Mayor Zohran Mamdani's newly appointed 18-member Advisory Committee on the Judiciary has drawn significant criticism, particularly concerning its composition and the backgrounds of some of its members. A central point of contention is the absence of any Jewish members on the panel, while simultaneously including individuals with associations to domestic terrorists, controversial figures, and advocacy for decriminalizing prostitution.
Critics noted that retired Judge John Leventhal, who had served on the legal team for individuals associated with Jeffrey Epstein, was reportedly rejected from the committee. Leventhal, who is Jewish, told The Washington Free Beacon that the mayor's office’s handling of his case, while selecting others with questionable associations, "has a stink about it."
Among the appointees drawing scrutiny is Soffiyah Elijah, founder of the Alliance of Families for Justice. Elijah has represented and associated with figures such as Marilyn Buck, a member of the Weather Underground domestic terrorist group, and Mumia Abu-Jamal, convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer. Elijah also reportedly housed Buck after her release from prison.
Jared Trujillo, a former attorney with the New York Civil Liberties Union and now a professor at CUNY Law School, was also appointed. Trujillo, who has publicly advocated for decriminalizing prostitution and reducing the NYPD's scope, has also been a vocal critic of New York's bail reform rollbacks. He has compared these changes to Jim Crow laws and called them "unconscionable and anti-democratic."
Mina Malik, CEO of The Cochran Firm and former head of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, also faced criticism for past public statements. After the arrest of Luigi Mangione, accused of killing a UnitedHealthcare executive, Malik posted on social media describing him glowingly as a "high school valedictorian and Ivy League grad" and stated, "Stay tuned."
Police unions have voiced strong opposition to the panel's makeup, arguing it lacks a pro-law enforcement perspective. Patrick Hendry, president of the PBA, stated the panel is "stocked with cop-killer defenders and anti-police activists" and expressed zero confidence in their ability to select fair-minded judges. Scott Munro, president of the Detectives Endowment Association, questioned the absence of former police officers or prosecutors on the committee.
Mamdani's office defended the appointments, describing the members in a press release as law professors and former state judges with "a diverse range of legal expertise." Ramzi Kassem, Mamdani's chief counsel and overseer of the committee, stated the appointments represent a "truly representative cross-section of the legal profession in New York City."