Heela Doreen Capell

Level
Civil Court Judge, Countywide #6

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

What is your current position/law practice? If you are presently a judge, what did you do prior to becoming a judge?

I am currently sitting in Brooklyn as a Housing Court Judge in the trial part. I was a court attorney in Brooklyn Housing Court, to the Honorable Bruce E. Scheckowitz for seven years prior to that and a real estate litigator for five years prior to that.

Why are you qualified to be a judge?

I believe that my 10 years of combined experience as a judge and court attorney, plus five years of experience as a litigator, qualify me to be a Civil Court Judge. I have honed my legal skills, writing skills and knowledge of the law, and have presided over countless trials. I also recognize what it means to be standing on the other side of the bench, which enables me to effectively settle cases.

Please list your current endorsements and judicial screening results.

I was found qualified by the Brooklyn Democratic Party Judicial Screening Panel. I have been endorsed by the Brooklyn Democratic Party, IND, CBID, Jim Owles Club, VIDA, Bay Democrats, Shirley Chisholm Club, PDPA and Run for Something.

What interventions and resources are required to ensure that all judges and court personnel competently and respectfully serve and work with the LGBTQ community? What steps will you take to secure the necessary resources to implement the interventions?

I have organized Diversity and Inclusion CLES for court system employees and judges which facilitate discussions of our implicit biases. Raising awareness of our differences, similarities and reactions to each other is a key element to treating each other, and marginalized groups, better. I also have a zero tolerance policy for use of disrespectful language by my court staff, or litigants and attorneys appearing before me. Anyone in my court room must treat the LGBTQ community with respect. Period.

How will you commit to ensuring that preferred pronouns and gender identity are respected in your courtroom and on documents prepared by litigators and the court?

I will always respect someone’s request to be addressed using a preferred pronoun and will require that all legal documents reflect the use of the preferred pronoun. If it requires an order by me to do so, I will prepare such an order.

Will you commit to appearing before the LGBT Bar Association (“LeGal”) judicial screening panel? Do you understand that this club may rescind your endorsement for failure to appear or receiving a non-qualified rating from the association?

Yes to both. Already submitted my application for screening.