Mayor Mamdani Rejects Claims of Bias in Judicial Committee Appointments

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has pushed back against allegations of religious bias regarding the composition of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary (MACJ). The controversy follows a July 27 letter from a coalition of four Jewish legal organizations, which expressed concern over the absence of Jewish members on the 18-person panel.

The letter was signed by the presidents of the Brandeis Association of Queens, the Jewish Lawyers Guild of New York County, the Brooklyn Brandeis Society, and the Bronx County Jewish Bar Association. The signatories argued that the lack of representation contributes to a sense of marginalization within the Jewish legal community, noting that the administration had previously pledged to form a committee that would be "truly reflective of New York City."

During a press event on Wednesday, Mayor Mamdani rejected the notion that his administration’s decision-making was influenced by religion. "I think the suggestion that there would be any decision-making motivated by religion, it does bother me," the mayor stated. He emphasized that his administration remains committed to a diverse judiciary that mirrors the city's population.

The MACJ is responsible for advising the mayor on judicial selections. Its membership is split, with nine members appointed by the mayor and nine others recommended by law school deans and administrative judges.

A specific point of contention raised by the bar associations was the exclusion of retired appellate judge Justice John Leventhal, who had been recommended for the panel by Chief Judge Rowan Wilson. Mamdani clarified that Leventhal’s candidacy was declined due to his previous legal work for Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted for her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation. The mayor stated that he sought to avoid any association between the committee and the Epstein case, citing the significant loss of public trust in the legal system surrounding those events. Leventhal has reportedly stated that his firm’s involvement was limited to an abstract legal question during the appellate process.

Mamdani noted that he has appointed several Jewish judges during his first six months in office and expects that trend to continue. The coalition of legal groups has urged the mayor to address the current lack of representation by appointing qualified Jewish members to the committee to ensure the community feels adequately represented and respected.