Women’s Leadership Network Panel Highlights the Many Paths to Judgeship

Attendees at the Women’s Leadership Network program on Nov. 12 were treated to the insights of four accomplished alumni, who discussed their paths to judgeship and public service. Although their experiences and backgrounds varied, a common theme was the importance of mentors throughout their journeys.

Distinguished alumni panelists included the Hon. Rachel Freier ’05, Supreme Court, Kings County, Civil Term, who, when she was elected to the Civil Court of the City of New York in 2017, was the first Hassidic woman to be elected to public office in the United States. She also founded Ezras Nashim, an all-female volunteer EMT Service, which provides emergency medical care for women by women. Raised in an ultra-Orthodox Hassidic home, Freier said she proved the naysayers wrong as she began her career as a legal secretary, then went to college while raising six children, and on to Brooklyn Law School to become a lawyer. When she wanted to take the next step to become a judge, she consulted her uncle and mentor, Judge David Schmidt, who served in the Kings County Supreme Court. “To be a judge, he told me, ‘You’ve got to run (for office).’ And that was another whole part of my life. I had no idea what it was all about, and that was a long journey.” But with the guidance of her uncle, she succeeded. She was appointed to the New York Supreme Court in 2023.

Another trailblazer on the panel, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn ’24, New York State Assembly Member & Majority Whip, 42nd AD (Brooklyn) and Chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, is the first Haitian American woman elected to the Assembly. She is dedicated to addressing key community issues, including immigration, education, economic development, and affordable housing. Before launching her political career, she worked as an engineer, teacher, and investment banker.

Moving to Chicago to work on former President Barack Obama’s campaign for Senator proved to be the inspiration for Hermelyn to pursue public service, she said. Obama motivated her to join the Democratic Party and vote for the first time. “I joined this man because I thought he was very inspirational,” Hermelyn said. “Yes, I was an Obama operative, and that was my first look, my first experience into politics.”

Panelist Hon. Ramon E. Reyes, Jr. ’92, was appointed U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York in 2023, following his tenure as a U.S. Magistrate Judge that began in 2006. His career path included serving as assistant United States attorney, litigation associate, legislative attorney, and law clerk. “My inspiration for having a career in public service and to become a judge came from one person, largely. That’s David Trager, former dean of Brooklyn Law School and judge in the Eastern District, for whom I clerked a couple years out of law school,” Reyes said. “Watching him do his job with such passion and commitment, and his dedication to the parties, I just saw that he got such enjoyment out of it and such satisfaction that I wanted to do what he was doing.” Judge Reyes also serves Brooklyn Law School as both a member of the Board of Trustees and as an adjunct professor.

Panelist Hon. Anne Swern ’80, Supreme Court, Kings County, Civil Term; and former Democratic District Leader, New York State, 52nd Assembly District (Brooklyn) dedicated 34 years of service to the Kings County District Attorney’s Office—ultimately becoming the First Assistant District Attorney—preceding her judgeship. She also served as managing counsel at Brooklyn Defender Services. Swern said she went to law school because she knew that the law degree would open many avenues of career opportunity. Grateful for the education she received from Brooklyn Law School 44 years ago, she said she was inspired by Dean Jerome Prince, who taught her evidence, and authored “Prince on Evidence.” Her hard work and good grades helped her land a job as an assistant D.A. when she graduated. Swern had gone to see criminal arraignments in the summer before her 3L year and the experience made her decision to join the D.A.’s office clear. “There was no air conditioning, and people had their jackets off. Files were lined up and they were screaming and yelling, and things were flying all over the place,” she said. “Seeing the passion. Seeing the excitement. Seeing the lack of boredom, that said to me, I want to go do that job.” Judge Swern is also an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School.

The program was moderated by Brooklyn Law School’s Centennial Professor of Law Dana Brakman Reiser. Dean David D. Meyer and Meeka Bondy ‘94, Senior Counsel at Perkins Coie and Chair of the Women’s Leadership Circle, also spoke at the event.