Queens judicial candidates gear up for primaries

Six attorneys are ready for early voting to start in the Civil Court primaries. Eagle file photo by David Brand

By Rachel Vick

A group of Queens lawyers are vying for the three open spots on the Civil Court bench, but first they need to make it through this month’s primary election.

Early voting starts Saturday, election day is June 22 and races on the ballot will include the Democratic Civil Court Queens County primary, Republican primary for the 3rd Municipal Court District and the Democratic primary for the 4th Municipal Court District. 

The judicial section is not ranked-choice, and is on the back page of the ballot. 

Here’s who’s on the ballots.

Democratic Civil Court Queens County

Party-nominated Michael Goldman and Soma Syed are going head-to-head in the primary, which will decide who will be up against Republican William Shanahan in the general election in November.

If elected, Goldman will be the first openly gay judge. He has worked both in private practice and as a court attorney and law clerk in Queens’ courts.

Goldman said his approach to judicial duties is treating court attendees with dignity and cases like puzzles — fitting the different stories, facts and precedent into a final decision. 

Syed is currently president of the Queens County Women's Bar Association and runs her own practice. She hopes to continue to represent Queens’ diverse communities in the elevated position. 

Civil Court Queens 4th Municipal Court District

Because Daniel Kogan is unopposed on the Republican and Consertive party lines, he was automatically placed on the ballot in the fall.

Devian Shondel Daniels made it onto the ballot after a mailing mishap and court case of her own, but is powering full steam ahead as the only democratic candidate who was not backed by the county party. 

She told the Eagle that she hopes to inspire voters who believe in fair chances and give them a separate choice. 

Cassandra Johnson, the Queens Democratic Party pick, is drawing on her experience working as a Civil Court court attorney to prepare for a potential spot on the bench. Her approach is centered on the court's role as serving the public.

Civil Court Queens 3rd Municipal Court District

Democratic nominee Paul Vallone  is already on the ballot, but if you’re a registered Republican you’ll be able to cast your ballot for either Kathy Wu Parrino or Joseph Kasper. 

Parrino is a Taiwanese immigrant and CUNY School of Law Graduate. She served as an ADA in Kings County and as a staff attorney at the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. She’s currently a principal attorney for the Attorney Grievance Committee.

Kasper is a graduate of St. John’s Law School and has run for a judicial position several times in the past. He was a district-level delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention, according to the Queens County GOP.