Mamdani Expands Judicial Advisory Panel with Legal Reformers

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the appointment of 18 new members to the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary (MACJ) on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in how the city identifies potential judges. The new cohort includes a mix of former judges, law school faculty, public defenders, and attorneys specializing in consumer and family rights.

These appointments were finalized in coordination with state Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, as well as presiding justices Dianne Renwick of the First Department and Hector LaSalle of the Second Department. The expansion follows an executive order issued by the mayor in January, which mandated that the committee broaden its outreach to include voices from the public defense sector and those representing families in court.

Ali Najmi, the mayor’s former election attorney, continues to lead the committee. According to City Hall, the primary goal of the expanded panel is to ensure the judicial selection process is more transparent and representative of the city’s diverse legal landscape. The committee is tasked with vetting candidates for criminal and family court positions, as well as interim civil court roles.

“The Committee will help ensure that our judicial system reflects the city it serves,” Mamdani stated, emphasizing the need for fairness and independence in judicial appointments. Chief Judge Wilson echoed this sentiment, noting that the committee’s work is a vital step toward a more rigorous and accessible selection process.

The new appointees include several prominent figures in the legal community, such as former Legal Aid Society president Jared M. Trujillo and Harvard Law faculty member Mina Malik. The committee is expected to deliver its first set of recommendations for current judicial vacancies by October.

In addition to the new appointments, the administration has launched an online portal at nyc.gov/site/macj/application/application.page, allowing the public to view recommended candidates and submit applications for judicial consideration. The move has received support from various legal stakeholders, including Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Legal Aid Society Attorney in Chief Twyla Carter, both of whom expressed optimism that the diverse expertise of the new members would bolster public confidence in the city’s courts.