On the ballot, voters have a say in judges and party politics

Pablo Zevallos, an Upper West Side native, spent the final weekend of early voting talking to registered Democrats and handing out flyers in support of his preferred candidate for state Assembly and a lesser-known position — the delegate position for the Democratic Party’s judicial convention in Manhattan.

“I always tell people to make sure they flip to the back to learn how to elect a delegate to the Judicial Assembly,” Zevallos said. “They usually stop and ask me, ‘So what is a judicial delegate? What is this assembly?’ and I explain it to them.”

New York staffs its justice system in a complex way, and the district parties and city bosses play an outsized role.

Typically, delegates to the Democratic judicial conventions select candidates to become justices on the state Supreme Court. But don’t let the name fool you, in New York, the Supreme Courts are the courts of first instance.

These delegates are the kind of insider party positions that can be filled by registered Democrats across the city.

Democrats can also elect representatives to state and county Democratic committees and elect county commissioners.

Zevallos, a tenant advocate by profession, is one of these Democratic district leaders.

“I would say the district leaders are the heart and soul of the organization of our local Democratic parties here in New York City,” he said.

“I always tell people to make sure they flip to the back to learn how to elect a delegate to the Judicial Assembly,” Zevallos said. “They usually stop and ask me, ‘What is a Judicial Assembly? What is this assembly?’ and I explain it to them.”

New York staffs its justice system in a complex way, and the district parties and city bosses play an outsized role.

Typically, delegates to the Democratic judicial conventions select candidates to become justices on the state Supreme Court. But don’t let the name fool you. In New York, the Supreme Courts are the trial courts.

These delegates are the kind of insider party positions that can be filled by registered Democrats across the city.

Democrats can also elect representatives to state and county Democratic committees and elect county commissioners.

Zevallos, a tenant advocate by profession, is one of these Democratic district leaders.

“I would say the district leaders are the heart and soul of the organization of our local Democratic parties here in New York City,” he said.

This year, all but one election will be decided among registered Democrats; there are races in every borough except Staten Island.

Democratic voters can also choose their party’s candidates in judicial elections.

In Queens, there is a contested Democratic primary for the seat on the Surrogates Court, which has jurisdiction over wills and estates.

In Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, there are primaries for civil judges who handle cases up to $50,000, as well as other small claims and housing matters.

But in the end, these judges may have more to deal with than just financial matters.

“If you get a seat in civil court, you could be sent to criminal court or family court,” said Michael Oliva, a political consultant who has managed judicial campaigns. “You want someone who is qualified in all of those areas of law?”

He said it was unfortunate that voters generally had no interest in these elections, especially in a presidential election year.

But they should – a name that appears on the ballot today can make headlines tomorrow. Judge Arthur Engoron should know that. He was a judge in the civil case against former President Donald Trump in Manhattan.

“He was on the ground trying to be a judge, like so many people I worked with,” Oliva said. “You would never have thought in a million years that he would be trying a case for the former president, which is unbelievable.”