Governor Kathy Hochul today announced appointments to the New York State Appellate Division, Second Department.
“Appointing upstanding and experienced judges is one of our first lines of defense against injustice," Governor Hochul said. “I am confident these judges will continue their impressive public service records and uphold the sanctity of the law. They are the best of the best, and I am proud that they will serve the people of New York.”
Honorable Helen Voutsinas has been appointed to the Second Department, Appellate Division. Since 2019, Judge Voutsinas has served as a Nassau County Appellate Term Judge for the 9th and 10th Judicial Districts. Previously, she was a Nassau County District Court Justice, and was elected to be a Nassau County Justice in 2018. Prior to being a Judge, she was the Principal Law Clerk to Justice Steven Jaeger of the New York State Supreme Court. Judge Voutsinas was also previously President of the Long Island Hispanic Bar association.
Honorable Janice Taylor has been appointed to the Second Department, Appellate Division. Judge Taylor has served as a Supreme Court Justice in Queens County since 1998, as she was reelected in 2012. From 1995 to 1997 she was a Judge for the Civil Court of the City of New York. Judge Taylor is also the Former President & Current Chair of the Board of Directors of the Macon B. Allen Black Bar Association.
Honorable Lillian Wan has been appointed to the Second Department, Appellate Division. Judge Wan is currently a Justice of the Kings County Supreme Court, a position she has held since January 2022. Prior to her election to the Supreme Court, she was a Judge for the New York State Court of Claims from 2018 to 2021 and a New York City Family Court Judge from 2012 to 2018. Judge Wan is the Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, the Immediate Past President of the Asian American Judges Association of New York, and a Board Member of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association. Judge Wan is currently an adjunct professor at Cardozo School of Law, teaching lawyering and legal writing to first year law students.
Honorable Barry Warhit has been appointed to the Second Department, Appellate Division. Judge Warhit has served as a Westchester County Supreme Court Justice since 2019. Previously, he served as a Supervising Judge and Superior Criminal Parts for the Ninth Judicial District Judge of Westchester County from 2015 to 2019. He was also a Judge for the Westchester County Court from 2010 to 2018, as well as an Acting Justice for the Village of Tarrytown from 2006 to 2010. Judge Warhit is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the Justice Brandeis Law Society.
The Judicial Screening Committee for the Second Department, Appellate Division reviewed the applications and conducted interviews of dozens of applicants. Only those applicants deemed “highly qualified” by the Committees were submitted to the Governor for her consideration. To be found “highly qualified,” candidates must display integrity, independence, leadership, intellect, legal ability, judgment, temperament, and experience.
The Governor’s Office will continue to review candidates that successfully advance through the screening process to fill vacancies in the Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Court.
Under the New York State Constitution and Judiciary Law, the Governor has the authority to appoint Justices to each Appellate Division from among those who have been elected as Justices of the Supreme Court. These appointments are not subject to Senate confirmation.