Mayor Adams Announces 10 Judicial Appointments to Family, Criminal, and Civil Courts

March 14, 2023

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a total of 10 judicial appointments — six to Family Court, three to Criminal Court, and one interim appointment to Civil Court.

“Ensuring our courts are operating more efficiently and effectively will not only help reduce the backlog of cases that built up over the pandemic, but is a critical factor in advancing our administration’s vision of advancing public safety and justice,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we are announcing the appointments of 10 deeply-experienced, talented, and committed individuals who will carry out that mission and deliver on the core functions of our judicial system every day. We are proud to have such a highly-qualified, diverse judiciary creating a city that is aims to make our city more just and more safe for all New Yorkers.”

“A well-functioning court system is essential to ensuring those accused of a crime get a speedy trial, which in turn allow us to and we continue to build on the public safety gains we have made in our city over the course of the past year,” said Chief Counsel to City Hall Brendan McGuire. “These judicial appointees represent the best candidates dedicated to tackling the challenges our city faces, and we thank them for their service to our city.”

Mayor Adams appointed the following judges to Family Court:

Judge Lauren T. Broderick began her legal career with The Legal Aid Society of Nassau County in the Family Court Bureau, where she has served for the last 18 years. She has held various titles including staff attorney, deputy bureau chief, and, prior to her appointment to the bench, she served as bureau chief.

Judge Sharon N. Clarke was a former social worker who served with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Community Family Planning Council, and North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center. Her legal career began with the New York State Unified Court System in Nassau County Family Court, where she served in various titles for the last 16 years, including court attorney, associate court attorney, and, most recently, as court attorney referee.

Judge Janette Cortes-Gomez began her legal career with the New York City Administration for Children’s Services. She then started a solo practice as part of the assigned counsel plan in Queens and Bronx counties, which she maintained for 17 years, and served as a commissioner of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she was principal court attorney to a Bronx County Supreme Court acting justice. 

Judge Nisha Menon was a former litigation associate at a private firm and staff attorney with The Legal Aid Society, Juvenile Rights Practice for over seven years. She then became general counsel for a manufacturing and engineering company before joining the New York State Unified Court System. For the last six years, she has served as a court attorney referee in Kings County Family Court.

Judge Hari K. Singh was formerly employed with the government of Guyana as a legal officer for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as legal advisor to the Permanent Mission to the United Nations. He was also an associate attorney with a private firm before joining the New York City Administration for Children’s Services as a team leader. For the last seven years, he has served with the New York State Unified Court System as a senior court attorney and, most recently, as principal court attorney to the supervising judge of Queens County Family Court.

Judge Raymi V. Ramseur-Usher began her legal career as a litigation associate with a private firm and subsequently opened and maintained a solo practice for over 14 years. After closing her solo practice, she served the New York State Unified Court System for the last 12 years in Kings County Supreme, Family and Civil courts. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she was a principal law clerk.

Mayor Adams appointed the following judges to Criminal Court:

Judge Matthew V. Grieco served the New York State Unified Court System for the last 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 executive assistant and special counsel to the presiding justice. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he served as chief court attorney since 2010.

Judge Janet M. 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 to the bench, she was first deputy chief of the Criminal Court Bureau.

Judge Jennifer A. Tubridy was a former Queens County assistant district attorney with assignments to the Criminal Court and Intake Bureau, Supreme Court Narcotics Trials Bureau, and Career Criminal Major Crimes Division. For the last five years, she has served the New York State Unified Court System as principal law clerk to a Queens County Supreme Court justice and court attorney to a New York County Criminal Court judge.

Mayor Adams appointed the following judge to Interim Civil Court:

Judge Craig J. Ortner started his legal career as an associate with a private firm. He went on to clerk for a United States District Court judge for the Middle District of Florida and a United States Court of Appeals judge for the 11th Circuit. For the last 19 years, Judge Ortner served as a New York County assistant district attorney and has served as criminal court supervisor in Trial Bureau 80 and, most recently, as deputy bureau chief of Trial Bureau 60 for the past eight years.

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