New York, NY (April 3, 2023) – We are pleased to announce that Justice Carolyn Walker-Diallo ’03 has been appointed a Senior Fellow in New York Law School’s Law and Leadership Institute. She will teach a new and unique workshop series titled “Behind the Bench” to New York Law School students this summer. As part of the school’s Law and Leadership Institute, Justice Walker-Diallo and special guest instructors from the bench and practice will deliver to students a comprehensive program on developing the necessary skills to excel in the profession and discovering the right career in the judiciary.
“Justice Walker-Diallo exemplifies excellence and professionalism. She has dedicated herself to a life in service to others and possesses a deep and abiding commitment to equality and justice,” said Anthony W. Crowell, Dean and President. “Our law school has an extraordinary legacy of alumni serving on the bench, and in many positions throughout the judiciary. This will be a vital opportunity for students to learn why this is such an exceptional career pathway directly from a distinguished judge and alumna. We are grateful Justice Walker-Diallo is giving so generously of her time and wisdom to the next generation of leaders in our profession.”
Topics covered through the Behind the Bench Workshop Series will include an introduction to the judiciary as a career path and the various pathways to the bench, an exploration of how each judge utilizes their legal, conflict resolution, problem-solving, consensus-building, and decision-making skills to lead the courts, and examples of how the judiciary can provide diverse and rewarding internship opportunities and careers. Students will also meet in small groups for mentoring, engage in a discussion of what employers seek in a candidate for a legal position, and participate in mock interviews.
About The Honorable Carolyn Walker-Diallo
Justice Walker-Diallo is a justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Kings County, and Administrative Judge of the New York City Civil Court. She is the first Muslim to serve as a Judge in the State of New York. In 2015, Justice Walker-Diallo was elected to the New York City Civil Court, and since then, has quickly ascended through the ranks of the New York State Unified Court System. Upon assuming the bench, Judge Walker-Diallo served as a Criminal Court Judge in Brooklyn and a Civil Court Judge in Manhattan. In December 2018, she was appointed Supervising Judge of the Kings County Civil Court, where she served in this capacity from January 2019 to August 2021. In August 2021, she was once again promoted and appointed the Administrative Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York (“The People’s Court”). In this capacity, she oversees the day-to-day administration and operation of the Civil Court throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Less than three months later, in November 2021, Justice Walker-Diallo was elected to serve as a New York State Supreme Court Justice. Her term expires in 2035.
Justice Walker-Diallo’s diverse legal experience includes serving as a litigation associate at Milbank LLP, an Assistant Corporation Counsel at the New York City Law Department, General Counsel and Chief Compliance officer of Brooklyn Community Services, and Executive Director of The George Walker Jr. Community Coalition, Inc (“GWJrCC”), a youth development non-profit organization based in Cypress Hills/East New York Brooklyn, which is named after her late father. Her experience in executive level management and leadership in organizations that were undergoing significant change has increased her ability to successfully implement creative, innovative, and replicable practices collaboratively to ensure efficient and effective daily court operations.
As Administrative Judge of the Civil Court, Justice Walker-Diallo created the first ever comprehensive city-wide Civil Court Training Program offered through the New York State Judicial Institute for newly elected Civil Court Judges and those Judges assigned to the Civil Court after presiding in another court. Justice Walker-Diallo is a consistent presenter at the New York State Judicial Institute on civil law matters on topics including “Moving A Busy Calendar”, “Alternative Dispute Resolution – What Does It Mean For New York City Civil Court Justices?”, “No-Fault Motions Primer and Workshop” and “Summary Judgment Motions – Working Through Procedural and Substantive Issues.”
Justice Walker-Diallo is involved in many community-based and civic organizations and is the current Board Chair of GWJrCC. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and is a mediator, having received her training through the New York Peace Institute in 2011.
Justice Walker-Diallo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, cum laude, a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in General Management from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, and a Juris Doctor from New York Law School. While at New York Law School, Justice Walker-Diallo served as President of the Black Law Students Association, Co-Founder and Vice-President of the Muslim Law Students Association, and Executive Notes and Comments Editor of the Law School’s Journal of Human Rights.