Madeline Singas Confirmed As New York Court Of Appeals Justice

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — District Attorney Madeline Singas was confirmed as a justice on the New York State Court of Appeals yesterday, giving her a seat on the highest court in the state. And her first official act as a justice will be to swear in the county's new DA.

When Singas was confirmed to the court, she lost her position as district attorney. This afternoon, she will swear in Joyce A. Smith as acting district attorney. Smith will be acting DA until an election is held to formerly elect a new top prosecutor.

"During her tenure as Nassau County’s District Attorney, Madeline Singas presided over the relentless pursuit of MS-13, built upon the county’s signature enforcement of drunk and impaired-driving laws, and served an instrumental role in our regional response to the opioid crisis,” Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Kevan M. Abrahams said. “Her cerebral approach to law enforcement will serve her well on the Court of Appeals, and I join the members of the Minority Caucus in extending my congratulations and thanking her for more than five years of steady, determined leadership that helped to make Nassau County one of the nation’s safest regions.”

Singas initially became district attorney in much the same way Smith is — she was made acting DA when her predecessor, Kathleen Rice, was elected to Congress and vacated her post as DA in January 2015. Singas then ran for the office in an election that November, and was sworn in for her first full term in January 2016. She was reelected in 2019.

She will be replacing Justice Leslie Stein, who is retiring. Singas will serve a 14-year term, and is one of seven judges on the court's panel.

Her confirmation wasn't smooth sailing, though. Despite Singas being a Democrat, she faced tough questions from the Democratic-controlled state Senate during her confirmation hearing. Progressive senators took issue with her prosecutorial record, saying she sided with harmful policies.

"For far too long, the New York State Court of Appeals has been dominated by former prosecutors, with little representation from public defenders and civil rights lawyers," five senators said in a joint statement. "As senators committed to dismantling systemic racism within our criminal justice system, we believe District Attorney Singas’ past support for maintaining draconian criminal justice policies renders her unfit to serve in our highest court."

Smith, Singas's replacement, is currently the executive assistant DA for the Community Relations Division. The Community Relations Division tries to reduce crime in communities before it happens by partnering with community organizations and leaders. It includes the Office of Immigrant Affairs and the Office of Community Affairs.