Four attorneys designated for Queens Civil Court judgeships

Criminal defense attorney Nestor Diaz, Jr., a past president of the Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County, is the first Dominican-American man designated for a judgeship in Queens. Photo courtesy of Diaz

By David Brand

The Queens County Democratic Party designated four candidates for the Civil Court bench Monday.

The designated attorneys are Nestor Diaz, Jr., Jessica Earle-Gargan, Denise Johnson and Leigh Cheng.

Diaz is a criminal defense attorney and a past president of the Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County. He is the first Dominican-American man designated for a judgeship and was recently honored as “Man of the Year” by the organization 100 Hispanic Men. He is designated for a countywide position.

Earle-Gargan is a principal law secretary for Justice William Viscovich in Queens Supreme Court. She previously served with Justice Maureen Healy. She was formerly a lawyer with Richard T. Lau & Associates and a Kings County assistant district attorney. She graduated from St. John’s University Law School and earned her bachelor’s degree from Queens College. She is designated for a countywide position.

Johnson has served as a principal law secretary for nearly 14 years. She is a past president of the Macon B. Allen Black Bar Association and a member of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association, the Association of Black Women Attorneys, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the National Bar Association. She is a graduate of St. John’s University Law School. She is designated for the Fourth Civil Court District, which includes a swath of Southeast Queens.

Cheng is a law secretary for Justice Lee Mayersohn in Queens Supreme Court, Civil Term. He is designated for the Sixth Civil Court District, which includes Flushing and other parts of Central Queens.