Queens: Surrogate’s Court and More
If you’re a Queens voter, you have a real choice between candidates Cassandra A. Johnson (D) and Stephen Weiner (R, CON, and Common Sense) for Surrogate’s Court. A Surrogate Judge, also known simply as the Surrogate, deals with matters relating to wills, estates and guardianship. The position in Queens has long been held by Democrats, but Republican challenger Weiner seeks to make court processes more efficient and approachable — and though he’s a Republican running against a Democrat, he’s not looking for a partisan shift.
Brooklyn: Municipal Court, 5th District
In Brooklyn’s 5th District, which spans the southwest corner of the borough including Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Borough Park, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, and Bath Beach, three candidates are vying for two spots on the Civil Court. In the politically mixed area, it’s a toss-up. On the Democratic ballot line, Board of Elections general counsel Hemalee J. Patel is running against litigator Jacob Zelmanovitz, who will appear on both the Democrat and Conservative party lines. A third candidate, attorney Benjamin J. Lieberman, will appear on only the Conservative Party line.
Why are there so few competitive races?
In New York, judicial races are often predetermined.
The judicial nominees for the Supreme Court are frequently hand-picked by party insiders and often spend years currying favor and donating to the party before declaring their candidacy for judge, as THE CITY has previously reported. They’re selected at judicial conventions, where elected delegates vote on which candidates make it on the ballot. However, despite it being an election, it’s not a very democratic process: party leaders decide on their preferred candidates before the delegates even step into the room to vote. Meanwhile, the delegates themselves are often party loyalists who don’t receive any information about the nominees ahead of the convention.
What do the different courts do?
New York City has five different main court systems. On your ballot, some New Yorkers will see judicial candidates for the Supreme Court, Civil Court, and Surrogate’s Court.
- Supreme Court: Unlike our national Supreme Court, the New York Supreme Court is not the highest court in the state — that’s the Court of Appeals, whose judges are appointed by the governor. The Supreme Court deals with criminal and civil cases and is the only court that can grant divorce proceedings. It also generally only hears cases that are outside the jurisdiction of other state and city courts. Supreme Court judges are elected to serve 14-year terms.
- New York City Civil Court: Civil Court deals with civil cases, i.e. cases that have to do with disputes between people or organizations, rather than cases which deal with the violation of a criminal law. It deals with cases involving amounts of money up to $50,000, and it’s also where you’ll find small claims court and housing court. Civil Court judges serve 10-year terms.
- Surrogate’s Court: Surrogate’s Court deals with issues involving decedents, which includes handling wills, estates, and adoptions. The Surrogate judge is elected to serve a 14-year term, or until retirement at 70 — so Weiner, the Republican challenger, would serve only 4 years.
Conclusion
In New York, judicial races are often predetermined, and with few exceptions, the outcome is often predetermined. The system may not be perfect, but these are the facts. Make an informed decision this November and vote for the candidates that best fit your values and priorities.
FAQs
Q: Why are supreme court judges elected?
A: Supreme Court judges are elected to serve 14-year terms.
Q: What is the role of a Surrogate’s Court judge?
A: A Surrogate’s Court judge deals with matters relating to wills, estates, and guardianship.
Q: What is the difference between Supreme Court and Civil Court?
A: The Supreme Court deals with criminal and civil cases, while the Civil Court deals with civil cases, including disputes between people or organizations.
Q: How often do judges get re-elected?
A: Supreme Court judges serve 14-year terms, while Civil Court judges serve 10-year terms.
