Ali Najmi to guide mayor's judge appointments to help struggling family court | amNewYork

"How litigants and attorneys are treated that's gonna be a huge criteria in terms of evaluating a prospective judge. I know how difficult that can be for a lot of people who come from a public service background, and I really look forward to empowering people who deserve to be on the bench that wouldn't be able to succeed in the election process."

"The committee has long been characterized as a black box, which has raised concerns about political favoritism and backroom dealmaking. The Mamdani administration is trying to reshape that narrative. In January, the mayor added public reporting requirements to better publicize the committee's criteria for recommending judges."

Ali Najmi, appointed to lead New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, aims to reform the judicial appointment process. The committee evaluates and appoints judges to family and criminal courts, with appointees eligible for state Supreme Court positions. Historically characterized as opaque and subject to political favoritism, the committee now implements public reporting requirements to increase transparency. Najmi plans to expand the candidate pool beyond traditional prosecutors and court attorneys, prioritizing how judges treat litigants and attorneys. The mayor's administration seeks to reshape perceptions of backroom dealmaking. Approximately 180 judges, roughly one-third of the city's bench, are appointed directly by the mayor. Current vacancies include 15 criminal court, 3 family court, and 15 interim civil court positions.

Read at www.amny.com