Gov

Civil Court Judge - District 7

Karen Cortes-Tower

Democratic

The Family Court career listed here, a New York City Family Court judge whose appointment by Mayor Bill de Blasio was reported in Jan. 2019 and who was listed in 2026 as a court attorney referee in the Bronx County Family Court, is that of a Karen Cortes.

On the Democratic line in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election.

Professional record

Court attorney referee, Bronx Family Court (2026) · Admitted to the New York bar in 2004

Family Court (child placement)

Intake order in a Bronx Family Court case

Matter of S.D. (K.E.D.) (2026 NY Slip Op 50523(U)) · Sept. 17, 2025

Bronx Family Court judge, named Karen Cortes in the decision, before whom the case appeared on intake.

Remanded the child to the custody of the commissioner.

What this tells you

Her order is recorded in a later published decision in the same case.

New York State Law Reporting Bureau — Matter of S.D. (K.E.D.), 2026 NY Slip Op 50523(U) ↗
Case context & history

The question: The case came before her on intake, on allegations that the respondent had been arrested on assault and weapons charges.

Outcome / stage: The child was placed in the commissioner's custody.

The decision describing it was issued in 2026.

History coverage: Appellate review of this order was not checked.

Experience, cases & evaluations →

Background

This dossier's researchers matched that career to her; the Uptown Community Democrats support a Karen Cortes for a 7th Municipal District Civil Court seat and the Manhattan Democratic Party's screening panel reported out a Karen Cortes for vacant Civil Court seats, but no source found as of Sept. 29, 2026 gives both names for one person.

  • Listed on The Mary Louis Academy's alumnae Trailblazers page as "The Honorable Karen Cortes," the first Filipina judge of the New York Family Court

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Others running for Civil Court Judge - District 7

Karen Cortes-Tower for Manhattan Civil Court District 7 Judge (2026) | By The People