Jewish groups criticize Mayor Mamdani for appointing no Jewish members to judicial advisory panel
Jewish legal organizations expressed disappointment that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s newly announced 18-member advisory committee on the judiciary includes no Jewish attorneys or former judges.
Four Jewish legal groups wrote a collective letter to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, saying they were “deeply disappointed” that none of the 18 individuals named to the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary are Jewish lawyers, former judges, or legal professionals. The groups cited a recent hate-motivated assault on a Jewish man outside a synagogue on the Upper West Side as a reason for heightened concern about representation.
They asked the mayor to appoint qualified Jewish members to ensure the committee reflects the city’s diversity. The mayor’s office released the list of appointees on July 22, with Ali Najm, an attorney and close ally of Mamdani, named as chair. The letter urged reaffirmation that Jewish New Yorkers deserve equal representation, respect and protection.
Why it matters
The omission raises concerns about inclusive representation in city judicial appointments amid rising anti-Jewish incidents.
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