NEW YORK, New York – Attorney Janice Robinson has won a decisive victory in one of two Civil Court Judge seats in Brooklyn’s 6th Municipal Court District in the New York Democratic Primary, as candidates with Caribbean background won seats in various electoral districts on Tuesday night
Janice Robinson (File Photo)Robinson beat fellow Jamaican-American lawyer, Kenneth Gayle, in the two-way race.
According to New York City Board of Elections, with 98.51 per cent of scanners reported, Robinson received 10, 820 votes, or 72.27 per cent, to Gayle’s 3, 910 votes, or 26.12 per Robinson, the Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn resident, who has been a civil litigator for over 20 years, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that she brings “a wealth of experience to the table”.
A lifelong Brooklynite, born to immigrant parents from Jamaica, Robinson said she got her first taste of public service work when she was “volun-TOLD” to help on her uncle’s campaign in the 58th Assembly District in Brooklyn. Her uncle, former New York State Assemblyman Nick Perry, is now the United States Ambassador to Jamaica.
Robinson said she is also “service-minded”, and gives back to the community both through her work and as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the first Black sorority.
As a civil litigator in Brooklyn, working for major insurance companies for over 20 years, Robinson said she has seen the demographic of the bench slowly making changes to become more diverse.
“The bench should strive to reflect those that appear before it. Fairness and judicial equality start with those who are entrusted with the task of listening, assessing and making the important decisions that affect the people of our community,’ said Robinson, who said she is ready for the opportunity to provide all these things to those who deserve and need them the most.
“Brooklyn deserves that,” stressed Robinson, stating that she is “ready to deliver.”
In conceding defeat, Gayle, whose father hailed from Jamaica, congratulated Robinson on “a well-run campaign and wish her the best as Brooklyn’s next Civil Court Judge.
“I am deeply humbled and profoundly grateful,” he told CMC.
“I would like to thank my family, my campaign team, my volunteers, and the voters of Brooklyn’s 6th Municipal Court District for allowing me to partake in this great journey. This journey has been one of dedication to justice, fairness, and the principles that uphold our legal system.
Gayle said that throughout his career he has strived to serve with integrity, impartiality, and a commitment to upholding the rule of law.
“Each case tried, each attempt at reconciliation or settlement, has been approached with careful consideration and a respect for the rights and responsibilities of every individual who enters the courtroom.
“Again, I am deeply thankful to my family, whose unwavering support has been my anchor throughout this journey. I will work to ensure my son understands all that becoming a judge means for boys like him. His journey is just beginning. Mine is not done, but continues into a better tomorrow for all of us.”
For State Committee in the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn, Jamaican-American Anthony Beckford and Grenadian-born Sarana Purcell were victors in the race in which voters could cast ballots for two of three candidates.
Purcell was re-elected with the most votes, 3,313; Beckford was elected for the first time with 2,476 votes, while Akel Williams placed third, with 2,384 votes.
Beckford told CMC that he was “truly humbled, excited and feeling blessed.
“This campaign was a true people-powered campaign. I would like to thank the people of the 43rd Assembly District for standing with me and supporting my campaign to be elected as their Male State Committee Member/District Leader of the 43rd Assembly District.
“I want to thank my team and my volunteers who have put in countless hours with me and helped to knock on thousands of doors and were the backbone of this campaign,” he added.
In his newly-elected position as Male State Committee Member/District Leader, Beckford said he will bring his “long history of advocacy into the role, to be able to help our District thrive and to become a vanguard for our democracy.
“There is work to be done, and I am ready. I will be the Male District Leader that the people of the 43rd Assembly District have been asking, the representation that that our community sought and a positive example to our youth of what leadership is. We Are The United 43rd.”
New York State Assemblywoman, Bichotte Hermelyn, who represents the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, congratulated the projected Democratic Primary Election winners across Brooklyn and New York City, saying that the Brooklyn Democratic Party “thanks each and every voter in our borough who made their voices heard and these wins possible.
“The Brooklyn Democratic Party is eager to work with our borough’s victorious new Democratic nominees and winning incumbents in the US Congress, New York State Senate and Assembly, Kings County Civil Court, and our borough’s District Leaders.
“Let’s remember: we’re all Democrats–I express my utmost respect for all candidates who took part in our vital election process, which represents the bedrock of our democracy..
“Just as importantly, I thank all the volunteers, election workers and voters who played a vital part in this pivotal Primary as we remain in steadfast focus on winning the General Election in November,” Bichotte Hermelyn said.
For a Surrogate Court seat in Queens, Caribbean-American Cassandra A. Johnson, whose mother hailed from Haiti, beat Wendy C. Li in the Democratic Primary.
Johnson received 32,682 votes to Li’s 27,016 votes.
