Run for Office

Want to become a Judicial Delegate?

Judicial Delegates are elected every year in Queens. Their job is to evaluate NY State Supreme Court Justice Candidates (NYSSCJC) who will be presented on the Democratic Party Line in the November Elections.

All of Queens is in Judicial District #11. Slates (groups) of candidates run together to be Judicial Delegates in each Assembly District. Each slate (the whole group) needs 500 signatures minimum from people within the designated Assembly District. The number of Judicial Delegates in each Assembly District in Queens varies from 6 to 15 and alternates are also elected. Individuals may run on their own but it is often helpful to run with others; you will still need to get 500 signatures.

If there is only one slate in an Assembly District, its candidates become Judicial Delegates once their petitions are accepted. If there is more than one slate running in an Assembly District then the candidate names from each slate are grouped together on the June Primary Ballot. Registered Democrats vote for Judicial Delegate candidates individually, so a mix of Judicial Delegates from different states may be elected.

After the primary, usually in early August, Judicial Delegates are asked to attend the Judicial Convention, where they vote on which candidates for NYS Supreme Court will appear on the Democratic Party line in the November elections. In the past the Queens Democratic Party Leadership has presented candidates for exactly the number of available slots at this meeting. Nominations from the floor are asked for but have not been offered in many years, if ever.

That is the current process. But Judicial Delegate candidates could take a more active role. For example, while campaigning, Judicial Delegate candidates could solicit names of potential candidates to be a New York State Supreme Court Judge. To qualify, a candidate for Supreme Court Judge must have been part of the NY Bar for at least 10 years. After the Judicial convention, Judicial Delegate candidates could also hold information sessions and share resumes of New York State Supreme Court Judge candidates to inform voters about the candidates.