Joanne Watters named Queens Criminal Court supervising judge

New York court leaders named Hon. Joanne Watters as the new supervising judge in Queens Criminal Court. She replaced Hon. Michelle Johnson, who began her tenure as a Queens Supreme Court justice Monday. Eagle file photo

By David Brand

New York state court leaders have named Joanne Watters as the new supervising judge in Queens Criminal Court. 

Watters, first appointed to the bench in 2015, will replace former Supervising Judge Michelle Johnson, who began her first term in Queens Supreme Court on Jan. 1. Johnson was elected to the Supreme Court bench in November 2019.

In a message to court staff Dec. 24, New York City Criminal Court Administrative Judge Tamiko Amaker said Watters “has been instrumental in reducing both the New York and Queens County Criminal Court backlogs.” The message also names Judge Keshia Espinal as the new head of Brooklyn Criminal Court.

“We look forward to working with them both as we continue to seek innovative solutions to address the difficulties posed by Covid-19, setting and achieving goals to meet the justice needs of those served by the New York City Criminal Court while protecting the health and safety of those who work in and use the courts,” Amaker wrote.

Prior to her appointment to the bench by Mayor Bill de Blasio, Watters served as supervising attorney in Brooklyn Supreme Court and an assistant district attorney in the Bronx.

Amaker praised Johnson and outgoing Brooklyn Criminal Court Supervising Judge Michael Yavinsky in her statement.

“We are deeply indebted to outgoing Supervising Judges Yavinsky and Johnson for their extraordinary leadership, deft navigation of the multiple challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as their many outstanding contributions throughout their tenures,” Amaker said.