New York County Lawyers Association Officers’ Statement: NYCLA is Pleased to Congratulate Judge Austin D’Souza

NYCLA is pleased to congratulate our board member and friend Judge Austin D’Souza for his appointment as Supervising Judge for the Civil Court in New York County.  The Office of Court Administration announced his appointment on January 6.  The appointment was approved by Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson and Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas, with input from Deputy Chief Administrative Judges Norman St. George and Adam Silvera and Judge Shahabuddeen A. Ally, the Administrative Judge for the Civil Court City-wide.

These renowned members of the judiciary have recognized what we have long known, which is that Judge D’Souza is a rising star of our state judiciary, capable, thoughtful, hard-working and personable.  We have long valued Judge D’Souza’s advice and insight on our board, even before he became a judge.  As a member of the Franklin H. Williams Commission, Judge D’Souza spearheaded the recently revived Special Masters Program, which was designed to promote the interest of diverse lawyers in becoming members of the bench.  NYCLA was pleased to be able to sponsor this program among its members.  We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Judge D’Souza in a long and successful judicial career ahead.

We also congratulate other appointees as well, including Hon. Edwin I. Novillo as Supervising Judge of Queens County Criminal Court; Hon. Taisha L. Chambers and Hon. Carmen A. Pacheco as Supervising Judges of Bronx and Kings County Civil Court, respectively; Hon. Ira R. Greenberg as Supervising Judge of Queens County Civil; and Hon. Frances Ortiz as Supervising Judge of New York County Housing Court.  Likewise, we congratulate Judge Ally on his recent prior appointment to the role of Administrative Judge of the entire New York City Civil Court, which created the vacancy that Judge D’Souza is now filling.

About the New York County Lawyers Association

The New York County Lawyers Association (nycla.org) was founded in 1908 as one of the first major bar associations in the country that admitted members without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, or gender. Since its inception, it has pioneered some of the most far-reaching and tangible reforms in American jurisprudence and has continuously played an active role in legal developments and public policy.

# # #