NEW YORK CITY: Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed Pakistani-American attorney Ali Najmi to chair the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. The committee evaluates and recommends judges for Family, Criminal, and Civil Courts.
Najmi, a longtime advisor and election attorney to Zohran Mamdani, will oversee the process of recommending interim and permanent judges for the city. Mamdani said his administration aims to promote transparency and ensure the judicial system reflects the city it serves.
“My administration will promote transparency in how we select New York City’s judges,” Mamdani said. “Ali Najmi is the best person to lead this effort. He brings decades of courtroom experience and commitment to justice.”
Najmi and Mamdani have a long personal and professional connection. Both are residents of Queens and first met in 2015 when Mamdani volunteered for Najmi’s City Council campaign. They have remained close since, often referring to each other as brothers. Najmi later served as Mamdani’s attorney and mentor during his State Assembly and mayoral campaigns.
Over his 15-year legal career, Najmi has represented many insurgent and anti-establishment Democratic candidates, focusing on ballot access and election law. As recently as June, he represented at least 18 candidates in the Democratic primary.
A civil rights and criminal defence attorney, Najmi said he is honoured to chair the committee. He noted that many New Yorkers are unaware of the judicial selection process, which sometimes creates the impression that only well-connected individuals can become judges. He hopes to improve transparency and public outreach to change this perception.
Najmi is also a member of the Muslim Bar Association. He earned his Juris Doctor from the City University of New York School of Law. In his new role, he plans to ensure that the committee’s recommendations are fair, transparent, and inclusive.
The appointment highlights Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s commitment to building a judicial system that is accountable, impartial, and reflective of the diverse communities of New York City. Citizens and legal professionals alike are watching closely as Najmi begins his tenure as chair of the advisory committee.
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This move is expected to strengthen confidence in the city’s judiciary and reinforce Mamdani’s focus on transparency, fairness, and justice.
