Uncover the secrets of becoming a judge in New York City, from application tips to interview strategies.
Panelists will discuss eligibility requirements to become a judge and share inside tips on navigating the process, from preparing to be a candidate, filling out and submitting the judicial questionnaire, and surviving the interview process.
This course provides a behind-the-scenes look at the judicial appointment process, offering practical advice and insights from experienced professionals.
The NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers is the largest statewide trial bar in the US with 5,700+ lawyer and judge members. We are committed to protecting, preserving and enhancing the civil justice system. Our highly acclaimed CLE programming features extraordinary presenters covering the most timely and important topics.
JAMS | NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 2nd Department (Ret.)
Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix (Ret.) joined JAMS in 2024 after a distinguished career as NYC’s 81st corporation counsel and as a jurist in New York State courts. Most recently, she served from 2012 to 2022 as an associate justice of the NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department. Judge Hinds-Radix was the first Caribbean-born woman, the first woman of color, and the second woman overall to serve as corporation counsel.
NYS SUPREME COURT – CRIMINAL TERM, QUEENS COUNTY
Justice Karen Gopee made history twice by her election to the New York State Supreme Court in 2021 and her appointment to the New York State Criminal Court in 2015, as the first Indo-Caribbean jurist in New York State. Currently, she presides over hearings and trials in a busy Gun Part in Queens. Prior to her election, she served as the presiding Criminal Court judge over the Youth Part, Domestic Violence Part, and Specialty Felony Waiver Part.
The Cochran Firm P.C. | The Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary
Rudyard Whyte is currently a member of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, having been appointed by Mayor Adams to a two-year term in January 2025. He has been a Partner in The Cochran Firm for the past 19 years, concentrating in the areas of personal injury and medical malpractice. He is also the head of the firm’s immigration department in the New York office.
The Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary
Ayanna Sorett is the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, where she plays a key role in vetting and nominating appointments and reappointments to NYC Criminal Court and NYC Family Court, as well as interim appointments to NYC Civil Court. She is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University, where she teaches on criminal justice-related topics.
