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Dear CBID,

The past week or so has been ripe with what makes local politics both incredibly powerful and incredibly frustrating.  We saw the amazing impact that grassroots work can do on campaigns around the State, ousting 6 IDC members, including the especially meaningful work in support of Zellnor Myrie.  On the other side of things, this week’s County Committee meeting has included everything that makes for an absurd TV series mocking politics.  Without rehashing all the issues that have been happening, we can all agree that we want better out of politics - both out of our representatives and out of each other.

That is why I’m so happy to open up a bit of the “backroom” process and talk a little bit about Anne Swern being nominated to the Civil Court.  Devin Cohen (who was endorsed by CBID) was recently nominated to the Supreme Court by the Executive Committee (District Leaders) at last week’s Judicial Convention.  With his current seat now open in the First Municipal Court District, Anne Swern has now been nominated for that seat.  

Anne is a tremendous nominee, and has been a great legal advocate over the years.  When I became club President, she was actually the first person I met up with and went over ideas: ways to fight voter suppression, increasing public participation, and keeping Brooklyn's legal process as open as possible.  

This is now exactly what the role of County Committee is — your canvassing and collecting signatures over the summer to get onto County Committee is now tangible.  This is not a smoky backroom process, we will need to vote in Anne from CC members in the 1st Municipal District.  

I encourage you to read Anne's letter below, outlining her qualifications, and to cast your vote for her if you're in the 1st Municipal District tomorrow.  If you're not sure if you are (it covers most of the 52nd Assembly District), you will receive a ballot tomorrow at the CC meeting.  If you can't attend, we are encouraging people to send their proxies to District Leader Josh Skaller.  

Thank you,
Asher Novek, CBID President
 
 
ANNE J. SWERN
Judicial Candidate
 

Dear Democratic Party County Committee Member, First Municipal Court District

I write to you to ask for your support for the Democratic Party’s nomination for Civil Court in the First Municipal Court District created by the votes cast at Thursday’s Judicial Convention, nominating Devin P. Cohen to Supreme Court. Your vote at the next County Committee Meeting on September 27th is extremely important, as it is one of the special opportunities for the members of the County Committee of the First Municipal Court District to determine the Democratic Party’s Candidate on the November 6, 2018 ballot.

Brooklyn deserves the most qualified, independent and capable bench possible. My long track record of successful and innovative public service in the legal profession brings a uniquely qualified perspective and voice to the civil court. I have served our community for the past 38 years in a variety of roles, and voters around this borough have already endorsed my view of justice and reviewed my credentials— almost 18,000 of them cast their vote for me during last year’s race for District Attorney. I was honored and humbled to have placed second among the six final candidates!I earned their vote because of my unusually diverse experience and dedication to improving our justice system.

Currently I serve as the Managing Counsel of Brooklyn Defender Services, advocating for people who cannot afford a lawyer in Criminal, Housing, Immigration and Family Courts. I am also an Adjunct Professor at Brooklyn Law School where I teach a course that I created called Problem Solving Justice.Previously, for 33 years, I served as an Assistant District Attorney prosecuting and supervising thousands of cases and hundreds of staff members for four elected DAs- eventually promoted to the position of First Assistant District Attorney. I planned and supervised the creation and implementation of Brooklyn’s vast array of problem solving courts and programs including the internationally acclaimed Red Hook Community Justice Center, Mental Health Court, Brooklyn Treatment Court and the Drug Treatment Alternative-to-Prison Program.

I am also Special Advisor to the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Council and the Co-Chair of the Reentry Committee. I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association and the Judiciary Committee of the Brooklyn Bar Association.

I have served on the New York State’s Wrongful Conviction Task Force and the Commission on Drugs in the Courts, and have been honored to receive commendations for my work including the Dewey Medal from the NYC Bar, the Morgenthau Award from the NYS State District Attorneys Association, and was named an Alumnus of the Year at Brooklyn Law School.

My legal and ethical qualifications have been reviewed by two separate and independent screening panels of practicing lawyers who found me qualified for the positions of District Attorney and Judge.I was born and educated in Brooklyn. I have lived downtown in the First Municipal Court District for over 40 years. For the past two years, I have served as a Democratic Party State Committee Person. My husband and I raised our two children here. I am a Member of the Personnel Committee of Congregation Mount Sinai. I know the challenges that individuals, families and working parents face and have always been especially empathetic to people in need.

I believe that my background and experience will inform my judicial performance, should I be so fortunate to have your support at the County Committee Meeting on September 27 and again as a candidate on Election Day, November 6, 2018.

If you would like to discuss my qualifications or candidacy with me please contact me at SwernAJ@Gmail.com or (347) 699-2655.

With much gratitude,
Anne J. Swern
Copyright © 2018 Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, All rights reserved.


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