with the Bronx County District Attorney's Office, as an associate with a private law firm, and most recently as a partner for a private law firm. Judge Whiten is married with two children and resides in the Bronx.

Re-Appointments

Family Court

Honorable Susan Knipps was first appointed to the bench in July 2000 as an Interim Civil Court Judge and was serving in Family Court. She was subsequently appointed to the Family Court in August 2004. Judge Knipps received her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Los Angeles and is a graduate of Yale Law School. Prior to her appointment, Judge Knipps clerked for a federal court judge, was an associate at a private firm, worked for the Legal Aid Society and served in various positions in the courts, including Deputy Counsel to Chief Judge Judith Kaye. Judge Knipps resides in Brooklyn.

Honorable Emily Olshansky was first appointed to the Family Court in August 2004. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and received her law degree from Cardozo Law School. She was an associate at two matrimonial law firms and held various positions at the New York State Supreme Court's Appellate Division, First Department, including Law Guardian Director. Judge Olshansky resides in Manhattan.

Criminal Court

Honorable John Collins currently serving as an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was first appointed to the Criminal Court in May 1978. He is the Supervising Judge of Supreme Court, Bronx County, Criminal Term. Judge Collins graduated from Fordham University and received his law degree from New York University Law School. Prior to his appointment, Judge Collins served with the New York County District Attorney's Office and was a law secretary to a Supreme Court Justice. Judge Collins resides in the Bronx with his wife.

Honorable Ralph Fabrizio, currently serving as an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was first 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. Judge Fabrizio is married with four children and resides in Manhattan.

Honorable Melissa Jackson, an Acting Supreme Court Justice currently serving as the Supervising Judge of New York County Criminal Court, was first appointed to the Criminal Court in June 2003. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and received her law degree from Fordham University School of Law. She formerly served with the Kings County District Attorney's Office for nearly 22 years where she rose to become Deputy District Attorney of the Major Frauds/Rackets Bureau. Judge Jackson is married with three children and resides in Manhattan.

Honorable Judy Kluger, currently serving as the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Court Operations and Planning, was first appointed to the Criminal Court in August 1988.  She formerly served as the Administrative Judge of New York City's Criminal Courts. Prior to her appointment, Judge Kluger served with the Kings County District Attorney's Office where she rose to become the Bureau Chief of the Sex Crimes and Domestic Violence Bureau and subsequently the Bureau Chief of Criminal Court. Judge Kluger is married with three children and resides in Manhattan.

Honorable Robert Raciti was first appointed to the Criminal Court in May 1998. He received his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, his master's degree from Hofstra University, and his law degree from the New England School of Law. Judge Raciti served with the Suffolk County, Middlesex County, and New York County District Attorney's Office and was an associate at a private firm. Judge Raciti is married with two children and resides in Queens.

Honorable Larry Stephen was first appointed to the Criminal Court in May 1998.  He graduated from Columbia College and received his law degree from Columbia Law School. Judge Stephen formerly served with the New York County District Attorney's Office as well as the New York City Department of Investigation, the United States Department of Justice, and the United States Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey. Judge Stephen is married with two children and resides in Manhattan.

Honorable Richard Weinberg, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was first appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2001. He is currently the Presiding Judge of Midtown Community Court. Judge Weinberg received his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin, his master's degree from the New School for Social Research, his law degree from George Washington University, and his LL.M. from New York University. Prior to his appointment, Judge Weinberg served as a law clerk to a federal court judge, was an associate at two private law firms, served with the New York State Attorney General's Office, and was the General Counsel to the New York City Council and Counsel to the Speaker. Judge Weinberg is married with two children and resides in Manhattan.

Honorable Renee White, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was first appointed to the bench in June 1984 as an Interim Civil Court Judge and was subsequently appointed to the Criminal Court in January 1985. She graduated from Hofstra University and Brooklyn Law School. Prior to her appointment, Judge White served with the Legal Aid Society, the Supreme Court's Appellate Division, First Department, and as an Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. Judge White is married with one child and resides in Manhattan.

Civil Court

Honorable Robert Kalish was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in October 2005.  He has been presiding in Civil Court. Judge Kalish is a graduate of the State University of New York  at Buffalo, received his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, and his L.L.M. in tax law from New York University Law School. Judge Kalish's legal career includes nearly 30 years of public service with the New York City Law Department where he last served as the Chief of Brooklyn's Tort Division. He also served as a law assistant with the New York State Supreme Court, First Department for two years. Judge Kalish is married with two children and lives in Manhattan.

The New York City Criminal Court is a court of citywide criminal jurisdiction with authority over crimes and other violations of the law.  The Criminal Court is comprised of 107 judges, appointed by the Mayor for ten-year terms.

The Family Court of the State of New York in the City of New York has jurisdiction over the protection, treatment, correction, and commitment of minors in need due to neglect, delinquency, or dependency.  It also deals with the custody of minors, adoptions, support of dependents, establishment of paternity, proceedings of conciliation, and guardianship.  The Family Court of the State of New York is comprised of 47 judges, appointed by the Mayor for ten-year terms in counties within the City of New York.

The New York City Civil Court is a court of citywide civil jurisdiction with authority over the actions and proceedings for the recovery of money, the recovery of chattels, and liens on personal property where the amount sought to be recovered or the value of property does not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars.  New York City Civil Court judges are elected, however, the Mayor has the power to appoint interim Civil Court judges to fill vacancies arising on the Civil Court after the election in November.  These interim Civil Court judges serve until the vacancies can be filled in the next year's election, but they are usually assigned to sit in Family or Criminal Court.

All appointments and re-appointments made by the Mayor were nominated by the Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary.  The Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary nominates three candidates for each vacant judgeship, and the Mayor selects judges from among that group.  For re-appointments, the Mayor's Advisory Committee recommends whether or not to reappoint each judge, and the Mayor then decides whether to make the reappointment.  All of the judges appointed and re-appointed have also been found qualified by the Judiciary Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. All nominations were reviewed by Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs Carol Robles-Román, Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo and Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt.







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