The Kings County Democratic County Party’s judicial convention convened this week and nominated seven judges to run on the party’s line in the 2021 election for open bench seats in Kings County Supreme Court.
The nominees are: Consuelo “Connie” Mallafre-Melendez, Gina Levy Abadi, Dena Douglas, Carolyn Walker-Diallo, Richard Montelione, Joy Campanelli and Lillian Wan. These judges will now appear on the November General Election as the Democratic Nominees.
Kings County Democratic Party Chair and Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn noted that over 175 judicial delegates from across the borough participated in a fair, inclusive, and transparent process.
“The Brooklyn Democratic Party is committed to electing experienced and culturally sensitive judges who will deliver equitable, fair, and honest justice for each and every Brooklynite,” said Bichotte Hermelyn. “We are proud to have nominated this slate of diverse, experienced, and capable candidates who deeply understand, reflect, and will administer equitable justice for our diverse Borough.”
“I am thankful for all the Kings County District Leaders leadership in making this happen, including Jeff Feldman, who chaired and convened the convention, our Law Chair Frank Carone, Henry Butler and Arleny Alvarado McCalla, who helped convene, and Aaron Maslow, who swore the officers in,” she added.
Bichotte Hermelyn noted the candidates are the most diverse slate of judicial candidates to run for election from the party, with an unprecedented number of women nominees.
This includes Campanelli, a daughter of Italian immigrants, Douglas, a daughter of Grenadian immigrants, Abadi, the first Sephardic Orthodox woman to run for the bench, who is currently serving as a Civil Court Judge, and Diallo, the first Muslim judge to ever serve in Kings County Supreme Court.
Additionally, Lilian Wan – currently the first female Asian-American woman to serve on the New York Court of Claims – is the first Asian-American woman to run for this bench, and Connie Mallafre-Melendez is the first Cuban-born immigrant to be nominated.
Judge Richard Montelione adds to the diversity slate as being a member of the LGBTQ community as an openly gay judge in the Supreme Court.
I’m confident that Brooklyn’s legal system will be in capable hands when these justices are elected,” said Bichotte Hermelyn.
