NEW YORK, CMC – The Brooklyn, New York Democratic Party is celebrating the elevation of Trinidadian-American Justice Lisa S. Ottley to the New York State Supreme Court’s Appellate Division in Kings County.
“We are proud to recognise Brooklyn’s own Hon. Lisa S. Ottley’s elevation in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Second Department, as an additional justice”, Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair, New York State Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).
“The Brooklyn Dems extend our warmest congratulations to Judge Ottley,” she added.
Bichotte Hermelyn, who represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, said that Judge Ottley, whose late father hailed from Trinidad and Tobago, has been an associate justice of the Appellate Term of the New York Supreme Court since 2023, overseeing civil matters and bench and jury trials.
Before her appointment to the Appellate Term, Justice Ottley told CMC that she presided over guardianship matters from 2016 to 2023, as well as jury and non-jury trials.
She said she was elected to the Civil Court in 2008 and, in 2019, appointed as supervising judge of the Civil Court, where she presided over the Trial Assignment Part. Justice Ottley is the first African American to be appointed as supervising judge of the Civil Court in Kings County.
Before she was appointed Acting Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ottley said she presided over cases in both the Civil and Family Court in Kings County, as well as arraignments in Criminal Court.
Justice Ottley said she also serves on the Guardianship Advisory Committee, is a lecturer, and is a member of the planning committee at the Judicial Institute.
A former adjunct professor at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus and Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, Judge Ottley said she is a graduate of Temple University School of Law and a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the first African American Sorority founded in 1908 at Howard University.
Throughout her judicial and legal career, Judge Ottley said she has been a mentor to newly elected judges, aspiring attorneys, and young lawyers.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the designation of Justice Lisa Ottley as an Additional Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Second Department, and Justice Christina Ryba as an Additional Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Third Department.
“Today, I’m strengthening New York’s Appellate Courts by announcing the designations of two women whose legal expertise, judicial temperament, and commitment to justice will ensure New York’s laws are applied fairly and correctly,” Hochul said.
“With the appointment of Justice Ottley and Justice Ryba, our courts will continue to uphold the public trust and serve as places of integrity and justice for all New Yorkers,” Justice Ottley told CMC.
“First, let me say that God is awesome! Having strong faith and people who support you is wonderful. From the start, the Kings County Democratic Leader, Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn, has been an advocate and voice for my elevation to the Appellate Division, Second Department,” she said.
“It was her leadership, hard work, and dedication, along with the support of the Kings County Democratic District Leaders, who were committed and joined together as a unified party, to inform the governor that they had a candidate they wanted to see elevated to the Appellate Division.
“I am extremely grateful for the support and look forward to continuing this next chapter in my career,” Justice Ottley added, “not being a stranger to hard work, due diligence, and commitment to being the best that I can be, I look forward to what is ahead.
The Appellate Division Second Department is a dedicated bench of brilliant jurists who work hard. My never-ending commitment to the community and experience on the bench will continue to be an asset in facing this new challenge.”.
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