Jamaican-born attorney vies for Queens Civil Court Judge

As a young girl who was born in St. Andrew, Jamaica, Mary-Ann Maloney wrote that she wanted to be a judge in one of her reading books.

“I don’t know what prompted the thought, but the memory has always stayed with me,” Maloney told Caribbean Life over the weekend.

Today, Maloney, 54, is living her childhood dream, running for Queens County Civil Court Judge in the General Elections on Nov. 5.

“I believe I can serve the people of Queens with fairness and impartiality,” said Maloney, who will be opposed by several candidates, including William Shanahan, Melissa Deberry, Amir Doshi, Glenda Hernandez, Peter Lana, Sharifa Nasser-Cuellar and Stephen Dachtera. “But most of all, I truly care about the justice of the people.”

Maloney, who migrated to the US in 1978, was raised in Cambria Heights and Queens Village.

She said she grew up in a single-parent household with three siblings, attending PS 135, JHS 109, and Francis Lewis High School.

Maloney, who currently resides in Southeast Queens, holds dual majors in political science and sociology from New York University, and obtained her law degree from Touro Law Center.

With 27 years of experience as an attorney, Maloney said she has served in various legal and managerial roles, including as an Administrative Law Judge, a Family Court attorney, and a manager of three different administrative courts.

Before working in the field of law, she served as a consultant in former New York City Mayor David Dinkins’ Office of Children and Families, where, she said, she saw “the impact of the law on the inner workings of government.”

“My boss, who was an attorney, motivated me to obtain my law degree,” Maloney said. “I have never regretted that decision and, after law school, I immediately began my career as an attorney working in the court system and at several government agencies.

“Often times, being the only woman, the only minority, and the youngest in high-profile positions has been challenging,” she added.  “But I learned the biggest obstacle I had to overcome is my mindset, especially the fear of not being good enough.”

However, Maloney expressed confidence that she would be an effective judge.

“I am relatable, honest, compassionate and fair-minded,” she said. “I am a regular person, and I’ve had ups and downs. I have made lots of mistakes and worked through them. I see myself on a growth journey with everyone.

“Therefore, although I would be required to judge disputes if elected, I can do so emphatically, without judging people,” she added. “I am committed to serving the people of Queens County in the Civil Court with fairness, competence and compassion.

“I ask for your support in the upcoming election on Nov. 5, with early voting from Oct. 26 to Nov. 5, to elect me for one of the five Civil Court judicial vacancies in Queens County,” Maloney continued.

Speaking about the Borough of Queens, she said: “The diversity is the strength of Queens. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we are the borough with two airports.”