A
| Author | Elizabeth Smith/Mark Thompson |
| Pages | 161-186 |
PROFILES
ABDUS-SALAAM, SHEILA
Associate Justice, First Judicial District
Supreme Court, New York County
Appointment/Election: Elected in
November 1993; Appointed by Governor David
Paterson to current term that expires in 2021.
Previous Experience: Judge, Civil Court,
City of New York, 1991-1993; also served as
General Counsel, New York City Office of Labor
Services; Assistant Attorney General, New
York State; Staff Attorney, Brooklyn Legal
Services Corp., 1977-1980.
Honors and Memberships: Member of
Columbia Law School Board of Visitors.
Education: J.D., Columbia Law School,
New York, NY (1977); B.A., Barnard College
(1974).
Biographical Data: Born March 1952 in
Washington, D.C.
Recent Noteworthy Decisions: Mayo v.
Motor Vehicle Add. Indemnification Corp. 14
Misc.3d 1213(A) (N.Y. Sup. Nov. 3, 2006);
Snowmass Relaty Corp. v. State of New York
Div. of Housing and Community Renewal, Slip
Copy, 13 Misc.3d 1243(A) (N.Y. Sup. Oct. 10,
2006); Ban Bar Coalition v. New York State
Liquor Authority, 12 Misc.3d 1192(A), 824
N.Y.S.2d 752, N.Y. Sup. (Aug. 9, 2006); 706
Realty Co., LLC v. New York State Div. of
Housing and Community Renewal, Slip Copy,
13 Misc.3d 1217(A) (N.Y. Sup. July 28, 2006);
Bruno v. Mt. Sinai Medical Center, 13 Misc.3d
1205(A), 824 N.Y.S.2d 752 (N.Y. Sup. June 20,
2006); Meyerson v. Prime Realty Services, LLC,
7 Misc.3d 911, 796 N.Y.S.2d 848, 2005 N.Y.
Slip Op. 25078 (N.Y. Sup. Feb. 28, 2005);
Schlang v. Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat
Hosp., 6 Misc.3d 1036(A), 800 N.Y.S.2d 356
(N.Y. Sup. Jan. 11, 2005); Tumanee v.
Merchant, 5 Misc.3d 1001(A), 798 N.Y.S.2d
714 (N.Y. Sup. Aug. 19, 2004); Litaker v. St.
Luke’s Roosevelt Hosp. Center, 3 Misc.3d
1107(A), 787 N.Y.S.2d 678 (N.Y. Sup. March
22, 2004); Teytelman v. Wing, 2 Misc.3d 608,
773 N.Y.S.2d 801, 2003 N.Y. Slip Op. 23908
(N.Y. Sup. Dec. 8, 2003); Matter of Ortiz-Arroyo
v. Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science
& Art, NYLJ, 9/5/03, p. 18, co. 3; Halpern v.
New York City Economic Development Corp.,
NYLJ, 12/26/02, p. 17, co. 1; Baker v. The
Guardian Life Insurance Co., NYLJ, 9/2/02, p.
20, co. 4; Matter of Beckles v. Kerrick, NYLJ,
4/15/02, p. 20, co. 5; Bamba v. New York
Presbyterian Hospital, NYLJ, 3/5/02, p. 18, co.
3; Matter of Arkay Construction, Inc. v.
Nagaraja, NYLJ, 1/31/02, p. 20, co. 1; 200
Eighth Ave. Rest. Corp. and Pisello, Inc v.
Daytona Holding Corp., 2001 N.Y. Slip Op.
50023; Gonzalez v. 17 Murray Street
Corporation, 189 Misc. 2d 158; Ballen-Stier v.
Hahn & Hessen L.L.P., NYLJ, 1/12/01, p. 26,
co. 3; Zelda Vintage, Inc. v. Colony Investments,
NYLJ, 9/7/00, p. 22, co. 2; Hessel v. Merrill
Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith, NYLJ, 8/24/00,
p. 27, co. 1; Cohen v. Board of Managers of the
22 Perry Street Condominium, NYLJ, 5/3/00 p.
27, co. 6; Sage Realty Corporation v. Proskauer
Rose, LLP, NYLJ, 2/18/00, p. 29, co. 6.
Address: 27 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Phone: (212) 340-0400
Fax: (212) 884-8973
Law Clerk: Deborah Woll, (212) 340-0400
Secretary: Genoveva Villaronga, (212)
340-0400
ATTORNEYS’ COMMENTS
TEMPERAMENT/DEMEANOR
Justice Abdus-Salaam has a good repu-
tation among civil practitioners. “An easy
judge to get in front of.” “Very pleasant.”
“Very thoughtful.” “Judge Abdus-Salaam is
very friendly.” Interviewees commented, “She
is respectful” toward counsel and treats them
“decently.” Her temperament is considered
to be admirable for a busy New York City
judge, but she can get hot under the collar.
“She has a pretty good judicial tempera-
ment.” “She’s not a whip-cracker. She has a
temper, but she controls it well.” “No non-
sense, but she’s not a control freak, either.”
“She’s been known to lose her temper.”
“She demonstrates disbelief by rolling her
eyes.” “She maintains her dignity. She
doesn’t explode in front of the jury.” One
thing that is known to displease her is
unpreparedness or sloppy lawyering. “She
is completely intolerant with poor advocacy.
She was extraordinarily displeased by the
opposing attorney, who was completely
unprepared and unprofessional. She ripped
Profiles Abdus-Salaam 143
into him.” “She demands extensive prepara-
tion. She doesn’t tolerate any nonsense or
disorganization.” “You must be prepared.
She is demanding.” For this reason, it was
recommended that one might think twice
before sending an inexperienced associate
before this jurist.
ON THE BENCH
Attorneys typically said they find Judge
Abdus-Salaam “incredibly” prepared for
whatever proceedings are on her docket.
She was also credited with being hardwork-
ing and efficient. Since her assignment to
the civil side, she has had a good number of
cases highlighted in the Law Journal, and
her decisions are considered well reasoned
“for the most part.” This judge’s legal acu-
men is perceived to be above average. “She’s
smart. She may not know the law all the
time, but it’s not because she’s stupid.” She
certainly considers the facts of a case, but
as to approach, “She’s more of a law judge.”
ONTRIAL
The speed and efficiency of proceedings
before this jurist are reportedly “about aver-
age.” “She wastes no time.” The atmosphere
in the courtroom was described as “effec-
tive.” “She maintains a good courtroom with-
out abusing the attorney.” “She’s in control.”
She also reportedly lets the attorneys try
their cases relatively unencumbered. “She
may ask some questions, but that’s about
it.” “She never took over the questioning or
the trial.” There were no serious complaints
about her evidentiary rulings. “She’s usually
pretty good on evidence.” “I didn’t agree with
all of them.” “Right down the middle.
Extremely fair.” As for witnesses’ and other
scheduling matters, Judge Abdus-Salaam
was described as being from “relatively” to
“very” accommodating.
SETTLEMENTS
There were varying reports given about
this judge’s facility with settlement negotia-
tions. “Great settler. She keeps trying
throughout the trial.” “Not involved, but the
parties were very far apart.” “Average.”
ADJOURNMENTS/CONTINUANCES
Her willingness to consider requests for
continuances is said to be no more difficult
than average, but there were no reports of
her giving away the store. “Reasonable.”
PROCLIVITIES
Lawyers made no mention of bad experi-
ences and generally commented that, so far,
they do not perceive any particular bias or
leanings on the part of this judge.
SUGGESTIONS/SUMMARY
“Be prepared and know your case. She
requires more preparation than most judges.”
ACOSTA, ROLANDO T.
Associate Justice, Appellate Term, First
Judicial Department, New York County
Appointment/Election: Elected to New
York State Supreme Court, New York County
on November 2, 2002 to a 14-year term com-
mencing on January 1, 2003. Appointed by
Governor Spitzer to the Appellate Division in
January 2008.
Previous Experience: Deputy Commissioner,
Law Enforcement, Human Rights Commission,
New York, NY, 1988-1992. First Deputy
Commissioner, Human Rights Commission,
New York, NY, 1992-1993. Commissioner, New
York, NY, 1993-1996. Attorney-in-Charge, The
Legal Aid Society Civil Division, Brooklyn
Neighborhood Office, New York, NY, 1994-
1995. Elected to New York Civil Court, New
York County, November 1997.
Admission: Admitted to New York State
Bar in 1983.
Publications: Author: “A Response to
Burt Neuborne,” 23 Fordham Urban Law
Journal 1165 (1996).
Education: J.D., Columbia Law School
(1982); Columbia College (1979).
Biographical Data: Born in 1955 in
Santiago, The Dominican Republic. Married;
two children.
Recent Noteworthy Decisions: Gomez-
Jimenez v. New York Law School, 2012 WL
6620602, 2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 08819 (1st Dept.
(1st Dept. 2012); Melman v. Montefiore Medical
Center, 98 A.D.3d 107 (1st Dept. 2012) (dis-
senting); People v. Newman, 96 A.D.3d 34 (1st
Dept. 2012); Village Ctr. for Care v. Sligo
Realty & Serv. Corp., 95 A.D.3d 219 (1st Dept.
125 (1st Dept. 2012); Stanley v. Amalithone
144 Acosta New York Judge Reviews
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