Brooklyn Democratic Party nominates seven Supreme Court justices

The Brooklyn Democratic Party has nominated seven candidates for the position of judge on the Supreme Court of New York State following the judicial convention held on Thursday at the Marine Park Golf Course.

Nearly 400 judicial delegates from the county’s 21 districts participated in the vote, securing the Democratic slate of candidates for the November ballot.

The nominees are the Honorable Keisha Alleyne, the Honorable Inga O’Neale, the Honorable Christopher Robles, the Honorable Adam Perlmutter, the Honorable Lisa Lewis, the Honorable Jeffrey Sunshine and the Honorable Sharen Hudson. These candidates, all vetted by the party’s Judicial Screening Committee, bring extensive experience in the legal system.

“We sincerely congratulate these seven Democratic nominees for the Supreme Court. They are champions of justice, have proven records of success in the progressive justice system and in the courtroom, and also understand very well the needs and nuances of our diverse communities,” said Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn.

The candidates selected for the New York State Supreme Court in Brooklyn bring a wide range of legal backgrounds and experiences. Collectively, they have decades of experience in the New York State judicial system, holding positions ranging from criminal court judges to civil court judges.

In their careers, they have made significant contributions in areas such as matrimonial law, criminal defense and civil rights work, and demonstrate a broad range of expertise that is critical to handling the complex cases heard before the Supreme Court.

In addition to their legal experience, these nominees have also been involved in legal education, commercial litigation, and community-based legal practice. This combination of legal and practical experience positions them to address the diverse legal challenges that arise in a jurisdiction as dynamic as Brooklyn. The nominees’ backgrounds reflect a commitment to public service and a deep understanding of the legal issues facing the community.

All seven nominees are current judges, five are seeking re-election or appointment to the Supreme Court, and two, the Honorable Sunshine and Hudson, are already serving as Supreme Court justices.

The Honorable Keisha Alleyne served as a Kings County civil judge and previously worked as a commercial litigation attorney. She also operated a small business focused on developing programs for minority students.

The Honorable Inga O’Neale served 22 years in the New York State judicial system, including 19 years as an attorney in the Superior Civil Court of Kings County. She was recently elected Judge of the Kings County Civil Court.

The Honorable Christopher Robles has served as a judge in the Kings County Criminal Court for the past five years and has experience presiding over various judicial divisions. Prior to serving as a judge, he operated a law firm that handled criminal, family and civil cases.

The Honorable Adam Perlmutter is currently serving as an Acting Criminal Justice of the New York State Supreme Court in Kings County. He has over 35 years of judicial experience and has served as a consultant to the New York State Justice Task Force.

The Honorable Lisa Lewis is a judge in the Civil Court of the City of New York and has decades of experience, including representing city employees and retirees in matrimonial matters, teaching law, and running her own law firm.

Hon. Jeffrey Sunshine has been a Superior Court Judge since 2010 and serves as the countywide coordinating matrimonial judge. He has been the chief matrimonial judge in Kings County since 2008.

The Honorable Sharen Hudson has had a 40-year career in the New York State court system, holding a variety of positions, including her current role as Acting Supreme Court Justice since 2016. She was first elected as a civil judge in Kings County in 2011.

The Supreme Court of the State of New York is a court of first instance with general jurisdiction, meaning it can hear a wide range of civil and criminal cases. Unlike in other states where the Supreme Court is the highest court, in New York it functions as a court of first instance. The number of judges in each judicial district is determined by the state constitution and may be adjusted based on population. However, some areas, such as New York City, experience a shortage of judges due to high caseloads. To address this problem, judges from other courts are sometimes designated as acting justices of the Supreme Court.

New York Supreme Court justices are elected to 14-year terms in a process heavily influenced by local political parties. They must retire at the end of the year in which they turn 70, but can seek extensions to serve until age 76, although approval for these extensions is not guaranteed.