Justice Karina Alomar highlights importance of mentorship in legal community

Justice Karina Alomar was elected to a full term on the Queens Supreme Court bench last month. Eagle file photo by David Brand

By Rachel Vick

For as long as she can remember, Judge Karina Alomar wanted to pursue a career in law, pushing past the naysayers to earn her position as a Queens Supreme Court justice. 

Alomar pursued her dream, even after a high school counselor suggested she might be “aspiring too high” and was better off aiming for a job as a secretary. That advice only fueled her determination, bolstered by the unwavering support of her parents.

In 2018, Alomar became the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the bench in Queens. Two years later, she earned a promotion from voters who elected her to a full term in Queens Supreme Court last month.

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.

“The fact there is more diversity on the bench is important to the incoming generation. When I was growing up I didn't see many Latinas doing what I’m doing now,” Alomar said.

“I think it's important for young [people] to see people like them doing the job that they want to do so they can say ‘I can reach for the stars, I can do it,’ it’s just a matter of hard work and having a cheerleader,” she added. “Whenever I was told that I couldn't do something my father would say ‘let’s figure out what you need to do,’ and I was very fortunate to have that.” 

Alomar graduated from St. John’s School of Law, where she found a mentor in fellow Latina, Justice Carmen Velasquez, who was elected to the Queens Supreme Court bench in 2014.

The positive impact of mentorship was not lost on Alomar, who has continued the effort to support young lawyers through her involvement with the Latino Lawyers Association. She is a past president and now serves on the advisory board, where she is working to launch a mentorship program for law students.

“I believe in having an open door,” Alomar said. “To connect them with someone to talk to and hear what needs to be done, what classes to take and internships to pursue for the career they want.” 

Though the pandemic has affected schools, courts and budgets, the importance of community continues, Alomar said. She advises young lawyers to make connections and network with established attorneys and judges.

“Don't be afraid to ask,” Alomar said. “I know that sometimes you get shy, you're embarrassed, you don’t know how to approach people or are afraid they’ll say no, but people want to help. Even if the person you want can’t be your mentor, more than likely they'll be willing to point  you in the direction of someone who can.” 

Alomar began her career on the bench in Queens Criminal Court before moving to Civil Court near the start of 2020. She was presiding at civil cases for less than two months before the pandemic changed the court system and forced proceedings to go remote.

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of listening to the community and remaining patient, Alomar said.

“A lot of people who came before me, the biggest complaints that they had was that they weren’t being heard, so I made it a point so everybody could say what they wanted,” Alomar said.

“Most of the time even if they had a movement against them, if they felt somebody listened to them they were okay with the results — they might not have been happy, but they could accept it.”