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  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 1, 2002
PR-001-02
www.nyc.gov

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG
REAPPOINTS 13 CRIMINAL COURT JUDGES AND 7 INTERIM
CIVIL COURT JUDGES

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today reappointed thirteen criminal court judges and seven interim civil court judges. The criminal court appointees will serve 10-year terms while the civil court appointees will serve one-year terms. Mayor Bloomberg swore in the judges in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.

"It is a great honor to reappoint these judges as one of my first official acts as Mayor," Mayor Bloomberg said. "These men and women have consistently proven that they both understand the law and are able to apply it effectively. They have worked tirelessly in providing a valuable service to their fellow New Yorkers."

Judge Richard N. Allman was reappointed as an interim civil court judge. Judge Allman was first appointed by Mayor Giuliani in 1999. He has served as associate appellate counsel at the Legal Aid Society and law secretary to New York State Court of Claims Judge Phylis Skloot Bamberger. Judge Allman received a BA from Franklin and Marshall College in 1982 and a JD from the Pace University School of Law in 1985.

Judge Ellen M. Coin was reappointed as an interim civil court judge. Judge Coin was first appointed by Mayor Giuliani in 1998. She has served as Assistant District Attorney for Kings County, special attorney for the Department of Justice Organized Crimes Strike Force, and was a partner at Shapiro and Schwartz and at Graubard, Mollen, and Miller. Judge Coin received a BA from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969 and a JD from the New York University School of Law in 1972.

Judge Lenora Gerald was reappointed as an interim civil court judge. Judge Gerald was first appointed by Mayor Giuliani in 2001. She has served as senior court attorney and principal law clerk to New York State Supreme Court Administrative Judge Alfred D. Lerner and was an associate at Piken and Piken. Judge Gerald received a BS from St. John's University in 1986 and a JD from the St. John's University School of Law in 1989.

Judge Susan K. Knipps was reappointed as an interim civil court judge. Judge Knipps was first appointed by Mayor Giuliani in 2000. She has served as deputy counsel to Chief Judge of the State of New York Judith S. Kaye, principal court attorney to Family Court Administrative Judge Michael Gage and New York City Family Court Administrator Kathryn McDonald, staff attorney at Legal Aid Society, law clerk to the late Judge Charles E. Stewart, Jr., and was an associate at Davis, Polk, and Wardwell. Judge Knipps received a BA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1977 and a JD from Yale Law School in 1981.

Judge Jeffrey D. Lebowitz was reappointed as an interim civil court judge. Judge Lebowitz was first appointed by Mayor Dinkins in 1993. He has served as law secretary to New York Supreme Court Justice Philip J. Chetta and was a partner at Corona Heights Realty, Inc. Judge Lebowitz received a BA from SUNY Binghamton in 1973 and a JD from the Hofstra University School of Law in 1976.

Judge Judith Lieb was reappointed as an interim civil court judge. Judge Lieb was first appointed by Mayor Giuliani in 1999. She has served as Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, law clerk to Ninth Circuit United States Court of Appeals Judge Betty B. Fletcher, and was an associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, and Garrison. Judge Lieb received a BA from Yale University in 1982 and a JD from the University of Michigan Law School in 1986.

Judge Robert M. Stolz was reappointed as an interim civil court judge. Judge Stolz was first appointed by Mayor Giuliani in 1995. He has served as Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, as an associate at Curtis, Mallet-Provost, Colt and Mosle, and as a partner at Rosenblatt, Mass, Wirfel, and Stolz. Judge Stolz received a BA from Columbia College in 1970 and a JD from the Fordham University School of Law in 1976.

Judge Peter J. Benitez was reappointed as a criminal court judge. Judge Benitez was first appointed by Mayor Koch in 1989. He has served as Criminal Justice Coordinator for the City of New York, First Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation, and Assistant District Attorney for New York County. Judge Benitez received a BA from Columbia College in 1968 and a JD from the Columbia University School of Law in 1971.

Judge Dennis J. Boyle was reappointed as a criminal court judge. Judge Boyle was first appointed by Mayor Dinkins in 1991. He has served as law assistant to former Acting New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas B. Galligan. Judge Boyle received a BA from Fordham University in 1975 and a JD from the Fordham University School of Law in 1978.

Judge Laura E. Drager was reappointed as a criminal court judge. Judge Drager was first appointed by Mayor Koch in 1987. She has served as Assistant District Attorney for New York County and Kings County and was an associate at Proskauer, Rose, Goetz, and Mendelsohn. Judge Drager received a BA from the University of Rochester in 1970 and a JD from the Columbia University School of Law in 1973.

Judge William M. Erlbaum was reappointed as a criminal court judge. Judge Erlbaum was first appointed by Mayor Koch in 1979. He has served as an instructor of Sociology at Brooklyn College, adjunct professor of law at Brooklyn Law School, adjunct professor of political science at CUNY, and was a partner at Lyon and Erlbaum. Judge Erlbaum received a BA from Brooklyn College in 1958, an MA from the University of Connecticut Graduate School in 1960, and an LLB from Brooklyn Law School in 1963.

Judge Thomas A. Farber was reappointed as a criminal court judge. Judge Farber was first appointed by Mayor Koch in 1996. He has served as Assistant District Attorney for New York County, arbitrator for Small Claims Court, adjunct professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, legal instructor at the Hofstra School of Law, and was an associate at Stroock, Stroock, and Lavan. Judge Farber received a BA from the University of California at Berkeley in 1974 and a JD from Harvard Law School in 1978.

Judge Jo Ann Ferdinand was reappointed as a criminal court judge. Judge Ferdinand was first appointed by Mayor Koch in 1987. She has served as staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society and as Deputy Commissioner of Trials at the New York City Department of Sanitation. Judge Ferdinand received a BS from the College of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University in 1970 and a JD from the New York University School of Law in 1973.

Judge Daniel P. Fitzgerald was reappointed as a criminal court judge. Judge Fitzgerald was first appointed by Mayor Koch in 1981. He has served as an Assistant District Attorney for New York County and was a partner at Seward and Kissel. Judge Fitzgerald received a BA from Boston University in 1964 and an LLB from the Fordham University School of Law in 1967.

Judge Roger S. Hayes was reappointed as a criminal court judge. Judge Hayes was first appointed by Mayor Koch in 1985. He has served as Deputy United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Chief of Legal Systems Analysis for the State of New York Division of Criminal Justice Services, and Assistant District Attorney for New York County. He was also an associate at Cohn and Glickstein and of Counsel at Doar, Devorkin, Rieck. Judge Hayes received a BS from the College of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University in 1965 and a JD from the New York University School of Law in 1968.

Judge Leslie G. Leach was reappointed as a criminal court judge. Judge Leach was first appointed by Mayor Dinkins in 1993. She has served as a law assistant to Judge Dennis Edwards, Jr., and Judge Fritz W. Alexander II, senior counsel for the New York State Disciplinary Committee, lecturer at St. Joseph's College, adjunct associate professor at York College, associate at Jackson, Lewis, Schintzler, and Krupman, and chief counsel at the Southern Cooperative Development Fund, Inc. Judge Leach received a BA from Queens College in 1972, an MS from the University of Massachusetts in 1974, and a JD from the Columbia University School of Law in 1978.

Judge Seth L. Marvin was reappointed as a criminal court judge. Judge Marvin was first appointed by Mayor Giuliani in 2000. He has served as Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Assistant District Attorney for Bronx County, adjunct professor at the St. John's University School of Law, and was an associate at Dornbush, Mensch, Mandelstam, and Silverman. Judge Marvin received a BA from SUNY Albany in 1978 and a JD from the St. John's University School of Law in 1981.

Judge Leonard P. Rienzi was reappointed as a criminal court judge. Judge Rienzi was first appointed by Mayor Koch in 1983. He has served as an Assistant District Attorney and senior counsel for New York County and as a lecturer. Judge Rienzi received a BA from the College of the Holy Cross in 1968 and a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1971.

Judge Michael R. Sonberg was reappointed as a criminal court judge. Judge Sonberg was first appointed by Mayor Giuliani in 1995. He has served as an associate at Weiss, Bronston, Rosenthal, Heller and Schwartzman; as a partner at Moore, Berson, Lifflander, and Mewhinney; counsel at Jackson and Nash; and counsel at Serchuk and Zelermyer. Judge Sonberg received a BA from Queens College in 1968 and a JD from Harvard Law School in 1971.

Judge Douglas S. Wong was reappointed as a criminal court judge. Judge Wong was first appointed by Mayor Dinkins in 1992. He has served as a principal court attorney to Acting New York State Supreme Court Justice Joan C. Sudolnik and as a senior law assistant in Bronx County Criminal Court. Judge Wong received a BA from New York University in 1974 and a JD from the New York Law School in 1977.

All reappointments were approved by the Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York Judiciary Committee, as well as Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo and Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs Carol Robles-Roman.

 

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