Another Milestone for Freier, who Becomes First Hasidic Woman Nominated to Supreme Court Bench

BROOKLYN – Inching her way even farther up the judicial ladder, Acting New York State Supreme Court Justice Rachel Freier was nominated to become a Supreme Court Justice at the August 10th Judicial Convention, paving the way for her to become the first female elected Hasidic Supreme Court judge in New York State and possibly the country.

As previously reported on VIN News, Freier was appointed an acting justice last winter, putting her in supreme court at her supervisor’s discretion until her term as a civil court judge expired four years later. That appointment came four months after Brooklyn district leaders passed over Freier when they compiled the list of nominees who would be running unopposed in the November 2022 general elections.

Being nominated this week by Brooklyn Democratic party chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and the executive committee of the Kings County Democratic Committee ensures that Freier will be endorsed at the judicial convention by party leaders as one of six justices who will be seated on the bench for a 14 year term, placing her on the November ballot with no opposition. Sixteen candidates had been vying for the opportunity to fill the six vacant slots in Kings County’s Supreme Court, with two members of the Orthodox community – Freier and fellow nominee Judge Saul Stein of the City of New York Civil Court – selected by party leaders.

Freier’s path to State Supreme Court has been a long and difficult one. Faced with opposition in her home town of Borough Park, she credited the minority community, women voters and the Jewish enclaves of Williamsburg, Crown Heights, Midwood, Coney Island and Seagate for standing with her during her campaign.

“I had so much support from people who understood discrimination and wanted to help me,” Freier told VIN News. “They understood what I was going through and it was heartwarming.”

While she may hail from the Hasidic community, Freier built bridges with minority communities during her time on the bench. She recalled seeing the look in teenagers’ eyes as they stood before her in court, the same look she had seen previously in her work with at risk young adults in the Hasidic community.

“I would say the same thing I used to say to the boys in the B’Derech GED program – you can’t control who your parents are, but you can control your future,” said Freier. “I would tell them to believe in their potential, and kids would tell me that no one had ever spoken to them with such hope and positivity before.”

Bichotte Hermelyn, who represents the 42nd District in the New York State Assembly in addition to chairing the Brooklyn Democratic party, hailed Freier for her tenacity and her ability to rise to great heights in arenas that are typically dominated by men.

“We share similar fights and struggles, even to the point of knowing what kind of environment we live in,” said Bichotte Hermelyn. “We still push through and succeed, and she inspired a lot of the women who are party leaders, and they fought for her.”

Bichotte Hermelyn lauded Freier for the many hours she devoted to her campaign, ultimately winning support that crossed religious, national, ethnic and cultural boundaries.

“Judge Freier is a force to be reckoned with,” said Bichotte Hermelyn. “She is a star and powerhouse who doesn’t believe in the word ‘No.’ She believes only in Obama’s phrase ‘Yes, we can,’ and she did.”

Looking ahead to the future, Bichotte Hermelyn is already considering who might fill the vacancy created by Freier’s nomination.

“I hope that her legacy continues and another Hasidic Orthodox woman will replace her and her seat can be filled by the next star to continue the legacy of women pushing through,” said Bichotte Hermelyn.

Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse called Freier’s appointment a “significant milestone in our city’s rich tapestry of diversity.”

“Her achievement not only showcases the progress we’ve made towards inclusivity, but also serves as an inspiration for countless individuals who aspire to break boundaries in their own communities,” said Narcisse in a statement released to VIN News.

Praising Freier for her distinguished career and her unwavering dedication to justice and the law, Narcisse described Feier as “an exemplary addition to the bench.”

“Her unique perspective and insights will undoubtedly contribute to a more diverse and enriched legal landscape,” added Narcisse. “As we celebrate Judge Freier’s historic accomplishments, we’re reminded that New York City remains a place where dreams can be realized, regardless of one’s background or beliefs.”