Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958
Dwight Williams (212) 788-2972
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today administered the oath of office to Tandra L. Dawson, Marian R. Shelton and Jeffrey Sander Sunshine, appointing them to the Family Court bench.
Joining the Mayor and today's appointees were Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman, Paul Curran, Chairman of the Mayor's Judiciary Committee; Paul Siegfried, Executive Director of the Mayor's Judiciary Committee; Bronx County District Attorney Robert Johnson; and Bronx Family Court Supervising Judge Cira Martinez. Friends and family members of the newly appointed judges were also present.
"These attorneys before us today have shown a commitment to the legal profession throughout their careers," Mayor Giuliani said. "They have had years of courtroom experience, and I am confident that they will bring to the bench the highest level of character and integrity. It is with great pride that I swear in this distinguished group of appointees."
Tandra L. Dawson has served in the Bronx District Attorney's Office since she graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1983. Since 1997, she has served as the Administrative Assistant District Attorney of Bronx County. From 1983 to 1990, she was assigned to the Bronx Supreme Court and Domestic Violence/Sex Crimes Bureaus. Ms. Dawson concurrently served as supervisor of the Domestic Violence/Sex Crimes Bureau and the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Court Bureau from 1992 to 1994. From 1995 to 1996, she was Director of Legal Recruitment for the Bronx District Attorney. Ms. Dawson, a graduate of Spelman College, was admitted to the Bar in 1985.
Since 1995, Marian R. Shelton has been a solo practitioner, focusing on domestic relations matters. From 1990 to 1994, she litigated contested family law matters for the law firm of Shea & Gould. As a litigator with the law firm Grunfeld, Desidero, Lebowitz & Silverman (1986 - 1990), Ms. Shelton practiced landlord/tenant, customs and international trade law. She also practiced law at Burns, Summit, Rovins & Feldman from 1984 to 1986. After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1976, Ms. Shelton obtained her law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1984. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1985.
Jeffrey Sander Sunshine has been a partner at the law firm he founded, Sunshine & Goldberg, since 1987. From 1983 to 1987, he was a solo practitioner. Mr. Sunshine also served as the President of the Brooklyn Bar Association from June 1995 through June 1996. He began his legal career as a law assistant to Supreme Court Judge Barry Hurowitz in 1980. Mr. Sunshine earned his Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from Brooklyn College in 1977. Mr. Sunshine received his law degree from Hofstra Law School in 1980 and was admitted to the Bar in 1982.