2026 New York General Election

For the last 5 years, I have served as Justice Francois A. Rivera's Principal Law Clerk in the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term. Justice Rivera presides over a myriad of actions including, but not limited to, personal injury, foreclosures, defamation, and discrimination.

Candidate Responses May 2023 Meeting — Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn

As a Principal Law Clerk, I have been honing my research and drafting skills. I regularly review pre-trial motions, prepare jury charges, verdict sheets, and conference matters.

Betsey Jean-Jacques graduated from Syracuse University College of Law and began her legal career in 2007 with the Mental Hygiene Legal Service in the Appellate Division, Second Department, where she tried over 1,200 cases. She has also worked in the New York County Family Court and the Kings County Supreme Civil Court.

9 Supreme Court hopefuls

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — The Brooklyn Bar Association hosted a reception on Thursday evening, welcoming Hon. Betsey Jean-Jacques and Hon. Emily Ruben to the Matrimonial Bench of the Kings County Supreme Court.

Hon. Jeffrey Sunshine, Statewide Coordinating Judge for Matrimonial Matters, served as the event’s main speaker, which took place at the Bar Association’s headquarters at 123 Remsen St.

Two new judges welcomed to matrimonial bench

Served five years as a principal law clerk in Kings County Supreme Court's Civil Term, reviewing pretrial motions and preparing jury instructions, verdict forms, and conference matters.

Began her legal career in 2007 with the Mental Hygiene Legal Service in the Appellate Division, Second Department, where she tried over 1,200 cases.

Serves as a judge handling matrimonial cases in Kings County Supreme Court.

- Served five years as a principal law clerk in Kings County Supreme Court's Civil Term, reviewing pretrial motions and preparing jury instructions, verdict forms, and conference matters.
- Began her legal career in 2007 with the Mental Hygiene Legal Service in the Appellate Division, Second Department, where she tried over 1,200 cases.
- Worked in New York County Family Court.
- Serves as a judge handling matrimonial cases in Kings County Supreme Court.

Legal Experience

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 believe that diversity, bias and cultural competence training is important for all persons who serve in the Court system.  At this time, Justice Rivera and I are working to make the decisions made more gender-neutral.  We try not to make assumptions about any litigant or attorney. Therefore, our questions are carefully articulated to not presume and leave room for the individual to identify themselves as they so choose.

Jean-Jacques was asked what she would bring to the table as part of the Supreme Court.

“One of the things that is unique about me is that before I was a lawyer, I was a social worker,” Jean-Jacques said. “I have seen people at their most vulnerable moments. I also represented the mentally ill. I think that seeing people as opposed to just a docket, in addition to being a good listener, is very important.”

Jean-Jacques described herself as a person who values the law and the legal process.

“This is such an honor and a privilege,” she told the Brooklyn Eagle. “I’m so grateful for this opportunity. I hope to bring fairness and equity to my new role, and will work as hard and as expeditiously as I can.”

Believes court-system personnel should receive diversity, bias, and cultural-competence training.

Said judges should see people as more than docket entries and be good listeners.

Said she aims to bring fairness and equity to her judicial role and work expeditiously.

- Believes court-system personnel should receive diversity, bias, and cultural-competence training.
- Said judges should see people as more than docket entries and be good listeners.
- Said she aims to bring fairness and equity to her judicial role and work expeditiously.

Judicial Philosophy

I will be vigilant in adhering to the Rules of Judicial Conduct and the Unified Court System’s Bench Card and Best Practices for Judges regarding the use of LGBTQ+ inclusive language and pronouns.
I currently avoid terms and phrases that are gender-specific and will continue to do so.

I will require in my part rules that all papers filed or submitted to the court are to be gender neutral.
I will remind the public in my courtroom not to make assumptions regarding sexual orientation or gender identity
I would demand professionalism and prohibit the use of derogatory terms; proactively addressing any comments or actions made by anyone in the courtroom.

Plans to require gender-neutral language in documents filed or submitted to her courtroom.

- Plans to require gender-neutral language in documents filed or submitted to her courtroom.

Judicial Administration

As of September 9, 2026, Betsey Jean Jacques did not have a website or any information online.

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

Betsey Jean Jacques

As of September 9, 2026, Betsey Jean Jacques’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. 