🔹 Strengthening NYC’s justice system with experienced judicial leaders
🔹 New appointments to Family, Criminal, and Interim Civil Courts
🔹 Commitment to public safety, fairness, and efficiency in the courts
New York. Mayor Adams Makes 11 new Judicial Appointments
– New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced 11 new judicial appointments — five appointments to Family Court, five appointments to Criminal Court, and one appointment to Interim Civil Court.
“I always say that public safety and justice are the prerequisites to prosperity, and these 11 judicial appointments will help us deliver both,” said Mayor Adams. “A safer, more affordable city that delivers for all New Yorkers must have an effective criminal justice system, so I am proud to announce these judicial appointments, which represent individuals with distinguished experience and the skills to keep the wheels of justice moving in our city. I am confident that these 11 judges will help make New York City the best place to raise a family.”
“New Yorkers deserve qualified, experienced, and capable judges, to ensure fair and efficient justice in our courts,” said City Hall Chief Counsel Allison Stoddart. “We thank these talented and dedicated judges for their service.”
Mayor Adams appointed the following judges to Family Court:
Judge Rosa Astuto was appointed as a Family Court judge in January 2025. Judge Astuto started as an associate attorney at a private office before establishing her own solo practice handling matrimonial, family, and immigration law. She maintained her practice for eight years before serving as an associate court attorney for the New York state Unified Court System in Family Court, Queens County. She briefly served as a trial attorney at The Children’s Law Center before returning to the Unified Court System as a support magistrate in Family Court, Kings County. Prior to her appointment she was assigned to Family Court, Queens County.
Judge Lisa Daley was appointed as a Family Court judge in January 2025. Judge Daley was a staff attorney for the New York City Administration for Children’s Services, Division of Legal Services early in her career before she joined District Council Municipal Employees Legal Services as a staff attorney. She then became managing attorney of the Family Law Practice at My Sisters’ Place before leaving to join the New York state Unified Court System as a court attorney referee in Family Court, Bronx County, where she served until her appointment to the bench.
Judge Jaimee Nelsen was appointed as a Family Court judge in January 2025. She started her legal career with the New York City Administration for Children’s Services as a special assistant corporation counsel before joining the Campaign Finance Board as an agency attorney. Afterwards, she served as family services counsel for The Fortune Society before leaving to establish her own practice as an 18b panel member focusing on divorce, child support, custody, and guardianship. Judge Nelsen then joined the New York state Unified Court System as a court attorney in Family Court, Bronx and Kings counties. Prior to her appointment, she served as a court attorney referee in Family Court, New York County.
Judge Dawn Orsatti was appointed as a Family Court judge in January 2025. She started her legal career as an associate attorney at a private firm, specializing in litigation and appellate practice related to parental rights matters. There she became a partner before leaving to join the Coalition for Hispanic Family Services as the director of Child Welfare Legal Services. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Orsatti served as the director of the Child & Family Legal Services Unit at JCCA.
Judge Laura Paley was appointed as a Family Court judge in December 2024. Following law school, Judge Paley joined The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Juvenile Rights Practice, where she served for six years as a staff attorney before joining the New York state Unified Court System. There she first served as a court attorney in Family Court, Kings County before becoming a court attorney referee prior to her appointment to the bench.
Mayor Adams appointed the following judges to Criminal Court:
Judge Juan Abreu was appointed as a Criminal Court judge in January 2025. Judge Abreu started his legal career at the New York County District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney and served there for 13 years, and a homicide assistant during his last four years there. Judge Abreu then joined the Office of the New York Attorney General, where he served as a special assistant attorney general in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit prior to his appointment to the bench.
Judge David Goodwin was appointed as a Criminal Court judge in January 2025. He began his legal career as a staff attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Judge Goodwin then joined the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey as a law clerk, after which he was appointed a Warren H. Sinsheimer fellow working with the Partnership for Children’s Rights. He served again as a law clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit before moving on to join the Appellate Advocates as a senior staff attorney. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Goodwin served as a supervisor staff attorney in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Office of Legal Affairs.
Judge Jevet Johnson was appointed as a Criminal Court judge in December 2024. She started her legal career with the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney in the Criminal Court and Grand Jury, Narcotics, and Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureaus. Judge Johnson then joined the New York City Department of Education as an agency attorney in the Office of the General Counsel. She went on to serve as assistant district attorney in both Westchester and Richmond counties. In Richmond County, she served as chief of the Special Victims Bureau. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Johnson served as director of the Riker’s Island Sexual Offense Initiative.
Judge Masateru Marubashi was appointed as a Criminal Court judge in December 2024. He started his legal career as an assistant district attorney for the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office where he served in the Criminal Court, Intake (Grand Jury), Felony Trial, and Homicide Bureaus for over 12 years. He then joined the Office of the New York Attorney General, Office of Special Investigations as a senior investigative counsel prior to his appointment to the bench.
Judge Lana Schlesinger was appointed as a Criminal Court judge in December 2024. Following law school, Judge Schlesinger joined the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney before joining the Office of the New York Attorney General as an assistant attorney general in the Public Integrity and Real Estate Enforcement Unit. She then joined the Kings County District Attorney’s Office as a senior assistant district attorney in the Special Victims and Homicide Bureaus. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she served as deputy bureau chief of Trial Bureau IV.
Mayor Adams appointed the following judges to Interim Civil Court:
Judge Philip Tisne was appointed as an Interim Civil Court judge in January 2025. Judge Tisne first served as a law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York before joining a private firm as a litigation associate. He then served for a year as a law clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit before returning to private practice. Thereafter, he joined the Office of the New York Solicitor General and served for four years as an assistant solicitor general before leaving to join the New York County District Attorney’s Office, Appeals Division, where he served as an assistant district attorney prior to his appointment to the bench.
March 21, 2025
NEW YORK CITY HALL
SOURCES: NYC.gov , Midtown Tribune,
Big New York news BigNY.com
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