The Brooklyn Democratic Party’s official Democratic County Committee has implemented a revolutionary new change to the judicial election procedure. It was put to use on Tuesday with the declaration of the support of four judicial candidates for election to the Kings County Civil Court and one for the Kings County Surrogate Court by the Executive Committee of the Kings County Democratic County Committee and Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.
Four of the recommendations are for Kings County Civil Court:
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• Marva Brown, Esq.
• Monique Holaman, Esq.
• Turquoise Haskin, Esq.
• Betsey Jean-Jacques, Esq.
Moreover, there was one for the Surrogate Court, honoring Bernard J. Graham (who is currently an Acting Surrogate Court Judge).
At Friday’s Executive Committee meeting, a resounding majority of District Leaders backed the Democratic candidates to run for available bench seats in the June Primary Election, according to a statement from the Party.
A Procedure for Improved Endorsement of Qualified Applicants
The newly established Ad-Hoc Judiciary Committee of the Party convened last week’s Candidate Community Forum, where a significant amount of stakeholder input was received.
The Party’s newly formed Ad-Hoc Judiciary Committee, made up of five Brooklyn District Leaders, wants to “positively transform the process” by involving the public in crucial judicial elections on all levels, according to Committee Chair Dana Rachlin.
Brooklynites feel the effects of these elections and nominations for years to come, but many in the party have complained that in Brooklyn, which leans overwhelmingly toward the blue, people rarely know much about the nominees or favored candidates.
In an effort to bring about reform, The Party established a candidate forum with the help of its Ad-Hoc Judiciary Committee, which was presided over by District Leader Dana Rachlin (AD so). Rachlin stated that the session “allowed people most impacted by the criminal legal system to ask questions of the candidates and provide feedback to their District Leaders.”
And it’s only appropriate that the party, according to Bichotte Hermelyn, ” “proud to endorse four qualified women of color for Civil Court as we continue to help elect competent and diverse Judges,” declared Black History Month.
A Summary Of The Wide-Ranging Experience Of The Endorsed Applicants
During the course of over 15 years, Marva Brown has served as a public defender.
Kings County Supreme Court has employed Monique Holaman as a law clerk for more than ten years.
Turquoise Haskin has been employed with the New York Unified Court System since 2009. She is presently the Chief Law Clerk to Judge Carolyn E. Wade in the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term.
In addition to being a member of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association’s Board of Directors, Betsey Jean-Jacques is now the Principal Law Clerk to the Hon. Francois Rivera in the Civil Term of Kings County Supreme Court.
After his election as a Kings County Supreme Court judge in 2013, Hon. Bernard Graham began his current position as Acting Surrogate Court Judge to cover a vacancy. He first entered the court in 2005 as a judge for the NYC Civil Court.
Kings County Surrogate Judge is an elected office with a 14-year tenure, and judges of the Civil Court are elected for periods of 10 years.
To assist district leaders in choosing nominees, the judicial committee solicits community recommendations. It is a supplement, not a substitute, to the Party’s Judicial Screening Committee, a group of lawyers who first approve candidates based on their judicial knowledge.
The Ad-Hoc Judiciary Committee is led by Committee Chair Dana Rachlin (District Leader, 5th AD), and its members include Sarana Purcell (DL, 43rd AD), Jacqui Painter (DL, 51st AD), Kenesha Traynham-Cooper (DL, 56th AD), and Michael Boomer (DL, 57th AD).
The Committee’s objective, according to Dana Rachlin, is to get some voters to “stop going to vote without knowing the judges on the ballot,” to put it frankly.
According to Sarana Purcell, this new committee adds another significant dimension to the judicial election process by “bringing about greater awareness and education on the judicial selection process, so we can raise voters’ awareness and participation.”
According to Bichotte Hermelyn, the improved procedure “ensures the Party is backing culturally competent Judges to serve the interests of all Brooklynites fairly and impartially.”
Bichotte Hermelyn said, “We’re pleased to promote these candidates who follow a progressive approach to justice and have the experience and expertise to serve our constituents.”
