The Hon. Judge Loren Baily knows that when local residents come for their day in court it can often seem intimidating.
“It’s very important to relate to people, especially people not represented by council. I always try to make sure they understand what’s being said and what the proceedings are all about, and that they have a chance to say what they need to say,” said Baily.
First elected to the Kings County Civil Court bench in 1998 and re-elected in 2008, Baily was appointed as an Acting Supreme Court Justice in 2009. For the next five years she handled guardianship proceedings and trials in Supreme Court. Guardianship proceedings involve a request to the court to appoint a guardian to manage the personal and/or financial affairs of a person who is unable to do so.
A hearing is held where the court decides whether a guardian is needed and who is the appropriate person or agency to appoint.
“It was very rewarding to be able to help people in such need. I was able to change people’s lives for the better and I enjoyed it very much. Since 2014 I have handled motions and trials. As an Acting Supreme Court Justice I also preside over arraignments in Criminal Court eight times per year,” Baily said.
Baily said she has presided over primarily personal injury cases, although has also tried police use of force cases and contract disputes.
“Most of these trials were decided by a jury, so my role was to control the courtroom so that the trial was fair to all sides, to rule on objections and motions during the trial and to determine what charges to give to the jury at the end of the trial. Charges tell the jury the law that the jury needs to apply to the facts that the jury finds.
“I enjoy this work as well. It’s important to me that the attorneys and litigants in my courtroom get a fair hearing and I believe I have been successful over the 20 years I have been on the bench in achieving this goal,” said Baily.
Baily was born in Queens, raised in New Rochelle and has lived in Brooklyn since 1975. She attended New Rochelle High School where at graduation, she received the Michael Schwerner prize for promoting racial understanding and cooperation. She went on to graduate from Oberlin College and New York Law School. I am married and have a child in college.
After being admitted to the bar in 1978, Baily went on to work for the New Rochelle Community Action Agency as an Education Law Specialist, for the New York City Human Resources Agency preparing adoption papers for children in foster care and then worked for a private attorney doing employment and housing discrimination and civil rights cases.
In 1981, Baily opened her own practice specializing in employment and housing discrimination, civil rights and tenant representation.
“I represented victims of discrimination and civil rights violations. Most of these cases were litigated in Federal Court. I closed my practice in 1997 and worked for a Legal Services office within United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg for two years before my election to the bench. There I handled cases mostly involving public benefits and public housing. My clients resided in Williamsburg. Bar Associations: Brooklyn Bar Association, National Association of Women Judges, Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association,” she said.
The Hon. Judge Baily said her favorite thing about being a judge is it gives her an opportunity to help people.
“Most people coming into court are a little frightened and intimidated by the courthouse, and a judge with a robe on, and I do my best to allay those fears. Often when someone comes up and is testifying in say a personal injury case, they are intimidated. When that happens I lean over and say, ‘We don’t bite,'” said Baily.
“I need everyone to feel comfortable in court. I want them to walk away to feel no matter what the court’s decision, they had a fair day in court,” she added.
The primary is this Thursday, Sep. 13.
