2026 New York General Election

Yearwood also helps young people outside the courtroom. As a board member of One Hundred Black Men in America, Inc., an organization dedicated to improving educational and economic opportunities for African Americans, he recently mentored a college senior who is now a first-year law student at Hofstra University.

Justice for All

Alvin M. Yearwood served as a board member of One Hundred Black Men in America, Inc., and mentored a college senior.

Judge Alvin Yearwood '83 Is Bringing Justice to New York - News

Prior to his appointment to the bench, he worked as a prosecutor in both the Bronx and Nassau County. The Boston University School of Law also worked with several law firms and maintained a solo law practice.

Alvin Yearwood (’86) Appointed as New Administrative Judge in Bronx Supreme Court

Alvin previously worked as a prosecutor in the Bronx and Nassau County.

Alvin Yearwood ('86) Appointed as New Administrative Judge in ...

Yearwood was appointed to New York City Criminal Court in 2003, and was reappointed to the bench three times. In January 2010, he was designated an acting Supreme Court justice in the Bronx and, in that role, he has presided over bustling court parts and conducted hundreds of felony trials, according to a court system news release.

The court system has named acting Supreme Court Justice Alvin Yearwood as the new administrative judge for criminal matters in Bronx Supreme Court.

Yearwood was appointed to New York City Criminal Court in 2003, and was reappointed to the bench three times.

Worked as a prosecutor in the Bronx and Nassau County.

Served on New York City Criminal Court after his appointment in 2003 and three reappointments.

Served as an acting Supreme Court justice in the Bronx beginning in 2010 and conducted hundreds of felony trials.

Served as administrative judge for criminal matters in Bronx Supreme Court.

- Worked as a prosecutor in the Bronx and Nassau County.
- Served on New York City Criminal Court after his appointment in 2003 and three reappointments.
- Served as an acting Supreme Court justice in the Bronx beginning in 2010 and conducted hundreds of felony trials.
- Served as administrative judge for criminal matters in Bronx Supreme Court.

Legal Experience

“Other people projected me as a judge before I saw it,” he says. “People would say to me, ‘You’re either going to be a judge or you’re going to be the district attorney.’ As I went through the court system, I started observing judges more closely in terms of how they ran their courtroom and how they did their jobs, and I thought, ‘Yeah, I can do this.’ But more importantly, I started thinking about what it means to be a judge. What it means to be a judge is that you have great power and you have great discretion, but you can’t abuse either.”

“My first obligation as a judge is to see that the defendant gets a fair trial and that the DAs get to present their case,” he says. “But I will say this: There are times when I have young defendants who come in front of me, who do not have a criminal record, and they did something stupid…Instead of saddling this person with a criminal record that could damage their life, in association with the lawyer for the defendant and the prosecuting DA, I try to fashion some sort of remedy that would help the person to get out of the position they’re in — some kind of community service.

“My first obligation as a judge is to see that the defendant gets a fair trial and that the DAs get to present their case,” he says. “But I will say this: There are times when I have young defendants who come in front of me, who do not have a criminal record, and they did something stupid…Instead of saddling this person with a criminal record that could damage their life, in association with the lawyer for the defendant and the prosecuting DA, I try to fashion some sort of remedy that would help the person to get out of the position they’re in — some kind of community service. I try to say, ‘Look, I’m giving you an opportunity here. You have the opportunity to wipe the slate clean, and the only person that stands between you and jail is you.’”

Believes judges must not abuse their power or discretion.

Prioritizes fair trials while allowing district attorneys to present their cases.

Uses community service and other remedies for some young defendants without criminal records, in consultation with counsel and prosecutors.

- Believes judges must not abuse their power or discretion.
- Prioritizes fair trials while allowing district attorneys to present their cases.
- Uses community service and other remedies for some young defendants without criminal records, in consultation with counsel and prosecutors.

Judicial Philosophy

His true passion, though, is the law, and prospective lawyers and defendants to his court should take heed: You’d better do what he says.

“If you would ask attorneys and other people in the courtroom about one of my [priorities], it’s for the person to be responsible,” he says. “If I tell you to do something, you need to do it.”

Requires courtroom participants to comply with court directives.

- Requires courtroom participants to comply with court directives.

Judicial Administration

As of September 9, 2026, Alvin M. Yearwood did not have a website or any information online.

Ethics & Conduct

Yearwood also helps young people outside the courtroom. As a board member of One Hundred Black Men in America, Inc., an organization dedicated to improving educational and economic opportunities for African Americans, he recently mentored a college senior who is now a first-year law student at Hofstra University. He also serves on the board of the Union Community Health Center in the Bronx, and has been a member of the Black Bar Association of Bronx County for 20 years.

Served on the board of One Hundred Black Men in America, Inc., an organization dedicated to improving educational and economic opportunities for African Americans.

Mentored a college senior as a board member of One Hundred Black Men in America, Inc.

Served on the board of the Union Community Health Center in the Bronx.

- Served on the board of One Hundred Black Men in America, Inc., an organization dedicated to improving educational and economic opportunities for African Americans.
- Mentored a college senior as a board member of One Hundred Black Men in America, Inc.
- Served on the board of the Union Community Health Center in the Bronx.

Community Involvement

Alvin M. Yearwood

As of September 9, 2026, Alvin M. Yearwood’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

- 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. 

New York Supreme Court Judge, 12th District

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