In response to a question about their pathways to the judiciary, both Justices briefly recounted their own career journeys. Justice Scheinkman talked about his time in politics and the positions he held as an attorney in both the public and private sectors before he decided to run for the Supreme Court. A native of Queens, Justice Scarpulla discussed her commercial litigation and in-house experiences in private practice and her transition to Civil Court.

Inaugural Event of the St. John’s University School of Law Chapter of the Historical Society of the New York Courts

Associate Justice Saliann Scarpulla

Justice Saliann Scarpulla is a graduate of Boston University and Brooklyn Law School, cum laude.

Appellate Division - First Judicial Department

Saliann Scarpulla is originally from Queens. She is a graduate of Boston University and Brooklyn Law School, cum laude.

Inaugural Event of the St. John's University School of Law Chapter of ...

July 6, 2018 - New Judicial Assignments and Temporary Relocations

Justice Scarpulla returned to the New York State court system in 1999, as Principal Court Attorney to the Hon. Eileen Bransten. She was then elected to the New York City Civil Court in 2001, appointed to the New York State Supreme Court in 2009, and elected to the Supreme Court in 2012.

Justice Scarpulla then moved to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as Senior Counsel in the New York Legal Services Office. From the FDIC Justice Scarpulla became Senior Vice President and Bank Counsel to Hudson United Bank.

After law school, Justice Scarpulla clerked for the Hon. Alvin F. Klein in Supreme Court, New York County. When her clerkship concluded, Justice Scarpulla joined Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn as a litigation associate.

Saliann previously worked as a principal court attorney to the Hon. Eileen Bransten. She also worked as senior vice president and bank counsel at Hudson United Bank, senior counsel in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's New York Legal Services Office, and a litigation associate at Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn. She also clerked for the Hon. Alvin F. Klein in Supreme Court, New York County.

Saliann was elected to the New York State Supreme Court in 2012 after being appointed to the court in 2009. She was previously elected to the New York City Civil Court in 2001.

2026 New York General Election

She was then elected to the New York City Civil Court in 2001, appointed to the New York State Supreme Court in 2009, and elected to the Supreme Court in 2012. From February 2014 to July 2020, Justice Scarpulla sat in the New York County Commercial Division, and she was responsible for all international commercial arbitration matters pending in the New York State Supreme Court.

In July 2020 Governor Cuomo appointed Justice Scarpulla to the Appellate Division, First Department.

Clerked for a New York Supreme Court justice in New York County after law school.

Worked as a litigation associate at Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn.

Served as senior counsel in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's New York Legal Services Office.

Served as senior vice president and bank counsel to Hudson United Bank.

Served as principal court attorney to New York Supreme Court Justice Eileen Bransten beginning in 1999.

Served as a New York City Civil Court judge after being elected in 2001.

Served as a New York Supreme Court justice after appointment in 2009 and election in 2012.

Handled all international commercial arbitration matters pending in the New York Supreme Court's Commercial Division from 2014 to 2020.

Was appointed to New York Supreme Court's Appellate Division, First Department, in July 2020.

- Clerked for a New York Supreme Court justice in New York County after law school.
- Worked as a litigation associate at Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn.
- Served as senior counsel in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's New York Legal Services Office.
- Served as senior vice president and bank counsel to Hudson United Bank.
- Served as principal court attorney to New York Supreme Court Justice Eileen Bransten beginning in 1999.
- Served as a New York City Civil Court judge after being elected in 2001.
- Served as a New York Supreme Court justice after appointment in 2009 and election in 2012.
- Handled all international commercial arbitration matters pending in the New York Supreme Court's Commercial Division from 2014 to 2020.
- Was appointed to New York Supreme Court's Appellate Division, First Department, in July 2020.

Legal Experience

As of September 9, 2026, Saliann Scarpulla did not have a website or any information online.

Judicial Philosophy

The two judges discussed the prominence of politics in both appointing and electing judges. In response to Justice Scheinkman’s claim that appointment removes politics from the equation, Justice Scarpulla countered that political influence is still present in the appointment process, but that appointment is less transparent than an election. In the context of her own election to the bench, she said that she was perfectly happy to let New Yorkers evaluate her as a judicial candidate.

In response to Justice Scheinkman’s claim that appointment removes politics from the equation, Justice Scarpulla countered that political influence is still present in the appointment process, but that appointment is less transparent than an election. In the context of her own election to the bench, she said that she was perfectly happy to let New Yorkers evaluate her as a judicial candidate.

Said judicial appointments remain politically influenced and less transparent than elections, and welcomed New Yorkers' evaluation of her candidacy.

- Said judicial appointments remain politically influenced and less transparent than elections, and welcomed New Yorkers' evaluation of her candidacy.

Judicial Administration

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

Saliann Scarpulla

As of September 9, 2026, Saliann Scarpulla’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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- The  New York Supreme Court is the state-wide trial court with the broadest jurisdiction in criminal and civil matters. However, it is not the state’s court of last resort.
- It can hear virtually any type of case brought before it, except for claims brought against the state which must be heard by the Court of Claims. Generally, it hears high-level criminal cases or civil cases with a judgment of more than $50,000.
- It is the only court that can grant divorce, annulment, and separation in New York.
- The New York Supreme Court is broken into 12 judicial districts state-wide. There are currently 154 justices authorized to sit in the New York City Supreme Court, but only 136 actually serve in Supreme Court trial parts because some of the justices are assigned to the Appellate Division or the Appellate Term.
- Justices of the Supreme Court are elected to serve 14-year terms and are paid a salary of $232,600.

A judge on your judicial district’s trial court which oversees criminal and civil matters. 