Politics & Government
Brooklyn Judicial Elections Voter Guide: What You Need To Know
Here's a who's who and a what's what for Brooklyn's judicial elections on June 25.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Brooklynite will take the polls Tuesday to decide which judges should reign in Kings County's civil courts.
Three races will be decided on June 25 when Brooklynites cast their ballots for Brooklyn Surrogate Court judge, New York City Civil Court judge and the 6th Municipal District Civil Court judge.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Brooklynite's can find out where to vote here.
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Keep reading to find out more about the positions being filled and the candidates hoping to claim them.
Surrogate’s Court
Position
Surrogate’s Court judges hear cases involving the dead — such as wills, property transfers and payments of debts — as well as adoption and guardianship cases. This race is to claim one of two Brooklyn Surrogate seats.
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Where's she from?
Park Slope
Current job?
Kings County Surrogate’s Court judge (she's running for reelection.)
What's her background?
Lopez Torres has served as a Brooklyn Surrogate Court judge for the past thirteen years and as a New York civil court judge for thirteen years.
Endorsements?
Lopez Torres has earned endorsements from dozens of local elected officials such as Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.
Controversies?
Lopez Torres will be forced to give up her seat in two years when she turns 70, the mandatory retirement age for New York judges. Her competitors have both used this fact as reasons not to vote for Lopez Torres.
Lopez Torres was depicted as a David to the Brooklyn Democratic Party's Goliath when she won her seat without support from then-BDP leader Clarence Norman, Jr., who was later convicted of corruption charges. Norman had tried to dictate whom Lopez Torres should hire, and retaliated against her when she refused his pick.
Where's she from?
Brooklyn
Current job?
Civil Court judge.
What's her background?
Baron has spent the past decade working in New York City civil courts as a judge (elected in 2017) and as an attorney specializing in guardianships, credit card debt, small claims, personal injury matters, labor law and property matters.
Endorsements?
Baron is pitching herself as an independent candidate unencumbered by involvement with Brooklyn's political bosses.
Where's she from?
Brownsville
Current job?
Kings County Surrogate Court court attorney-referee
What's her background?
Brown entered into private practice after graduating law school in 1996 then in 2003 transitioned to the Kings County Surrogate's Court, where she presides over settlement conferences, advises the judge on the law and makes recommendations.
Endorsements?
Jones has endorsements from about a dozen elected officials including Brooklyn Assemblywoman Tremaine Wright and former congressman Ed Towns. ;
Controversies?
Jones is also running with endorsements from allies of Norman, the party boss spurned by Lopez Torres, 44th Assembly District Leader Doug Schneider wrote in a Gotham Gazette editorial.
Countywide Civil Court
Position
This judge will serve in the Brooklyn division of the Civil Court of the City of New York, which handles lawsuits involving monetary claims for damages up to $25,000.
Private attorney.
What's his background?
King's 35-year career includes a stint as Kings County Supreme Court principal court attorney in the 1980s. He launched a private practice in 1988 and has since served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Parking Violations Bureau and as a pro bono attorney for the New York County Lawyers Association’s Certificate of Relief from Civil Disabilities Project.
Endorsements?
King has about six endorsements from elected officials that include Assembly Member Latrice Walker and Brooklyn 57th District Leader Olanike Alabi.
Where's she from?
East Flatbush
Current job?
Court attorney referee in Kings County Supreme Court.
What's her background?
Neckles began her legal career in 1998 as an attorney in a private practice, then transitioned to Kings County Courts in 2001 where she served as a court attorney, a legal advisor to a supreme court justice and administrative judge. Neckles has spent the past seven years as a court attorney referee, issuing decisions, orders, reports and recommendations to judges.
Endorsements?
Neckles has endorsements from two dozen elected officials including City Council Member Robert Cornegy and Brooklyn Democratic Party chairman Frank Seddio.
Civil Court – 6th Municipal District
Position
This civil court judge serve the city's 6th Municipal District which covers parts of Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Flatbush, Kensington, and Midwood.
Principal law clerk to Kings County Supreme Court Justice Katherine A. Levine.
What's her background?
Berman has been practicing law in New York City since 1994, first as a private attorney.
Endorsements?
Berman has been endorsed by lawyer Alan Dershowitz, according to the Jewish Press.
Where's she from?
Flatbush
Current job?
Senior Associate at the feminist law firm Crumiller P.C., which specializes in gender and pregnancy discrimination.
What's her background?
Cohen worked as a staff attorney for the New York City Housing Authority, working first in the Freedom Of Information Act unit then as a landlord and tenant attorney, from 2010 until 2017.
Endorsements?
Cohen is endorsed by 10 elected officials including City Council Member Brad Lander and Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte.
Where's she from?
Bed-Stuy
Current job?
Private attorney specializing in foreclosure prevention law.
What's her background?
Nicholson has practiced in New York since 1986, working as a Social Security advocate at Bedford-Stuyvesant Legal Services and Queens Legal Services and a court attorney at the Appellate Division, Second Department.
Where's she from?
Bed-Stuy
Current job?
Law clerk in New York County's civil supreme court.
What's her background?
Udoh worked as a criminal defense attorney for the Legal Aid Society from 2001 to 2007 before transitioning to the Manhattan civil court where she now serves.
Endorsements?
Udoh has been endorsed by Assembly members Jo Anne Simon and Joan Millman as well as the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats.
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