Jewish Bar Groups Accuse Mamdani of Excluding Jews From Judiciary Panel

The decision follows a troubling pattern that has left many Jewish New Yorkers feeling increasingly marginalized.

By United with Israel Staff

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing backlash from a coalition of Jewish bar associations after appointing an 18-member Advisory Committee on the Judiciary without a single Jewish attorney, former judge, or legal professional.

In a letter dated July 27, four Jewish legal organizations accused Mamdani of excluding Jewish representation from a committee he had described as reflecting New York City’s diversity.

“We are attorneys and judges who serve this city with an unwavering commitment to justice, the rule of law, and the safety of all New Yorkers,” the letter states. “Not a single Jewish attorney, former judge, or legal professional was appointed to a committee your administration described as one that would be ‘truly reflective of New York City.'”

The organizations said the decision follows a “troubling pattern” that has left many Jewish New Yorkers feeling increasingly marginalized, pointing to Mamdani’s rejection of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and the omission of Jewish neighborhoods from a city map highlighting immigrant communities.

The letter also notes that New York City is home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel and argues that excluding Jews from the committee is “neither reflective nor inclusive.”

The coalition further criticized the administration’s rejection of retired Appellate Division Justice John Leventhal for the committee, calling the decision “particularly disconcerting” given the absence of any Jewish representation.

The groups warned that the issue comes at a time of rising antisemitism.

“Last week’s attack on a visibly Jewish man on the Upper West Side is yet another painful reminder that antisemitic violence is real and growing,” they wrote. “Jewish New Yorkers deserve to know that their elected leaders value their safety, their voices, and their place in our city’s institutions.”

They urged Mamdani to appoint qualified Jewish members to the advisory committee and reaffirm that Jewish New Yorkers are entitled to the same representation, respect, and protection as every other community.

A City Hall official told The New York Times that Justice Leventhal “did not pass our vetting process.” According to the report, the administration said the decision stemmed from Leventhal’s previous representation of Ghislaine Maxwell during her appeal.