Mayor de Blasio Appoints Interim Civil Court Judge; Reappoints Three Family Court Judges

May 1, 2018

NEW YORK— Today, Mayor de Blasio announced the appointment of interim Civil Court Judge Deepa Ambekar and the reappointment of three Family Court judges. These judges have primarily dedicated their careers to work in the public sector and have demonstrated a commitment to serving with impartiality, compassion, and respect.   

“Every New Yorker deserves access to a fair and equitable justice system,” said Mayor de Blasio. “I know these judges will ensure due process is afforded to all who come before their court.”

CIVIL COURT

Judge Deepa Ambekar
Judge Ambekar served with the New York City Council for three years as Senior Legislative Attorney and Counsel to the Committee on Public Safety. Prior to that, she was a Staff Attorney at the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Division, and a litigation associate at a private firm. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and her law degree from Rutgers Law School. Judge Ambekar is appointed to Civil Court and will be serving in Criminal Court.

FAMILY COURT

Judge Jeanette Ruiz
Judge Ruiz was appointed as a Family Court Judge in April 2008 and has been serving as the Administrative Judge of New York City Family Court since 2015. She was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in July 2007 and presided in Family Court. More than half her career before the bench was in public service, having served for 11 years collectively with four city agencies including the Law Department, as well as the New York City Administration for Children’s Services where she served as Deputy Commissioner of the Family Permanency Services Division. Judge Ruiz received her undergraduate degree from Hunter College, her master's degree from Columbia University's School of Social Work, and her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Judge Javier Vargas
Judge Vargas has been a Family Court Judge since December 2015. Prior to his appointment, he served with the New York State Unified Court System for 22 years in various capacities including Senior Court Attorney in the New York State Court of Appeals and Nassau County Family Court; Principal Law Clerk in Supreme Court and Appellate Division; and as a Housing Court Judge in Bronx County. He received his undergraduate degree from SUNY at Buffalo, law degree from SUNY Buffalo, School of Law and master of law degree from New York University School of Law.

Judge Judith Waksberg
Judge Waksberg was appointed as a Family Court Judge in January 2017. She was first appointed to the bench as an Interim Civil Court Judge in July 2015 and served in Family Court. She had been with the Legal Aid Society her entire career for 32 years, primarily in the Juvenile Rights Appeals Unit where she last served as the Director for 17 years. Judge Waksberg graduated from Brandeis University and received her law degree from New York University School of Law.