Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today swore in thirty-one judges to serve in the City's Criminal, Family and Civil Courts. The swearing-in ceremony included two new Criminal Court judges, one Family Court judge, one Civil Court judge and twenty-seven re-appointments. Mayor Bloomberg was joined at the swearing-in ceremony by Deputy Mayor Carol Robles-Roman and Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo at the newly constructed Kings County Supreme and Family Courthouse in Brooklyn.

"The thirty-one judges who take the oath of office and pledge themselves to honoring the public trust today continue to reflect the diversity, integrity, independence and overall excellence of the judges our administration has appointed over the last four years," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Judges have an enormous responsibility that includes working to safeguard our City from crime, stabilizing families torn apart by domestic violence, and protecting children who have been abused or neglected. There is no doubt in my mind that the Judges sworn in today have the intellect and the breadth of experience that these complex matters require."

The Mayor swore in the following judges:

New Appointments

Criminal Court

Honorable Alexander Jeong was appointed to the Criminal Court in October 2005. He is a graduate of Colgate University and received his J.D. from George Washington University School of Law. He was hired by the Kings County District Attorney's Office in 1993 and quickly ascended through the ranks. Immediately prior to his appointment, he served as the Bureau Chief of the Criminal Court in the District Attorney's Office. Judge Jeong has received numerous citations and awards, most notably the "Governor's Award of Excellence" in 2001; he was chosen as "Man of the Year" in 2001 by the Alumni Association of Colleges and Universities in Korea; and he received the "Special Achievement Award" by the Korean American Officers Association in 2004. He resides in Brooklyn.

Honorable Toko Serita was appointed to the Criminal Court in October 2005. She is a graduate of Vassar College and received her J.D. from City University School of Law at Queens College. Prior to her appointment, Judge Serita served as the Executive Assistant to Administrative Judge Leslie Leach of the Supreme Court, Queens County, and has worked in a variety of capacities in the New York State Unified Court System since 1999. She was also employed with the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Appeals Bureau, from 1989 through 1999. Judge Serita was appointed by Chief Judge Judith Kaye to serve on the Feerick Commission to Promote Public Confidence in Judicial Elections, and has also worked on The Integrated Domestic Violence Court in Queens County. She is a member of numerous bar associations including the Asian American Bar Association of New York and the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum. She resides in Queens.

Family Court

Honorable Catherine M. DiDomenico was first appointed to the bench in January 2005 as an Interim Civil Court Judge. She is a graduate of Fordham University and received her J.D. from Fordham Law School. Prior to her appointment, Judge DiDomenico served as an Administrative Law Judge with the New York City Environmental Control Board and as an Impartial Hearing Officer with the New York City Board of Education. She was also an associate for a private firm as well as legal counsel to Congressman Vito Fossella. She is married with three children and resides in Staten Island.

Civil Court

Honorable Robert D. Kalish was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in October 2005. He is a graduate of S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo, received his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and his Masters in tax law from New York University Law School. Judge Kalish has a long and distinguished legal career which includes nearly 30 years of public service with the Corporation Counsel's Office and two years as a law assistant with the New York State Supreme Court, First Judicial Department. Prior to his appointment, Judge Kalish served as the Chief of the New York City Law Department's Brooklyn Tort Division. Before becoming a lawyer, Judge Kalish was employed as a teacher with the New York City Board of Education. He is married, has two children and resides in Manhattan.

Re-appointments

Criminal Courts

Honorable Bruce Allen is an Acting Supreme Court Justice who was first appointed as a Criminal Court Judge in 1986. Judge Allen is a graduate of Rutgers College and received his J.D. from Cornell Law School. He previously served in the New York County District Attorney's Office and was in private practice. He is married with two children and resides in Manhattan.

Honorable Miriam Best was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in 2003. She is a graduate of Yale College and received her J.D. from Yale Law School. She previously worked in the private sector and later served in the Kings County and New York County District Attorney's Offices, as well as in the United States Attorney's Office. She resides in Manhattan.

Honorable Miriam Cyrulnik was first appointed to the bench in June 2003 as an Interim Civil Court Judge, and was appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2003. She is a graduate of Brooklyn College and received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. She formerly served as a law clerk for more than twenty years. She resides in Brooklyn.

Honorable James P. Griffin is an Acting Supreme Court Justice who was first appointed to the bench in March 1986 as an Interim Civil Court Judge. He was appointed to the Criminal Court in February 1987Judge Griffin is a graduate of Fordham University and received his J.D. from St. John's Law School. He previously served as a Division Chief in the New York City Law Department. He resides in Queens with his wife and has two children.

Honorable Nicholas John Iacovetta is an Acting Supreme Court Justice who was first appointed to the Criminal Court in April 1988. He is a graduate of Fordham College and received his J.D. from Fordham Law School. Judge Iacovetta previously served as a Bureau Chief in the Bronx County District Attorney's Office. He resides in the Bronx and has two daughters.

Honorable Eileen Koretz was first appointed to the bench as a Criminal Court Judge in December 1995. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and received her J.D. from the University of Baltimore Law School. Judge Koretz previously served in the Bronx County District Attorney's Office. She resides in Manhattan with her husband and has two children.

Honorable John B. Latella, Jr. is an Acting Supreme Court Justice who was first appointed to the bench as a Criminal Court Judge in February 1987. He is a graduate of Princeton University and received his J.D. from Yale Law School. Judge Latella previously served in the New York County District Attorney's Office, the United States Attorney's Office, and clerked for a federal court of appeals judge as well as a federal district court judge. He lives in Queens with his wife and has four children.

Honorable Karen I. Lupuloff was first appointed as Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2005. She is a graduate of the American University and received her J.D. from Temple University School of Law. She most recently worked at the New York State Attorney General's Office, and also served in the New York County District Attorney's Office. She resides in Manhattan with her partner and her daughter.

Honorable Salvatore J. Modica was first appointed to the Criminal Court in December 2001. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona and received his J.D. from St. John's Law School. He previously served in the Queens County District Attorney's Office and as a principal court attorney to the Honorable William Donnino. He lives in Queens with his wife and has five children.

Honorable Michael J. Obus is an Acting Supreme Court Justice who was appointed to the Criminal Court in August 1986. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law. He previously served as a bureau chief in the Nassau County Legal Aid Society. Judge Obus lives in Manhattan with his wife and has two children.

Honorable Eugene Oliver, Jr. is a Deputy Administrative Judge who was first appointed to the bench as a Criminal Court Judge in August 1990. He is a graduate of Middlebury College and received his J.D. from Fordham Law School. Judge Oliver previously served in the Bronx County District Attorney's Office as an Executive Assistant District Attorney, and also served in the Human Resources Administration and the New York City Housing Authority. He lives in the Bronx with his wife and has two children.

Honorable Matthew A. Sciarrino, Jr. was first appointed to the bench as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2005. He is a graduate of St. John's University and received his J.D. from St. John's University School of Law. He previously clerked for the Honorable Joseph Maltese for ten years. He lives in Staten Island with his wife and has two children.

Honorable Ruth E. Smith was appointed to the bench as an Interim Civil Court Judge in June 2003. She is a graduate of Lincoln University and received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. She previously served as an Assistant Deputy Chief Court Attorney of the Appellate Division, First Department. She also served in the New York County District Attorney's Office and was in private practice. She resides in Brooklyn and has one daughter.

Honorable Alvin M. Yearwood was appointed to the Criminal Court in January 2003. He is a graduate of Lafayette College and received his J.D. from Boston University School of Law. He spent most of his career at the Bronx County District Attorney's Office. He resides in Manhattan.

Family Court

Honorable Mary E. Bednar was appointed to the Family Court in March 1986. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. Judge Bednar previously served in the Legal Aid Society, the New York State Attorney General's Office, and was in private practice. She resides in Manhattan.

Honorable Stephen John Bogacz was first appointed to the Family Court in March 1995. He is a graduate of Fordham College, received his Masters from Fordham Graduate School, and his J.D. from Fordham Law School. He served in the Family Court Division of the New York City Law Department for nearly twenty years. He resides in Queens and has one son.

Honorable Lee Hand Elkins was first appointed to the bench as a Criminal Court Judge in April 1995. In November 1995, Judge Elkins was appointed to the Family Court. He is a graduate of St. John's College and received his J.D. from Boston University Law School. Judge Elkins previously served in the Legal Aid Society and was a law clerk to the late Judge Harold J. Rothwax. He resides in Brooklyn with his wife and has one son.

Honorable Douglas Edward Hoffman was first appointed to the bench as a Criminal Court Judge in January 2003, and was assigned to the Family Court. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and received his J.D. from New York University School of Law. Judge Hoffman was a former Housing Court Judge and formerly served in the Legal Aid Society. He lives in the Bronx with his wife and has three children.

Honorable John M. Hunt was appointed to the Family Court in March 1996. He is a graduate of Fordham University and received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. He previously served in the Legal Aid Society. He lives in Queens with his wife and has two children.

Honorable Terrence James McElrath was appointed to Family Court in December 1995. He is a graduate of Sienna College and received his J.D. from Rutgers State University School of Law. He was formerly a social worker at the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services and also served in the Family Court Division of the New York City Law Department. He lives in Staten Island with his wife and has two daughters.

Honorable Gayle P. Roberts was appointed to the bench as a Family Court Judge in April 1997. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburg and received her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law. Judge Roberts formerly served in the Bronx County District Attorney's Office. She lives in the Bronx with her husband and has one child.

Honorable Daniel Turbow was appointed to the Family Court in April 1997. He is a graduate of Brooklyn College, received his Masters in Political Science from the Graduate Faculty of the New School for Social Research, and received his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. Judge Turbow formerly served in the New York City Law Department, was in private practice, and clerked for a federal district court chief judge, the late Judge Jacob Mishler. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and has one daughter.

Civil Court

Honorable Abraham L. Clott was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2004. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago and received his J.D. from New York University School of Law. Judge Clott formerly served in the Legal Aid Society, was in private practice, and was a law clerk to a federal judge. He resides in Manhattan with his domestic partner.

Honorable Alma Cordova was appointed to the bench as a Family Court Judge in August 1993. She is a graduate of Lehman College and received her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law. She previously served as a Family Court Hearing Examiner, served in the Family Court Division of the New York City Law Department, and worked for the Legal Aid Society. She lives in the Bronx with her husband and has one daughter.

Honorable Monica Drinane was first appointed to the bench as an Interim Civil Court Judge in August 2004. She is a graduate of St. John's University, received her Masters from Fordham University, and received her J.D. from New York University School of Law. She previously worked as an English teacher and later served in the Legal Aid Society, most recently as attorney-in-charge of the juvenile rights division. She resides in Manhattan.

Honorable Anthony J. Ferrara was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2004. He 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 Alex J. Zigman was appointed to the bench as an Interim Civil Court Judge in January 2004. He is a graduate of Queens College and received his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. He most recently served in the Bronx County District Attorney's Office as a Senior Investigative Assistant District Attorney. Judge Zigman resides in Queens with his wife and has two children.

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 were made after nominations 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, and were approved by Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs Carol Robles-Román, Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo and Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt.