The verdict is in and no one is a winner.
All three candidates for Queens Civil Court in the Sixth Municipal District failed to get approval from the New York City Bar Association as early voting begins ahead of the June 27 primary election.
“The City Bar uses two ratings: Approved and Not Approved,” reads the Association website. “Candidates rated Approved have affirmatively demonstrated qualifications necessary for the performance of the duties of the position for which they are being considered.”
Two candidates in other Queens races were also rejected while three got approved in addition to six candidates in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn.
A collective thumbs’ down from fellow attorneys underscores the murky nature of local judicial races where political connections often matter more than judicial acumen given the power of party bosses in such elections.
“Average people have no idea that elite panels and so-called reforms have deprived them of judicial election democracy,” political consultant Hank Sheinkopf said.
All three candidates for Queens Civil Court in the Sixth Municipal District failed to get approved by the New York City Bar Association ahead of the June 27 primary election. Google MapsThe three unapproved candidates for Queens Civil Court Sixth Municipal District – Evelyn Gong, John Ciafone, and Steven Beard – have all given to local Democrats in recent election cycles, according to state campaign finance filings.
The NYC Bar Association led by President Susan J. Kohlmann declined to approve five candidates for judicial posts in Queens in addition to a Democratic DA hopeful. Jenner. & BlockCampaign contributions suggest how judicial candidates might have cultivated support from local power brokers as they pursue spots on the bench.
Gong was the most prolific last year with six gifts totaling $1,115 to local Democratic organizations as well as District Attorney Melinda Katz, state Sen. Toby Stavisky and Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman.
Ciafone notably gave $1,500 to former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate – who was expelled from the chamber in 2010 following alleged domestic violence before pleading guilty to federal corruption charges – in 2021 and 2022.
Beard has only given to his own campaign since 2021.
Gong gave six gifts totaling over $1,000 to local Democratic organizations last year. Facebook/Evelyn Gong for Judge
Ciafone, one of the candidates, notably gave $1,500 to former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate. John J. Ciafone
Beard, one of the other candidates, has only given to his own campaign since 2021. Facebook/Steven T. BeardTheir failure to get approved by the Association was first reported by the Queens Daily Eagle.
Failure to get approved by the city Bar Association will likely escape the notice of many voters as they head to the polls ahead of the final day of voting on June 27.
But such rejection hardly looks good to anyone paying attention, according to Albany Law School Professor Vincent Bonventre, a prominent expert on the court system.
“They really have to think somebody is really unqualified to give them that,” he said.
