Mamdani Judicial Panel Excludes Jewish Members

United States — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed an 18-member Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Judiciary on July 22, 2026, without any Jewish members. Four Jewish bar associations—Queens Brandeis Association, National Lawyers Guild, Brooklyn Brandeis Society, and Bronx County Jewish Bar Association—sent a joint letter on July 27 expressing disappointment and urging the mayor to correct the exclusion. The groups cited a pattern of marginalization, including Mamdani's rejection of the IHRA antisemitism definition and omission of Jewish neighborhoods from an immigrant map. The administration denied religious motivation, attributing the rejection of retired Justice John Leventhal to his prior representation of Ghislaine Maxwell. The controversy occurs amid rising antisemitic incidents, including a stabbing attack on the Upper West Side, and follows Mamdani's criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The committee, chaired by Ali Najmi, screens judicial candidates for city courts. Jewish attorneys had served on the committee under previous mayors, including Eric Adams. The dispute remains unresolved as of early August.