Mayor Adams Makes Four New Judicial Appointments

May 9, 2024

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced four judicial appointments to Criminal Court.

 "Public safety and justice are the prerequisites to prosperity, and these judges have the experience and integrity required to ensure that the criminal justice system continues to work for the betterment of all New Yorkers," said Mayor Adams. "These individuals have shown to be among the best and the brightest minds in their field and I look forward to their continued service to this city."

"In appointing four new criminal court judges, this administration reaffirms its commitment to justice that is fair and swift for all New Yorkers," said City Hall Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg. "Having a high-quality, independent judiciary is critical to our American democratic ideals."

Mayor Adams appointed the following judges to Criminal Court:

 Judge Edward Daniels was appointed as a Criminal Court judge in April 2024. After graduating from law school, Judge Daniels joined a private firm in Washington, D.C. After briefly establishing a solo practice in New York, he joined another firm as an associate handling complex criminal and civil matters at trial and appeal. Thereafter, he joined the Brooklyn Defender Services as a staff attorney in criminal practice and then as a senior staff attorney in the homicide practice.

 Judge Daniel Lewis was appointed as a Criminal Court judge in April 2024. After graduating from law school, Judge Lewis joined a private firm as an associate. He also began serving as an operational law attorney for the New York Army National Guard/United States Army Reserve before joining the Richmond County District Attorney's Office as an assistant district attorney in the Domestic Violence Bureau, the Narcotics-Investigations Bureau, and the Economic Crimes Bureau. Thereafter, Judge Lewis served as the lead attorney at the New York state Department of Taxation and Finance's Criminal Investigations Division. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Lewis served as unit chief of the Crimes Against Revenue Unit of the Fraud Bureau in the Queens County District Attorney's Office.

Judge Michelle Weber was appointed as a Criminal Court judge in April 2024. After graduating from law school, she joined the Kings County District Attorney's Office where she began her legal career as a misdemeanor line assistant in the Red Trial Zone. She went on to serve as grand jury assistant and senior assistant district attorney in different trial zones, including the Special Victims Bureau and Crimes Against Children Bureau before becoming the deputy bureau chief of the Domestic Violence Bureau, Integrated Domestic Violence Court. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Weber served as the unit chief of the Elder Abuse Unit of the Domestic Violence Bureau.

Judge Christopher Whitehair was appointed as a Criminal Court judge in April 2024. After graduating from law school, he joined Staten Island Legal Defense Services. Judge Whitehair then left to join Queens Defenders (formerly known as Queens Law Associates), where he served for 15 years. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Whitehair was a supervising attorney while serving as the director of recruitment and hiring at Queens Defenders.

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