New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed Pakistani-American civil rights and election attorney Ali Najmi to serve as the chair of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the , giving him a key role in shaping how judges are selected in the city’s court system.
The appointment was announced on Friday, January 2, 2026, along with an executive order aimed at overhauling and increasing transparency in the judicial selection process. Under the new directives, the committee will engage more broadly with the legal community and make information about judicial appointments more accessible to the public.
Mayor Mamdani said the judicial system plays a crucial role in democracy but is often “inaccessible and shrouded in secrecy.” He added that his administration wants to ensure the judiciary reflects the diversity of New York City and functions impartially. He described Najmi as the ideal leader for this effort, highlighting his decades of legal experience and commitment to fairness.
Ali Najmi, who has practiced law in New York for many years, has built a reputation as a civil rights and defense attorney, as well as an expert in election and ballot access law. He previously served as president of the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean Bar Association of Queens and remains active on its advisory board.
In his remarks, Najmi called the appointment an honor and reaffirmed his commitment to making the judicial selection process more transparent and inclusive. He said that many New Yorkers are unfamiliar with how judges are chosen and that expanding access can help ensure that the bench reflects the city’s population.
The committee chaired by Najmi will be responsible for recommending candidates for family and criminal courts, as well as interim appointments for the civil court. Mamdani’s executive order directs the group to publish demographic data on applicants and create a searchable database so residents can track upcoming judicial appointments.
Najmi and Mamdani share a long history and personal connection. The two first met in 2015 when Mamdani volunteered on Najmi’s City Council campaign, and Najmi later served as Mamdani’s attorney and advisor during his own political campaigns.
The appointment reflects Mamdani’s broader efforts to reform city governance and promote transparency, fairness, and community representation across key public institutions.
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