Message from the Chair

I am deeply honored to have been appointed Chair of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary by Mayor Mamdani. The work of this Committee is central to the fair, independent, and efficient administration of justice in the City of New York. Our charge is clear and consequential: to ensure that New Yorkers are served by judges of the highest integrity, independence, and professional excellence.

The Committee’s mission is grounded in principles of fairness, transparency, and merit, and informed by a steadfast commitment to strengthening public confidence in the judiciary. We envision a judicial screening process that is rigorous, inclusive, and fully worthy of the public trust. Through careful, independent evaluations of judicial candidates, the Committee will draw upon a broad range of professional experience and community perspectives. Our work will value legal ability, judicial temperament, ethical judgment, and lived experience, while recognizing the importance of a judiciary that reflects the diversity and complexity of the city it serves.

Consistent with this mission, the Chairperson is charged with engaging in robust outreach and public education to promote awareness of the Committee’s work and to encourage applications from highly qualified candidates for judicial office. These efforts will include meeting with bar associations, legal services organizations, affinity bar associations, law schools, and other legal and civic institutions to explain the Committee’s role, procedures, and application process.

Mayor Mamdani has further directed the Committee to take additional steps, as appropriate, to expand the accessibility, diversity, and size of the applicant pool, while strictly honoring all confidentiality obligations and applicable law. In furtherance of this goal, I welcome invitations from community organizations and members of the public for the Committee to participate in professional and community events to discuss our work and the judicial screening process. Ultimately, the Committee’s responsibility extends beyond evaluating individual candidates. Our work helps safeguard the rule of law in New York City. A strong, independent judiciary is essential to equal justice, civil rights, and public trust in government. The Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary will carry out its mission with seriousness, humility, and an unwavering commitment to the people of this city.

Sincerely,

Ali Najmi, Esq.

Chair Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary