Three new judges have been appointed to New York City’s high-volume housing courts.
Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas appointed judges Madalina Danescu and Rachel Vincent to serve in Brooklyn; and Judge Susan Winograd will fill a vacancy on the New York City Civil court housing bench in the Bronx.
The appointees come from diverse backgrounds. Danescu was born overseas and Vincent was raised by immigrant parents.
The appointments come as the court system has taken measures over the past year to reduce case delays in the court system’s housing parts by bringing on new judges and court staff. The delays in housing court made news last year when a large developer sued the court system over what it alleged were routine violations of the law restricting the time it takes for eviction cases to get a trial or hearing date.
The three positions in question arose from two vacancies created by judges who left for elected Civil Court positions and one who retired.
“Along with their intimate knowledge of the laws, procedures, and issues relating to landlord-tenant and other housing matters, today’s appointees have each demonstrated the keen judgment, passion for justice, and capacity for innovation to effectually take on their new judicial roles,” said Zayas and Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George in a joint statement.
Danescu has worked over five years as an associate court attorney to a judge in the trial and resolution parts of the New York City Civil Court in Queens. Prior to her role in the court system, she litigated for a firm with a focus on landlord-tenant law, focusing on building owner l representation with an emphasis on providers of low-income, affordable and subsidized housing. Danescu was born in Romania and was driven to pursue a career in the law in part based on her experience as an attorney and desire to serve historically underrepresented populations.
“I want to thank the judicial leadership for my appointment to the housing court bench,” Danescu said. “I am both honored and humbled and look forward to serving the people of New York City in this new, exciting role.”
Vincent has worked as an associate court attorney in Civil Court’s housing part in the Bronx since 2018. Before that she spent over a decade as representing landlords in housing matters and advocating for unrepresented tenants as a volunteer attorney. She was raised by parents who are Haitian immigrants in South Jamaica, Queens.
“I am grateful for this opportunity and committed to ensuring that every litigant is treated with dignity and respect,” said Vincent. “I look forward to joining my colleagues on the New York City Housing Court bench.”
Winograd has worked for more than 25 years as a court attorney in the Civil Court’s Housing Part in the Bronx, where she routinely conferenced cases, did legal research, mediated settlements and drafted decisions and orders. She had previously worked at a law firm in Queens.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to serve as a New York City Housing Court judge and thankful to the court system’s leadership team for entrusting me with this vital judicial position,” said Winograd.
The judges, who have each been appointed to five-year terms, took their positions on March 13.
