Civil Court Judge - Countywide

Josh E. Hanshaft

Democratic

Judge elected countywide to the New York City Civil Court in New York County for a term that began in 2017 and ends in 2026; as of Feb. 2026 he presides over civil cases in New York County Supreme Court.

On the Democratic line. He advanced from the Democratic primary scheduled for June 23, 2026, which was canceled, without appearing on a primary ballot.

Overview Cases & record Support Money

Civil Court judge since 2017 · Admitted to the New York bar in 1995

Selected cases & rulings

Criminal case

Criminal judgments affirmed on appeal

People v. Hibbert (2026 NY Slip Op 03644) · Apr. 30, 2025

Judge of New York County Supreme Court who rendered the judgments.

Rendered the judgments on Apr. 30, 2025.

What this tells you

The most recent appellate decision on his rulings that was found.

CourtListener — People v. Hibbert, 2026 NY Slip Op 03644 (Appellate Division) ↗

Case context & history

The question: The defendant appealed the judgments; the appellate decision found does not describe the issues raised.

Outcome / stage: The Appellate Division affirmed the judgments on June 9, 2026.

The appeal covered more than one judgment he rendered.

Subsequent history: Affirmed by the Appellate Division on June 9, 2026.

Criminal case

Judgment modified on appeal

People v. Gausney (2026 NY Slip Op 00205) · Aug. 2, 2023

Sentencing judge in New York County; another judge took the plea.

Presided at sentencing, in a judgment rendered Aug. 2, 2023.

What this tells you

The one appellate decision found that modified a judgment he took part in.

CourtListener — People v. Gausney, 2026 NY Slip Op 00205 (Appellate Division) ↗

Case context & history

The question: The defendant appealed the judgment; the appellate decision found does not describe the issues raised.

Outcome / stage: The Appellate Division unanimously modified the judgment, on the law and as a matter of discretion, on Jan. 15, 2026.

The appellate decision came about 29 months after the judgment.

Subsequent history: Unanimously modified, on the law and as a matter of discretion, by the Appellate Division on Jan. 15, 2026.

Criminal case

Plea and sentence affirmed on appeal

People v. Solomon (Jewel) (2025 NY Slip Op 25249) · Aug. 4, 2022

Judge who presided at the plea and sentencing; another judge decided the speedy trial motion.

Presided at the plea and sentencing, in a judgment rendered Aug. 4, 2022.

What this tells you

An appeal heard by the Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court rather than the Appellate Division.

CourtListener — People v. Solomon (Jewel), 2025 NY Slip Op 25249 (Appellate Term) ↗

Case context & history

The question: The defendant appealed the judgment entered after the plea.

Outcome / stage: The Appellate Term affirmed the judgment on Nov. 21, 2025.

The appellate decision also upheld another judge's ruling on the defendant's speedy trial motion.

Subsequent history: Affirmed by the Appellate Term on Nov. 21, 2025.

Criminal case

Criminal judgment affirmed on appeal

People v. Cueto (2025 NY Slip Op 00195) · Oct. 24, 2023

Judge of New York County Supreme Court who rendered the judgment.

Rendered the judgment on Oct. 24, 2023.

What this tells you

A judgment of his that the Appellate Division left in place.

CourtListener — People v. Cueto, 2025 NY Slip Op 00195 (Appellate Division) ↗

Case context & history

The question: The defendant appealed the judgment; the appellate decision found does not describe the issues raised.

Outcome / stage: The Appellate Division affirmed the judgment on Jan. 14, 2025.

The appellate ruling came about 15 months after his judgment.

Subsequent history: Affirmed by the Appellate Division on Jan. 14, 2025.

He was admitted to the New York bar in 1995 in the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department. The dates of his work as counsel to City Council committees were not found. No published decision signed by him was found as of Oct. 1, 2026; the cases listed are four appellate decisions reviewing his rulings that were found; a fifth, from 2024 (People v. Rivera-Santana), was found without its result. No rating of him issued for this race by the New York City Bar Association, the New York County Lawyers Association or the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York was found as of Oct. 1, 2026.

Professional experience

as of Feb. 2026
Presides over civil cases in New York County Supreme Court.
Scrutinize — Judge Josh E. Hanshaft ↗
2017–2026
Elected to a judicial term running from 2017 through 2026.
Scrutinize — Judge Josh E. Hanshaft ↗
from 2017
Presided over family and criminal cases after taking the bench in 2017.
My BarTunes — Founder's Bio ↗
Counsel to the New York City Council's Committee on Courts and Legal Services and its Committee on Oversight and Investigation.
My BarTunes — Founder's Bio ↗
1996–2013
Assistant District Attorney in Kings County, where he was Executive Assistant in the Rackets Bureau.
My BarTunes — Founder's Bio ↗

Bar admission & conduct

Bar admission: Admitted 1995 · CUNY
NYS Attorney Registrations (data.ny.gov) — registration of Josh Evan Hanshaft ↗
Judicial conduct: No public determination naming Josh E. Hanshaft in the State Commission on Judicial Conduct's determination database (checked Oct. 1, 2026).
NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct — public determination list ↗

Qualifications & evaluations

Reported out

Manhattan Democratic Party Independent Judicial Screening Panel · Feb. 12, 2026

The Manhattan Democratic Party's independent screening panel's Feb. 12, 2026 announcement lists the candidates the panel reported out, without a rating scale; he is listed among the incumbent Civil Court candidates.

Manhattan Democratic Party — Results of the 2026 Civil Independent Judicial Screening Panel ↗

Approved

New York City Bar Association · Nov. 1, 2016

The City Bar's Committee on the Judiciary uses two ratings, Approved and Not Approved; Approved means the candidate affirmatively demonstrated the qualifications for the position. Issued Nov. 1, 2016 for his 2016 Civil Court race, not for this race.

New York City Bar Association — City Bar Rates General Election Candidates for Civil Court and Supreme Court (Nov. 1, 2016) ↗

Most highly qualified

Manhattan Democratic Party Independent Judicial Screening Panel · May 3, 2016

Issued May 3, 2016 for the two countywide Civil Court vacancies filled in 2016, not for this race.

Manhattan Democratic Party — Inner Workings ↗

Others running for Civil Court Judge - Countywide

VFVlad Frants EMEmily Morales-Minerva