Caroline P. Cohen, an experienced litigator and vigorous community advocate, today announced her candidacy to run for the Democratic nomination for Civil Court Judge in Kings County’s 6th Judicial District, covering neighborhoods from Park Slope to Midwood, including Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Prospect Park South, Kensington, and Ditmas Park.
“It is with great excitement and pride that I announce my candidacy for Civil Court Judge,” Cohen said. “My career has been dedicated to obtaining justice for those who need it most. As a fierce advocate for the rights of New Yorkers, as a litigator, as a wife and as a mother, I am well-aware of how strenuous legal matters can become for families struggling to make ends meet. I have successfully handled an extensive breadth of cases, including representing women who have been sexually harassed or discriminated against by their employers, in addition to housing-related cases like holdovers, non-payments, and Article 78 proceedings.
“Our courts must be a place where judges, counsel, and litigants work together to exhaust every option available in resolving disputes around issues which directly affect peoples’ daily lives, like housing, healthcare, and our children,” she added.
Cohen, a longtime resident of the district and mother of two, began her career at the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA), learning firsthand the many issues plaguing tenants in housing court. While serving at NYCHA, Cohen handled a tremendous caseload and earned an unparalleled reputation among her colleagues, housing assistants, and even opposing counsel for her ability to resolve cases.
Her diligent and committed work ethic ensured that adequate repairs were completed, and her dedication extended to working long hours with agencies, including the Human Resources Administration, in order to assist tenants with unpaid rent cases.
“Our courts badly need reform. Working people wait too long for their cases to be heard and pro se litigants are often left without hope for legal representation or resolution. Women who work in or enter our courts are often disrespected or marginalized. Immigrants often avoid showing up to court because of fear. Our seniors and disabled are often deprived of accessibility within the courthouse. Transgender individuals feel that they are beneath the system. This is why, if elected, I will tirelessly devote myself to fixing up our courthouses and extending equitable treatment to all I preside over regardless of gender, economic status, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or citizenship,” she said.
Cohen said her experience has enabled her to witness firsthand how to ensure that cases can move through the system expeditiously so that, in her courtroom she will ensure that justice is not only fair, but swift.
“When I take the bench, each and every proceeding will provide litigants a fair and equal chance to have their voices heard. My courtroom will serve all New Yorkers with respect, and I will proudly exercise the principles of compassion, fairness, and justice for all who appear before me. These values have been a guiding light throughout my legal career and my life, and they are the values that will guide me as your next Civil Court Judge.”
After the 2016 election, Cohen reoriented her legal career to focus on fighting against gender and pregnancy discrimination by joining the firm Crumiller, P.C. At Crumiller, Cohen appears in court regularly and works tirelessly on behalf of women who have been harassed or discriminated against by their employers.
Cohen has already been endorsed by Brooklyn Assembly Members Rodneyse Bichotte and Walter Mosley and District Leaders Josue Pierre, Cory Provost, Geoffrey Davis, Lori Maslow, and David Schwartz. She has also received the endorsement of the Brooklyn Young Democrats political club.
Cohen is a co-founder of Ditmas Art, a quarterly mixed media arts event focused on political discourse. Cohen also serves as a member of the Kings County Democratic Committee and has served as a Judicial Delegate for Assembly District 42 in both 2017 and 2018. In 2018, she was named Community Leader of the Year by Brooklyn Young Democrats and, in 2019, a Brooklyn Power Woman by Schneps Media.
Cohen is also a member of the Ernest Skinner Political Association and the Shirley Chisholm Democratic Club. Since 2011, Cohen has been a member of the Park Slope United Methodist Church. She holds a J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and a Master’s Degree and Bachelor of Arts from New York University.
Cohen lives in Ditmas Park-Flatbush with her husband Steven, their two children, Daschel and CiCi, and their dog Petey.
The Democratic Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 25, 2019.
