Randall T. Eng (born December 16, 1947) is an American judge who was the presiding justice of the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department. Eng became the first Asian-American to serve as a presiding justice in New York State's history.[1] Born in Canton, China[2] but raised in New York City, Eng attended public school before graduating from the State University of New York at Buffalo and St. John's University School of Law. From 1970 to 2004, Eng was a member of the New York Army National Guard, retiring as a judge advocate with the rank of colonel.
Randall T. Eng | |
|---|---|
| Presiding Justice of the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department | |
| Assumed office October 1, 2012 | |
| Appointed by | Andrew Cuomo |
| Preceded by | Gail Prudenti |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 16, 1947 Canton, China |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | State University of New York at Buffalo St. John's University School of Law |
Early life and education edit
Eng was born on December 16, 1947, in Canton, China, as one of three children to Chinese-American immigrants.[clarification needed] He grew up in Queens, New York, where he attended New York City public schools.
Eng received a B.A. degree in political science from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1969 and a J.D. degree from St. John's University School of Law in 1972.[3] He served in the New York Army National Guard and as a colonel in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.
Legal career edit
Eng began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Queens and held senior positions in the New York City Department of Corrections. He became a judge of the Criminal Court of the City of New York in 1983.
In 1991, he became a judge of the Supreme Court, Queens County courts, and was the administrative judge of the Criminal Term of Queens County Supreme Court starting in March 2007.[4] He was the first Asian-American justice in New York State.
In January 2008 Eng was elevated to the Appellate Division. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo appointed him the presiding justice of the Second Department in 2012,[5] becoming the first Asian American to serve as presiding justice of an Appellate Division.
After retiring from the bench, in January 2018, Eng joined the New York-based law firm Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C. as Of Counsel to the Litigation Department, the Appellate Practice and Criminal Defense groups.[6]
Awards edit
In 2016, Eng gave the commencement address for St. John's Law School and was awarded an honorary degree. In 2016 Eng also won the Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award, NAPABA's highest honor, which recognizes the outstanding achievements, commitment, and leadership of lawyers who have paved the way for the advancement of other Asian Pacific American attorneys.[7]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "School of Law Commencement Celebrates Core Values of SJU". St. John's University. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ "Hon. Randall T. Eng '72 to Speak at School of Law's 2016 Commencement Exercises". St. John's University. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ "Justices of the Court". New York State Unified Court System. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ "AABANY Member Justice Randall Eng Appointed Queens Administrative Judge, Supreme Court, Criminal Term". Asian American Bar Association of New York. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ "Governor Cuomo Announces Appointments to the Appellate Division of Supreme Court for First, Second and Fourth Judicial Departments". New York State. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ "Former Presiding Justice of Second Department Randall Eng Joins Meyer Suozzi – New York Law Journal".
- ^ "DANIEL K INOUYE TRAILBLAZERS PAST RECIPIENTS". National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.