Mayor de Blasio Appoints Justice Luis A. Gonzalez to Advisory Committee on The Judiciary

March 30, 2016

NEW YORK––Mayor de Blasio today announced the appointment of Justice Luis A. Gonzalez to the Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. Justice Gonzalez was the first Latino individual to have been appointed a Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court in the State’s history.

“Luis Gonzalez has much to be proud about, being the first Hispanic to serve as a Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division in New York State,” said Mayor de Blasio. “But he also has a solid track-record serving New Yorkers as a Housing Court and Civil Court Judge, as well as a New York State Supreme Court Justice. I’m confident that he will continue to serve the best interests of New Yorkers on the Advisory Committee.”

Luis A. Gonzalez was the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court’s First Judicial Department from 2009 through the end of December 2015. Justice Gonzalez was designated a Justice for the Appellate Division’s First Judicial Department by Governor George E. Pataki in 2002, and appointed Presiding Justice in 2009 by Governor David Paterson. Justice Gonzalez was appointed by Mayor de Blasio alongside Justice Eugene Nardelli and Christopher Chang, who were nominated by former Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals Jonathan Lippman and the Presiding Justice of the Second Judicial Department Randall T. Eng, respectively. On the Advisory Committee, Justice Gonzalez will be responsible for recruiting, screening and nominating highly qualified candidates for judicial appointment to the Family Court and Criminal Court of New York City, as well as the Civil Court for interim appointment.

About Luis A. Gonzalez
Prior to serving on the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court’s First Judicial Department, Justice Luis Gonzalez served as a New York Supreme Court Justice in the 12th Judicial District from 1992 to 2002. In addition, Justice Gonzalez served on the New York City Civil Court as a Housing Court and a Civil Court Judge. He also was Counsel to the Migration Division of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in New York City from 1978 to 1980. Justice Gonzalez began his career at the New York City Department of Investigation, and taught a course in the paralegal program at Lehman College from 1991 to 1998. He received his B.A. from Eastern Mennonite University, and holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School.

About the Advisory Committee on the Judiciary
The Committee recruits, screens and nominates highly qualified candidates for judicial appointment to the Family Court and Criminal Court of New York City, as well as the Civil Court for an interim appointment. Based on the Committee's nominations, the Mayor makes appointments to these courts. The Committee also evaluates incumbent judges for reappointment to these courts and submits its recommendations to the Mayor.