Community Corner

First African-American Woman Named to NY State's Highest Court

Sheila Abdus-Salaam was officially confirmed as a judge on New York' Court of Appeals

Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was confirmed on Monday by the State Senate in Albany, becoming the first African-American woman on the seven-member Court of Appeals, New York State’s Highest Court. 

So impressive were her biography, reputation for fairness on the bench and professional accomplishments, that when read aloud at her confirmation hearing, it aroused a standing ovation from congressional members on both sides of the aisle, reported The Times Union.  

The daughter of a poor family in Washington, D.C., Abdus-Salaam will fill the slot left vacant by the sudden death in November of Judge Theodore Jones, previously the court's only African-American member. Abdus-Salaam was elected as a New York City civil court judge in 1992, then elected to state Supreme Court in 1993. She was appointed as an associate justice in the state Appellate Division's First Department in 2009.  

Democratic Sen. Neil Breslin called her "the finest candidate we have seen" in his years in office.  

The vote of the chamber was unanimous.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here