Inga O’Neale

Level
Civil Court Judge, Countywide #4

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 a Principal Law Clerk to a Supreme Court Justice at the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term.

Why are you qualified to be a judge?

My career has afforded me the unique opportunity to become intimately familiar with the inner workings of the New York State court system. After graduating from law school, I worked as a clerical assistant at the Law Guardian Program for the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department. I became fully immersed in family law issues and digested recent decisions of family law issues for compilation in a journal for use by 18-B Panel attorneys. This helped enhance my knowledge of family law that I gleaned as a student advocate Law Guardian and as a participant in a study-abroad program at a family law solicitor’s office in London while in law school.

I then transitioned my legal research and writing skills from family law to civil law as an employee of the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term. Having worked there in different capacities in various parts, over the last eighteen years, has also allowed me to further develop the skills desired in a jurist. Even more so, working closely alongside three different judges, and a judicial hearing officer, has allowed me to observe first-hand each of their own styles of making judicial determinations and handling legal matters.

As a court attorney in the Law Department of the Kings County Supreme Court, I conducted legal research and drafted judicial decisions on a variety of areas of civil law ranging from Article 78 review of administrative law determinations, Section 1983 claims, breach of contract claims to personal injury matters. This helped me hone my legal research and writing skills and to become well versed in complex procedural and substantive issues in civil law. I also conducted discovery conferences in the Preliminary Conference Part and Central Compliance Part and assisted in drafting short form orders in the Jury Coordinating Part. This experience allowed me substantial and frequent contact with attorneys and unrepresented litigants appearing before the court. I further developed my conferencing skills when I assisted Hon. Nicholas Coffinas (dec.), then a Judicial Hearing Officer, in the settlement of actions against the City of New York and the New York City Transit Authority, as well as civil cases pending in the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department’s Civil Appeals Management Program (CAMP). My responsibilities in conducting settlement conferences and resolving discovery disputes required me to listen to the adverse positions of the parties while getting them to come to a common meeting ground. This is a skill that will assist me in negotiating settlements between parties.

From 2008-2010, I was a Principal Law Clerk to Hon. Randolph Jackson (ret.) in a Medical Malpractice Part which allowed me to learn about a niche and complex area of the law. In my position as a Principal Law Clerk to Hon. Larry D. Martin in an Individual Assignment System (IAS) Part, I was responsible for supervising an Assistant Law Clerk, managing a heavy motion calendar on motion days, conducting conferences and drafting judicial decisions, preparing jury charges and verdict sheets and conducting research to immediately address evidentiary and substantive issues raised during trials. In my current position as a Principal Law Clerk to Hon. Donald Scott Kurtz, I have been in the courtroom on a daily courtroom on a daily basis conferencing cases and managing a motion calendar in the busy Jury Coordinating and City Trial Readiness parts prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. I also conferenced cases in the Judicial Hearing Officer /Special Referee Part prior to the pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, however, we have continued working virtually ensuring that cases are conferenced and motions are decided in the Jury Coordinating and City Trial Readiness Parts. I also conference cases pending in the Non-Jury Trial Readiness Part. Throughout my career, I have participated in hundreds of trials and handled thousands of cases. In 2016, I was In 2017, I was recognized with the Employee of the Year Award for Chambers Staff. I believe that my experience would allow me to effectively and efficiently address any caseload that could be assigned to me as a jurist as we emerge from the pandemic.

As a volunteer arbitrator in the Kings County Small Claims Court, I am tasked with the responsibility of arbitrating and settling small claims cases including administering oaths, taking testimony and rendering binding decisions. Many of the parties who appear in the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term, are represented by counsel, whereas many of the litigants who appear in the Small Claims Court are self-represented. As such, I am familiar with handling and addressing the concerns of both attorneys and self-represented litigants and treat each with the same respect and courtesy.

My experience and involvement in various professional bar and community organizations has made me cognizant of and sensitive to the issues that affect different groups of the community. I am a Board Member of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association and a co-chair of the Judiciary Training Academy, which is committed to ensuring the benefits of a diverse bench is realized. I am also a member of the NYC Bar Association’s Minorities in the Courts Committee which is dedicated to highlighting the experience of attorneys, court staff and litigants in New York courts. As the Vice President of the Brooklyn Canarsie Lions Club, we have participated in food pop-up distributions and care package donations to displaced and non-displaced members of the community throughout the pandemic which has disproportionately affected members of minority groups.

While I am aware of the considerable independence associated with the role as a jurist in comparison to the other positions I have held as a court employee (namely Court Attorney and Principal Law Clerk), I also understand the importance of working in conjunction with and coordinating with other employees in different titles within the court system in order to complete assigned tasks. In performing my duties and responsibilities, I am mindful of how my actions and determinations may affect another department or Part within the courthouse.

As an experienced attorney having worked over eighteen years in the court system, I have undertaken all of my positions held, whether as a family law clerical assistant or civil attorney, with dedication, diligence and increased responsibility. While conducting conferences as Court Attorney and Principal Law Clerk, and also when hearing small claims cases as a volunteer arbitrator, I have always given the same amount of attention to detail to each case. In all instances, I have applied the relevant law to the facts presented to the court. Most importantly, I have been fair and impartial in all of my determinations and exhibited a calm temperament in carrying out my duties. I believe that my well-rounded and varied experience, as well as my calm temperament make me well qualified and prepared for a career on the bench.

Please list your current endorsements and judicial screening results.

My current endorsements are from the Independent Neighborhood Democrats, Kings County Democratic Party, District Leader Hon. Henry Butler, District Leader Hon. Brad Reid, District Leader Hon. Lori Knipel, District Leader Hon. Eric Dilan, Senator Roxanne Persaud, Assemblymember Jaime Williams, former Assemblymember Felix Ortiz. I have been found qualified by the Kings County Democratic Party Judicial Screening Committee in 2018 and 2019. I have a waiver through 2022. Also endorsed by District Leader Hon. Josue Pierre, District Leader Hon. Frank Seddio, District Leader Hon. Sue Ann Partnow, Council Member Robert Cornegy., District Leader/Kings County Democratic Leader Hon. Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.

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

The interventions and resources required to ensure that all judges and court personnel competently and respectfully serve and work with the LGBTQ community include, but are not limited to, sensitivity and inclusivity trainings to ensure that the judiciary and court staff are educated and made aware of the concerns of the LGBTQ community. I will ensure that any reports to me or my personal observations of discrimination or bias (including jokes or insensitive comments) are promptly addressed and, if necessary, referred to the appropriate department. When giving jury instructions, I would include bias and prejudice related to sexual orientation and gender identity as matters that should not play a role in a jury’s determination. When deciding motions in limine, I would be mindful not to allow the introduction of evidence related to an individual’s sexual orientation if not relevant to any issues in the case so as to prevent any prejudice or bias.

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 commit to ensuring that preferred pronouns and gender identity are respected in my courtroom and on documents prepared by litigators and the court by addressing individuals, who request it, with their preferred pronouns and also requiring court staff and other litigators do the same.

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?

I will commit to appearing before the LGBT Bar Association judicial screening panel. I understand the club may rescind my endorsement for failure to appear or receiving a non-qualified rating from the association.