On August 14, New York Governor Kathy Hochul made headlines with her announcement of the appointment of three judges to the Appellate Term of the Supreme Court, Second Department. Among them is Phillip Hom, who has made history as the first Asian judge on this court. In her announcement, Hochul emphasized the crucial role of having qualified and impartial judges at the helm of the judiciary.
Phillip Hom, a proud New Yorker, previously served as a civil court judge in Queens after winning election in 2017. He was appointed to the New York State Supreme Court in 2019. Hom’s educational background reflects his roots, having graduated from the Bronx High School of Science before earning a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from SUNY Binghamton. He later received his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School. After completing his studies, Hom returned to New York, where he has built a diverse career encompassing both the private sector and various government agencies.
The vacancy in the Appellate Term of the Supreme Court, Second Department occurred last August when Judge Lourdes M. Ventura was promoted. In September, Chief Administrative Judge Joseph A. Zayas appointed Hom to fill this important role, which involves hearing appeals from the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts. This includes appeals from civil and criminal courts located in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens, with Wavny Toussaint serving as Presiding Justice.
Hom is joined in the new appointments by judges Donna-Marie Golia and James McCormack, both of whom bring a wealth of legal experience and knowledge to the bench. Hochul highlighted that the judiciary must be led by judges who are competent, fair, and unbiased, expressing her confidence that adding these three judges will significantly enhance the function of the Appellate Term.
