Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today swore in 20 judges to serve in the City’s Family, Criminal, and Civil Courts. The swearing-in ceremony included the appointment of three new Family Court judges, three new Criminal Court judges, and three new Civil Court judges.  The Mayor also reappointed two Family Court judges, nine Criminal Court judges. Mayor Bloomberg was joined by Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs Carol Robles-Román at the swearing-in ceremony in the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank Building.

“I have now appointed and re-appointed, collectively, over 200 judges to the Criminal and Family Court bench who represent the diversity of our City and share a commitment to justice,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The men and women being sworn in today have assumed responsibility for the safety of our city, the rights of our residents and the future of our children. New Yorkers deserve judges with both the character and the deep understanding of the law needed to administer justice fairly. Their decisions have a profound effect on our future and I am confident that our City’s Family, Criminal and Civil Court judges all meet those high standards.”

The Mayor swore in the following judges:

New Appointments

Family Court

Honorable Ilana Gruebel was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2010 and has been serving in Family Court. She graduated from S.U.N.Y. at Binghamton and received her law degree from S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo. She served as a Bureau Chief of the Family Court Division of the Nassau County Legal Aid Society and was with the Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Division in New York City.  She was also a Court Attorney Referee in Family Court, Kings County.  Judge Gruebel resides in Brooklyn.

Honorable Anne-Marie Jolly was appointed as a Family Court Judge in September 2010. She is a graduate of Boston University and received her law degree from Albany Law School. Prior to her appointment, Judge Jolly worked for the Office of Court Administration in various capacities including Counsel and Chief of Staff to the Administrative Judge of New York City Family Courts, Deputy Chief Magistrate to the New York State Family Court, and Court Attorney Referee in Family Court.  Prior to that, she was with the Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Division for eight years. Judge Jolly resides in Queens.

Honorable Fernando Silva was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in September 2010. He is a graduate of Catholic University and received his law degree from Boston College. Prior to his appointment, Judge Silva worked for the Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Division for nearly 6 years having last served as an Assistant Attorney-in-Charge.  He subsequently joined the New York State Unified Court System and served as a Principal Court Attorney for 16 years in Family Court and Supreme Court.  He resides in Brooklyn.

Criminal Court

Honorable Diana Boyar was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2010 and has been serving in the Criminal Court. She graduated from The University of Arizona and received her law degree from Temple Law School. She was a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Division and was a supervisor for the Brooklyn Defender Services. Judge Boyar resides in Brooklyn.

Honorable Robert Kalish was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in October 2005. He has been presiding in Criminal Court and previously in Civil Court. Judge Kalish received his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, his law degree from Brooklyn Law School, and his L.L.M. from New York University Law School. Judge Kalish was with the New York City Law Department for nearly 30 years where he last served as the Chief of Brooklyn's Tort Division.  Judge Kalish resides in Manhattan.

Honorable Joanne Quinones was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in September 2010 and has been serving in Criminal Court. She graduated from Brown University and received her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. Prior to her appointment, she served as a Court Attorney in Supreme, Criminal, and Civil Court. She was also a Staff Attorney with the Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Division. Judge Quinones is an active member of numerous bar associations and currently serves as the President of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association. Judge Quinones resides in Brooklyn.

Civil Court

Honorable Charles Troia was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in September 2010 and has been serving in Criminal Court.  He received his undergraduate degree from St. John’s University and his J.D. from St. John’s University Law School. Prior to his appointment, he served as a Principal Court Attorney in Supreme Court, he was a senior trial attorney for a law firm, and he worked in the New York City Law Department’s Tort Division. Judge Troia resides in Staten Island.

Honorable Amanda White was appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2011 and is serving in Family Court. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and her law degree from New York University School of Law. Prior to her appointment, she worked in the Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Division for 18 years, having last served as the Attorney-in-Charge of the Bronx Office.  Judge White resides in Manhattan.

Honorable John Zoll was 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. Judge Zoll resides in Queens.

Reappointments

Family Court

Honorable Mary Ellen Fitzmaurice, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the Family Court in October 1990. She graduated from Molloy College and received her law degree from St. John’s University School of Law.  Judge Fitzmaurice previously served with the Legal Aid Society and the Human Resources Administration, and was a solo practitioner specializing in family law. Judge Fitzmaurice resides in Queens.

Honorable Stewart Weinstein was appointed to the Family Court in October 1990.  He graduated from S.U.N.Y. Binghamton and received his law degree from Pepperdine University Law School. Judge Weinstein worked for the Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Division where he last served as the Director of Training. He resides in Manhattan.

Criminal Court

Honorable Efrain Alvarado, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the Criminal Court in August 1988.  He graduated from the University College of Arts and Science, New York University and received his law degree from New York University School of Law.  He is currently the Administrative Judge for Criminal Matters of the Supreme Court in Bronx County. Judge Alvarado previously served with the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for 12 years, holding various positions including Chief Assistant District Attorney. He resides in the Bronx.

Honorable Joel Blumenfeld, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the Criminal Court in June 1987. He received his undergraduate degree from Brooklyn College and his law degree from George Washington University. He was previously with the Legal Aid Society for 17 years, having last served as Attorney-in-Charge in Bronx County.  He resides in Queens.

Honorable Michael Gary, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the Criminal Court in February 1987. He received his undergraduate degree from the College of Holy Cross and his law degree from New York University School of Law. He was previously with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office for nearly 12 years, having last served as Supervisor and Bureau Chief. Judge Gary resides in Brooklyn.

Honorable Ethan Greenberg, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the Criminal Court in October 1997.  He received his undergraduate degree from Yale College and his law degree from Columbia Law School. Judge Greenberg began his legal career with the New York County District Attorney’s Office and subsequently went into private practice working at several law firms as a litigation associate, then partner. Judge Greenberg resides in the Bronx.

Honorable Gilbert Hong was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in July 2007 and had been serving in Criminal Court.  He was subsequently appointed to the Criminal Court in September 2008.  Judge Hong received his undergraduate degree from Columbia College and his J.D. from Cornell Law School.  He was previously with the New York County District Attorney’s Office and served as a Deputy Bureau Chief in New York City’s Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor.  He resides in Manhattan.

Honorable Suzanne Melendez, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the Criminal Court in June 1995. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and her J.D. from Duke University School of Law. She spent her entire legal career with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office where she last served as Deputy Bureau Chief of the Sex Crimes Bureau.  Judge Melendez resides in Queens.

Honorable John Moore, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the Criminal Court in February 1987. He graduated from Fairfield University and received his law degree from Fordham University School of Law. He was previously with the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, having last served as the Bureau Chief of the Trial Division. Judge Moore resides in the Bronx.

Honorable Mary O’Donoghue was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2003.  She was subsequently appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2004.  She is a graduate of Manhattanville College, received a master’s degree from Long Island University, and received her J.D. from St. John's University School of Law.  Prior to her appointment, Judge O' Donoghue served for eight years as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and was a Supervisory Assistant District Attorney in New York County. She resides in Queens.

Honorable Bonnie Wittner, an Acting Supreme Court Justice, was appointed to the Criminal Court in July 1983. She graduated from Wheaton College and received her law degree from Boston College Law School.  She had worked for the Legal Aid Society in the Criminal Defense Division and served as a Deputy Bureau Chief in the New York State Attorney General’s Office in the Antitrust Bureau. Judge Wittner resides in Manhattan.

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 10-year terms in counties within the City of New York.

The New York City Criminal Court is a court of citywide criminal jurisdiction with authority over crimes and other violations of law.  The Criminal Court is comprised of 107 judges, appointed by the Mayor for 10-year terms.

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, Chief Policy Advisor and Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt and Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gil Hearn.