Judge Alomar Becomes First Puerto Rican Woman to Serve on Queens Bench

Judge Karina Alomar. Eagle photo by David Brand

By David Brand

Dozens of family, friends, colleagues and community members gathered at Queens County Civil Court for the induction of Judge Karina Alomar on Monday.

Alomar, a veteran attorney and former president of the Latino Lawyers Association of Queens, was elected to the bench in November.

“This is an historic day for Queens County,” said Justice Carmen Velasquez, who presided at the induction ceremony. “Today is the first time in Queens County that a Puerto Rican woman is elected to the bench.”

Alomar was born in New Jersey to a Puerto Rican father and an Ecuadorian mother. She became just the fourth Ecuadorian judge in the United States, Velasquez said.

Alomar’s mother, Esperanza Cruz Alomar, presented Alomar with her robes before Appellate Division Second Department Associate Justice Reinaldo Rivero administered the oath of office.

“My parents were determined that their three daughters would get a college education,” she said. “Hard work was a requirement in the Alomar household.”

Several other justices and judges joined Velasquez and Rivero to honor Alomar. Surrogate Court Justice Peter Kelly presented the Bible, Justice Ernest Hart delivered the invocation and Bronx County Judge Wilma Guzman presented a portrait.

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Queens County Democratic Party Executive Secretary Michael Reich and State Assemblymember Michael DenDekker, a longtime friend of Alomar’s, all spoke to honor the newly minted judge.

“By reaching out to the younger generation, she shows how if you work hard, go to school … how far you can go,” DenDekker said. “Dedication comes first.”