The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) proudly congratulates four exceptional Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) judges for their nominations to New York State Supreme Court: Honorable Judy Kim, Honorable Kris Singh, Honorable Soma Syed, and Honorable Frances Wang. These trailblazing jurists represent the highest standards of judicial excellence while bringing vital diversity and lived experience to New York's court system.
Hon. Judy H. Kim, Acting Justice of the Supreme Court, New York County, was nominated for New York County’s Supreme Court on August 11 at the Manhattan Democratic Party’s Judicial Convention. Justice Kim first made history in 2016 as the first Korean American elected judge in New York State. The daughter of South Korean immigrants, Justice Kim has demonstrated unwavering commitment to judicial service, advancing from Civil Court to her current role as Acting Justice. She currently serves on the Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics and chairs multiple court committees focused on equal justice and gender fairness. Justice Kim's recognition as a trailblazer in City and State New York's inaugural Asian Trailblazer list in 2025 reflects her continued impact on the legal community. Justice Kim is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and received her Juris Doctorate from Tulane School of Law where she served as Notes and Comments Editor of the Tulane Journal of International & Comparative Law
Hon. Kris Singh was nominated for the position of Supreme Court Justice in the Fourth Judicial District by the Republican Party on August 12. Judge Singh currently serves as Montgomery County Surrogate Court Judge and holds the distinction of being the first South Asian judge elected outside of New York City and the first South Asian Surrogate Judge in New York State. With nearly twenty years of service to the Unified Court System as Principal Court Attorney to multiple Supreme Court Justices, Judge Singh brought unparalleled court operations knowledge to the bench. His extensive community involvement, including leadership roles in the Montgomery County Bar Association and local charitable organizations, demonstrates his deep commitment to public service. Judge Singh is a graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton and Albany Law School.
Hon. Soma S. Syed was nominated by the Queens County Democratic Judicial Convention on August 7. Judge Syed currently serves on the Queens County Civil Court and represents the growing diversity of New York's judiciary. A former Special Prosecutor of the Village of Hempstead and private practitioner who founded her own firm, Judge Syed has handled a wide range of legal matters including real estate, corporate, family, immigration, and civil litigation cases. Her educational background from The City College of New York and Albany Law School, combined with her diverse legal experience, brings valuable perspective to the bench.
Hon. Frances Y. Wang, Acting Justice of Queens Supreme Court, Criminal Term, was also nominated by the Queens County Democratic Judicial Convention on August 7. Justice Wang broke barriers as the first individual of Taiwanese descent appointed by a New York City Mayor to serve in Criminal Court. Born in Singapore and raised across multiple countries before settling in Queens, Justice Wang's international background and product of New York City public schools experience enables her to understand the challenges facing the diverse communities she serves. She co-chairs the New York State Unified Court System's Working Group on Anti-Asian Hate and chairs the summer law school internship program, demonstrating her commitment to both justice and mentorship. Judge Wang graduated magna cum laude from St. John’s University and received her J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law.
"These four judges exemplify the excellence, integrity, and diverse perspectives that strengthen our judicial system," said Benjamin Hsing, President of AABANY. "Justice Kim's groundbreaking election opened doors for Korean Americans in the judiciary. Judge Singh's historic achievement as the first South Asian elected outside New York City expanded representation statewide. Judge Syed's diverse legal background serves Queens' multicultural communities exceptionally well. And Justice Wang's trailblazing appointment and continued leadership on anti-hate initiatives make her an invaluable voice on the bench."
The nominations come at a critical time when AAPI representation in New York's judiciary remains disproportionately low. According to the New York State Unified Court System's 2024 Judicial Demographics Report, only 5% of judges statewide identify as Asian, while AAPIs make up 9.8% of the state population. In Queens County specifically, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) account for over 27% of the population but hold only a small fraction of Supreme Court judgeships.
"Representation matters not just for the AAPI community, but for all New Yorkers who deserve a judiciary that reflects and understands their diverse experiences," Hsing continued. "These judges don't just bring professional excellence—they bring the lived experiences of immigrant families, multilingual communities, and the American dream realized through hard work and public service."
AABANY applauds the continued service of these four distinguished jurists and urges the legal community and voters to support their ongoing contributions to New York's justice system.
