USA · 31 Jul 2026 · 03:44 GMT ·1 min read

Mayor Mamdani Faces Criticism Over Judicial Advisory Committee Appointments and Representation

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed 18 members to his Advisory Committee on the Judiciary on July 22, 2026.

NEUTRALITY 85 · BALANCED· 3 sources

ABC7 New York

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed 18 members to his Advisory Committee on the Judiciary on July 22, 2026. A coalition of Jewish bar associations wrote to the mayor on July 27, 2026. They cited the absence of Jewish members on the panel. The committee evaluates candidates for family, criminal, and civil courts. The administration denies religious bias. It stated that it has appointed Jewish judges to the bench. Officials also stated that former member John Leventhal was excluded due to his legal work for Ghislaine Maxwell.

Context

The Advisory Committee on the Judiciary recommends candidates for New York City family and criminal court judgeships. The committee also appoints interim judges to city civil courts.

Mayor Mamdani signed an executive order in January 2026. The order requires the committee to publish demographic data regarding judicial applicants.

Supportive perspectives

The Mamdani administration denied that the committee's composition was motivated by religion.
Mayor Mamdani stated that he did not inquire about the religious background of the individuals proposed for the committee.
Press Secretary Joe Calvello stated that the Mamdani administration appointed Jewish judges to judicial positions.
The administration announced that John Leventhal did not receive reappointment. Officials cited his role as counsel for Ghislaine Maxwell in her federal sex trafficking appeal.

Critical perspectives

A coalition of Jewish bar associations wrote to Mayor Mamdani on July 27, 2026. The group expressed concern regarding the lack of Jewish members on the judicial advisory committee.
Elizabeth Forspan, president of the Brandeis Association of Queens, stated that the committee lacks Jewish representation. She characterized this omission as an oversight.
Jewish leaders criticized Mayor Mamdani for his public stance on Israel. He called for the arrest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mamdani also condemned the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Mayor Mamdani of promoting antisemitism.