Justices of the Court

Associate Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels

Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels was born in New York City, raised in the South Bronx and is a product of the New York City public schools. She is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 1985. Justice Manzanet-Daniels is a graduate from Hofstra University School of Law, Class of 1988, where she attended on a full scholarship. While at Hofstra Law School, she founded and served as the first President of the Latino Law Students Association in 1987-1988. As an alumna, Judge Manzanet-Daniels co-founded and served as the first chair of the Lalsa Alumni Scholarship Fund, which continues to raise thousands of dollars for aspiring Latino law students

In 1988, Justice Manzanet-Daniels began her legal career with the Legal Aid Society in the Bronx as a criminal defense trial attorney. Thereafter, Judge Manzanet-Daniels served as Principal Law Clerk for three years respectively to both Justice Frank Torres in Bronx Supreme Court, Criminal Term, and to Justice Luis A. Gonzalez, Administrative Judge for the 12th Judicial District.

In November 1999, Sallie Manzanet-Daniels was elected as Judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Bronx County. In November 2001, Judge Manzanet-Daniels was elected and received a Gubernatorial Citation for becoming, at the age of 37, the youngest Justice of Hispanic Heritage ever elected to the New York State Supreme Court.

In October 2009, Governor David Paterson appointed Justice Manzanet-Daniels to the Appellate Division, First Department, thereby making her the first Latina justice in the history of New York State to serve on this Court. Since her Supreme Court election, she has been recognized numerous times for her judicial excellence, Most recently, she was asked in 2015 to serve as the commencement speaker at her alma mater, and was bestowed a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

Her life has been marked by activism and leadership, in her community and during her academic and professional life. Throughout her career Judge Manzanet-Daniels has mentored many students of all ages and walks of life. Community service has always been one of her greatest passions, and includes organizations focusing on the elderly, the arts, and a myriad of community, bar and professional organizations servicing all spheres of public life. Justice Manzanet-Daniels has served on the boards of both the Puerto Rican Bar Association and the Latino Judges Association, and is a member of many other bar associations.

Last, but certainly not least, Judge Masnzanet-Daniels is the proud mother of three beautiful daughters, Taina (born to her) and Toure & Asha (her blessings through marriage) and since 2006 has been married to New York’s former Secretary of State, Randy A. Daniels.