Judge Cassandra A. Johnson, fifth from left, if elected, will become the first woman and first person of color to serve on the Queens County Surrogate’s Court bench. Far-right Indian lawyer, jurist, CPA and small business owner Amish Doshi is running for a county Civil Court judgeship. They are surrounded by employees of the nonprofit Mercy Drive during the recent Autism Walk organized by Community Board 9 leader Sherry Algredo.
Photo: Tangerine Clarke
Judge Cassandra A. Johnson, who says she proudly lives in southeast Queens and is active in the community both professionally and civically, is poised to serve on the Queens Surrogate’s Court bench as the first person of color to hold the position if elected. elected on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, after the votes have been counted.
Judge Johnson told Caribbean Life during a recent autism awareness walk in Smokey Park in Queens: “It’s an honor to be here on an autism awareness walk with like-minded people. It’s close to home for me too, so it’s important to be here to support this cause. I can’t wait to see the changes being made,” she said.
“I am also running for the position of future substitute judge. I’m the first woman and the first person of color here in the land of Queens, which is amazing and it’s great to have the support of the community.”
“A surrogate’s court is a place where you go after the death of a loved one. It also adjudicates custody and adoption, so I see it as a compassionate court. It is important that there is someone on the bench who can deal with grieving people in a compassionate way and deals with cases quickly,” Johnson added.
Devoted to the law, Johnson, raised by her parents in a Haitian-American family with a great passion for justice and civic engagement, followed in her mother’s footsteps by choosing a career in law and public service, adding that there is one surrogate in Queens County “so your “voice matters to change the face of foster care for the next 14 years.”
She eventually took a job at her mother’s law firm. “I started my legal career working for my mother while I was in high school. She has an office in Brooklyn and Queens, and I worked with her all through college,” she said, noting that she continued to work in her mother’s practice, where she focused on trusts and estates, adoption matters and real estate disputes.
Johnson, who began her judicial career as a Civil Court judge in the so-called People’s Court, presiding over civil cases including jury and jury trials and many cases involving self-represented litigants, added: “It was a learning experience; you deal with sensitive matters, you deal with court and state foster proceedings as well as care matters,
As a lawyer, she is committed to ensuring that people are heard, have fair outcomes, and feel that the system is working for the people of Queens while upholding the principles of competence, justice, and fairness.
He serves as a judge of the Supreme Court of Queens, where he presides over the general civil portion, which includes cases involving real estate transactions, contracts, employment law, premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, foreclosures, and general negligence.
Judge Johnson, who earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and her juris doctorate from St. John’s University and SJU Law, during her studies she participated in an elder law clinic, representing low-income elderly residents of Queens in cases involving theft of property documents and other fraudulent dealings, practicing pro bono.
According to news outlets, Johnson explained that her work as a trial attorney and judge piqued her interest in being a judge. She ran for civil court in Queens and in 2021 became a civil court judge. Her work as a civil court judge meant that she presided over all civil court divisions, including commercial, housing and no-fault cases.
She explained that working as a trial attorney and judge sparked her interest in being a judge. She ran for civil court in Queens and in 2021 became a civil court judge. Her work as a civil court judge meant that she presided over all civil court divisions, including commercial, housing and no-fault cases.
Johnson, endorsed by Rep. Gregory Meeks, who chairs the Queens County Democratic Party, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, state Sen. Leroy Comrie, Assemblyman David Weprin and many other lawmakers, promised that if elected, she would anticipate cooperation with surrogate other legal entities in Queens. She added that it is important to build relationships with local bar associations and organizations to gain awareness of their issues and create a more supportive environment.
She also reminded voters to “make your voices heard. It is important that we come out early and share information.”
Early voting runs from June 15-23, and Tuesday, June 25, 2025 is Election Day. Polling stations are open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m