United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
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| United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York | |
|---|---|
| Court name | United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York |
| Caption | The Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse in Brooklyn |
| Established | February 25, 1865 |
| Jurisdiction | New York counties: Kings, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, and Suffolk |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn |
| Chiefjudgename | Margo K. Brodie |
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York is a federal court with jurisdiction over portions of New York, including the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. Established by an act of Congress in 1865, it is one of the busiest district courts in the nation. The court hears a wide array of cases, from high-profile racketeering trials to complex civil litigation, and its decisions are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
History
The court was formally created on February 25, 1865, when Congress divided the District of New York into Northern and Southern districts. Initially, the Eastern District of New York covered only Kings, Queens, and Richmond counties; Nassau and Suffolk counties were added from the Southern District in 1962. Key early figures included its first judge, Benjamin D. Silliman, and the court's operations were historically centered in Brooklyn. Its docket expanded significantly during the Prohibition era and later with the rise of organized crime prosecutions in the late 20th century.
Jurisdiction and organization
The court's territorial jurisdiction encompasses the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, along with Long Island's Nassau and Suffolk counties. It exercises authority over all federal crimes committed within its boundaries, diversity and federal question civil cases, admiralty matters, and bankruptcy cases, which are handled by the separate United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York. The court is administratively overseen by the Judicial Conference of the United States and operates with a complement of Article III district judges, magistrate judges, and bankruptcy judges.
Current judges
As of 2023, the court's chief judge is Margo K. Brodie, appointed by President Barack Obama. Active district judges include appointees of presidents from Bill Clinton to Joe Biden, such as Pamela K. Chen, Rachel Kovner, and Hector González. The bench also includes several senior judges who continue to hear cases, including veterans like Carol Bagley Amon and Frederic Block. These judges are assisted by a roster of United States magistrate judges, including James Orenstein and Peggy Kuo.
Former judges
Notable former judges of the court include Jacob Mishler, who presided over the "Teflon Don" trial of John Gotti; Jack B. Weinstein, a renowned legal scholar known for complex mass tort litigation; and I. Leo Glasser, who handled the prosecution of Gambino crime family members. Other significant jurists include Edward R. Korman, who oversaw long-running Holocaust restitution cases, and Joanna Seybert, who served as chief judge. The legacy of these judges has profoundly shaped federal jurisprudence in areas from civil rights to RICO law.
Notable cases
The court has been the venue for many landmark federal prosecutions and civil suits. It famously tried Mafia bosses like John Gotti and Vincent Gigante, as well as terrorists involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. High-profile civil litigation has included the Agent Orange product liability cases overseen by Judge Jack B. Weinstein, and the antitrust suit against Microsoft. More recent notable proceedings include the trials of Joey Merlino, the Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán extradition, and the financial fraud case against the Trump Organization.
Courthouses
The court's primary facility is the Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse at 225 Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn, a historic building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The court also maintains a significant presence at the Alfonse M. D'Amato United States Courthouse in Central Islip, Suffolk County, to serve Long Island. Other locations include the former courthouse at 271 Cadman Plaza East and courtrooms within the Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn. These facilities house the chambers for judges, including Chief Justice John Roberts during his tenure on the court.
Category:United States district courts Category:Courts in New York (state) Category:1865 establishments in New York (state)