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NYC Family Court Judges

Each of the counties of the New York City Family Court handle all of the following case types; Orders of Protection, Custody/Visitation, Guardianship, Support, Paternity, Neglect, Abuse, Adoption, Persons in Need of Supervision [PINS] and Delinquency (except for the specialized term of the Child Support Enforcement Term [CSET], which only handles child support cases of children receiving public assistance).

Our law firm has extensive experience with the procedures and the rules of the court rooms of the judges in all five of New York boroughs.  Our firm can never guarantee certain results, however the experience of a practiced guide in divorce proceedings provides an important tool in striving toward a successful outcome in your situation. Our attorneys regularly stand before the Judges listed below.

Bronx County Family Court Judges

Hon. Monica Drinane (Supervising Judge)
Judge Monica Drinane was first appointed as an Interim Civil Court Judge in August 2004. She is a graduate of St. John’s University, she received her master’s degree from Fordham University, and her law degree from New York University School of Law. She had spent her entire legal career with the Legal Aid Society for nearly 23 years, where she last served as Attorney-in-Charge of the Juvenile Rights Division. Appointed January 2008. (Formerly appointed to the Interim Civil Court August 2004; reappointed December 2004, December 2005, January 2007).

Gayle P. Roberts
Judge Gayle P. Roberts was appointed as a Family Court Judge in April 1997. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburg and received her JD from Tulane University School of Law. Judge Roberts formerly served in the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office. Reappointed December 2005.

Kings County (Brooklyn) Family Court Judges

Paula Hepner (Supervising Judge)
Paula Hepner is a Judge in Family Court in Kings County, appointed to the bench in 2000. Previously, Paula Hepner served as a Supervising Attorney at the New York City Human Resources Administration and as a Staff Attorney at Protection and Advocacy System for Developmental Disabilities and worked in private practice. She obtained her B.A. from Ohio Wesleyan University and her JD from Hofstra University School of Law. She is licensed to practice in the First Department and in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.

Lee Elkins
Lee Elkins is a Family Court Judge in Kings County, appointed to the bench in 1995. Previously, Lee Elkins served as a Judge in Criminal Court in the City of New York. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Lee Elkins worked as a Law Secretary to Judge Harold J. Rothwax, as a Staff Attorney at the Legal Aid Society in the Criminal Defense Division, as a Special Assistant Attorney for the Department of Law in the office of the Attorney General, as an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School. He obtained his B.A. from St. John’s College and his JD from Boston University Law School. He has published work in the The New York Law of Domestic Violence. Lee Elkins is admitted to practice in the Second Department. He was a member of the Family Court Advisory and Rules Committee and the Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children.

Emily Olshansky
Emily Olshansky is a Family Court Judge in Kings County. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Emily Olshansky worked as Special Projects Counsel and Assistant Deputy Chief Appellate Court Attorney for the NYS Unified Court System. She is admitted to practice in the First Department. Emily Olshansky obtained her JD from Cardozo School of Law.

Jane Pearl
Jane Pearl is the Supervising Judge of the Family Court in Kings and Richmond Counties. Previously, she was a Family Court Judge in Kings County and a Family Court Hearing Examiner in the NYS Unified Court System. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she worked at Tenzer, Greenblatt, Fullon and Kaplan and as a Law Assistant for the NYS Unified Court System. Jane Pearl is admitted to practice in both New York and Connecticut. She attended George Washington University for her B.A., Northwestern University for her Ph.D, and Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law for her JD. Jane Pearl is currently the Chair of the Law Guardian Advisory Committee and previously served as the Co-Chair of the Interdisciplinary Forum on Mental Health and Family Law.

Daniel Turbow
Daniel Turbow is a Family Court Judge in Kings County, appointed in 1997 and then reappointed in 2006. He is admitted to the Second Department in New York. He obtained his BA from Brooklyn College, his M.A. from New School for Social Research, and his JD from Brooklyn School of Law.

Stewart Weinstein
Stewart Weinstein is a Family Court Judge in Kings County, appointed in 1990 and then reappointed in 2000.  He is admitted in the First Department in 1977 and is also admitted in California in 1978.  He graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1976 after receiving a BA from Binghamton in 1982.  He has also been associate with the Legal Aid Society, in various fashions frm1977 to 2000.

Michael A. Ambrosio
Michael A. Ambrosio was appointed to the Family Court of the City of New York, Kings County in 1983 by Mayor Edward Koch.  He was reappointed in 1992 and again in 2002 to the same position.  He is also an acting Justice in Kings County Supreme Court.  Mr. Ambrosio received is Juris Doctor from Harvard Law, and his B. A. from Fordham.

Hon. Robin K. Sheares
Judge Robin K. Sheares was appointed to the Family Court the City of New York, Kings County in 2008.  In 2008 she was also elected as a Judge in the Civil Court of New York.  Judge Shears is admitted to practice in the Appellate Division, Second Department, since 1987.

Hon. Sarah L. Krauss
Sarah L. Kauss was appointed to the Kings County Family court in 2005. She is also a Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings county, first elected in 1994 and reelected in 2005.  She received her Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School in 1975 after receiving her Bachelors Degree from Oakland University in 1972.  She is a member of numerous bar associations and is a past president of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association.


Hon. Arnold Lim
Judge Arnold Lim was appointed to Family Court of the City of New York, Kings County in 2000.  He received his Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School. He also has a Masters in Social work from Hunter College, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the City University of New York. He is admitted to practice in law in the Appellate Division, First Department.

Hon. Alan Beckoff
Judge Alan Beckoff was apointed to Family Court, City of New York, Kings County in 2008.  He was previously a Judge in the Civil Court of the city of New York for 2008.  He received his Juris Doctor from Buffalo School of Law in 1981, and his Bachelor’s Degree from Lafayette College in 1978.  He is admitted ot practice law int he Appellate Division, Second Department, he is also admitted in United States District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.

Hon. Susan S. Danoff
Judge Danoff was appointed to the Kings County Family Court in 2004.  She was also appointed as a Civil Court Judge for the City of New York in 2004, which expired later that year.  She received her Juris Doctor in 1987 from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of law and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Fordham University in 1984.  She is admitted to practice law in the Appellate Division First Department.

Hon. Paul Grosvenor
Judge Grosvenor was appointed to the Family Court of the City of New York, Kings County in 1990, he was reappointed to the same position in 1990.  He  received his Juris Doctor from St. John’s University in 1979 and his Bachelor’s Degree from Brown University in 1976.  He is admitted to the Appellate Division, Second Department.

Hon. Bryanne A. Hamill
Judge Hamill was appointed to the Family Court of the City of New York, Kings County in 2001.  She received her Juris Doctor from C.U.N.Y. Law School at Queens College, and her Bachelor Degree from the Regents College in 1986.  She is a member of various Bar Asociations.  She is admitted to practice in the Appellate Division First Department, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the United States Supreme Court.

Hon. Bernard Graham
Judge Bernard Graham is an acting of the Family Court of the City of New York, Kings County, Appointed by the Administrative Judge in 2008.  He is also a Judge of the Civil court of the City of New York, elected in 2005.

Hon. Nora Freeman
Judge Nora Freeman was appointed tot he Family Court of the City of New York, Kings County in 1993, she was reappointed in 2002 to the same position.   She is a member of the bar in the Second Department, the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.  She received her Bachelors Degree from State University of New York at Binghamton and her Juris Doctor from New York University Law School.

Hon. Ann O’Shea
Judge Ann O’Shea is an acting Supreme Court Judge in Kings County. Judge O’Shea was appointed to Civil Court of the City of New York in Kings County in 2004. Previously, Judge Ann O’Shea served as the Chief Law Clerk for Justice Ernst Rosenberger, as a partner at the firm Cohen, Weiss, and Simon, LLP, and as a law clerk to Judge T.F. Gilroy Daly. Judge Ann O’Shea obtained her JD at Cardozo Law School. Ann O’Shea was also published in Working Woman Magazine/McCall’s Magazine, writing an article entitled “Women’s Washington Watch.”

New York County (Manhattan) Family Court

Hon. Douglas Hoffman (Supervising Judge)
Judge Douglas E. Hoffman was first appointed to the bench as a Criminal Court Judge in January 2003, and was assigned to the Family Court. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and received his JD from New York University School of Law. Judge Hoffman was a former Housing Court Judge and formerly served in the Legal Aid Society. Appointed October 2005. (Formerly appointed to the Criminal Court January 2003.)

Jody Adams
Jody Adams is a Family Court Judge in New York County, appointed to the bench in 2002. Jody Adams is admitted to practice in the First Department in New York. She obtained her AB from Radcliffe College and her JD from Yale School of Law.

Mary Bednar
Mary Bednar is a Judge in Family Court in New York County, first appointed to the bench in 1986. Mary Bednar is admitted to practice law in the Second Department in New York. She obtained her JD from the University of Michigan Law School.

Rhoda Cohen
Rhoda Cohen is a Family Court Judge in New York County, appointed to the bench in 2002. Rhoda Cohen is admitted to practice in the First Department in New York. She attended Fordham University Law School for her JD.

Hon. Tandra L. Dawson (Integrated Domestic Violence Court)
Judge Tandra Dawson was appointed to the Family Court of the City of New York, Bronx County in 1998.  She was appointed to be an acting Justice in the Bronx County Integrated Domestic Violence Unit, in 2002.  She was reappointed to the Family Court of the City of New York in 2005.  She was reappointed as to the Integrated Domestic Violence Court in 2007.  She received her BA from Spelman College and her Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School.  She is a member of numerous bar associations and committees on the law.

Susan Knipps
Susan Knipps is a Family Court Judge in New York County, appointed to the bench in 2004. Previously, Susan Knipps was a Civil Court Judge in New York. She is admitted to practice in the First Department in New York. Susan Knipps obtained her BA from University of California at Los Angeles and her JD from Yale School of Law. Susan Knipps is the Chair of the NYC Advisory Council’s Committee on Child Welfare and a member of the Family Court Advisory Committee, Appellate Division, First Department.

Susan Larabee
Susan Larabee is a Family Court Judge in New York County, appointed to the bench in 1999. Susan Larabee is admitted to practice i the First Department in New York. She obtained her JD from New York University School of Law.

Joseph Lauria
Joseph Lauria is a Family Court Judge in New York County, appointed to the bench in 1998. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Joseph Lauria worked as a solo practitioner and for the Criminal & Family Court Bureau. He is admitted to practice in the Second Department in New York. Joseph Lauria obtained his BA from Long Island University and his JD from New York University School of Law.

Sara Schechter
Sara Schechter is a Family Court Judge in New York County, first appointed to the bench in 1983. Sara Schechter previously served as Assistant General Counsel for the N.Y.C. Human Resources Administration. She is admitted to practice in the First Department in New York. Sara Schechter obtained her BA from Barnard College and her JD from New York University School of Law.

Gloria Sosa-Litner
Gloria Sosa-Litner is a Family Court Judge in New York County, appointed to the bench in 2002. Gloria Sosa-Litner is admitted to practice in the First Department in New York. She obtained her bA from Barnard College and her JD from New York University School of Law.

Helen Sturm
Helen Sturm is a Family Court Judge in New York County, appointed to the bench in 1999. Helen Sturm is admitted to practice in the Second Department in New York. She obtaind her JD from Brooklyn School of Law.

Queens County Family Court Judges

Hon. Carol Stokinger (Supervising Judge)
Judge Carol Stokinger was appointed to the Family Court in February 2000. She graduated from Mt. Holyoke and received her law degree from Columbia University School of Law. She is currently the Supervising Judge of Queens County Family Court. Judge Stokinger was previously with the New York County District Attorney’s Office for almost 23 years having last served as the Bureau Chief of the Family Violence and Child Abuse Bureau. Reappointed January 2010.

Linda Tally
Linda Tally is a Family Court Judge in Queens County, appointed to the bench in 2006. Linda Tally previously served as a Court Attorney Referee in Family Court and a Court Attorney in Family Court. Linda Tally is admitted to practice in the First Department in New York. She attended Kirkland College for her BA and Hofstra University School of Law for her JD. Linda Tally is a member of the Committee on Children and the Law of the New York City Bar, the New York City Bar, the New York Stae Family Court Judges Association, and the New York City Family Court Judges Association.

Richmond County (Staten Island) Family Court

Hon. Helene Sacco (Supervising Judge)
Judge Sacco was appointed to the Kings County Family Court in 2006. She received her Juris Doctor in 1977 from St. John’s University and her Bachelor’s Degree from St. John’s University in 1974. She is admitted to practice in the New York Appellate Division, Second Department, the United Stats District Court for the Southern and Eastern District and the United States Supreme Court.