2026 New York General Election

Danielle A. Noel

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Alejandra Gracias

Danielle Noel is an experienced court attorney referee who has practiced law for over a decade, and is running for Civil Court to bring equity, empathy, and real-world experience to the bench. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Cardozo Law School, Danielle has dedicated her career to ensuring the justice system works for everyone—not just those with power or resources.

Danielle for Judge 2026

Danielle is committed to making courts more accessible, especially for people without lawyers, and supports clear procedures, language access, and respectful treatment for all. A longtime Girl Scout troop leader, internship mentor, and Congregation Beth Elohim trustee, Danielle combines professional experience with strong community ties.

Danielle A. Noel graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Cardozo Law School. She is a Girl Scout troop leader, internship mentor, and trustee of Congregation Beth Elohim.

Danielle Noel is an experienced court attorney referee who has practiced law for over a decade, and is running for Civil Court to bring equity, empathy, and real-world experience to the bench.

Noel said she worked in that capacity until 2022, when she was appointed a support magistrate for the New York City Family Court. In that role, Noel said she presided over parentage, child support, and spousal support petitions.

Trinidadian court attorney Danielle Noel seeks civil court judgeship

After graduating from law school, Noel said she worked in private practice for a small commercial litigation firm and that, when the opportunity presented itself to transition to public service, she accepted a position as a law clerk to a New York State Supreme Court justice.

Danielle A. Noel works as a court attorney referee. She previously served as a support magistrate for the New York City Family Court, worked as a law clerk to a New York State Supreme Court justice, and worked in private practice for a small commercial litigation firm.

Trinidadian-American court attorney referee Danielle Noel seeks to ...

In 2024, she said she returned to the Supreme Court as a court attorney referee, where she reviews uncontested divorce judgments and presides over trials on the financial issues of contested divorce actions.

Served as a support magistrate in New York City Family Court, presiding over parentage, child-support, and spousal-support petitions.

Worked as a law clerk to a New York State Supreme Court justice after leaving private practice.

Worked in private practice for a small commercial litigation firm after law school.

Serves as a court attorney referee in New York State Supreme Court, reviewing uncontested divorces and conducting trials on financial issues in contested divorces.

- Serves as a court attorney referee in New York State Supreme Court, reviewing uncontested divorces and conducting trials on financial issues in contested divorces.

Legal Experience

Believes the judiciary should reflect Kings County's diverse values and promote public trust in institutions.

“I believe in a judiciary that reflects the values of our diverse county and promotes the public trust in our institutions,” Noel said. “As a support magistrate and court attorney referee, I have seen how the ideals of the court system, and our Constitution are at times not implemented in ways to best serve the public.”

Said she has ensured that litigants can present their cases and that disputes are decided impartially, equitably, and in accordance with the law.

In 2024, she said she returned to the Supreme Court as a court attorney referee, where she reviews uncontested divorce judgments and presides over trials on the financial issues of contested divorce actions. “In these roles, I have ensured that litigants have a fair opportunity to present their respective cases, and each dispute is decided impartially, equitably, and consistent with the law,” she said.

Is committed to ensuring all voices can be heard and people using the courtroom are treated with dignity and respect.

“In our current environment, I am committed to ensuring that all voices have a fair opportunity to be heard in our legal system and that every person who enters the courtroom is treated with dignity and respect,” she said.

Judicial Philosophy

Better access to information: It is very difficult to obtain even basic information about a person’s case, especially for people who are unfamiliar with the system. Danielle will push to overhaul information access so that it is more user-friendly.

Inadequate translation: Translation of court proceedings is available in most, but not all, languages. Court documents, however, are only translated to a few languages. Everyone should have access to translation of both court documents and court proceedings in their native language.

Bias: Danielle is an expert in fighting implicit bias in the judicial system, especially as it intersects with family law. Danielle will push for good anti-bias training to be mandatory for all attorneys, including judges.

Improved resources and more patience for litigants who don’t have lawyers: Providing pro se litigants with sufficient attention and support is labor-intensive, and the courts often fall short. Danielle cares about the litigants she serves, and she will ensure that her courtroom is a space where they get the support that they need to ensure an equitable outcome.

Plans to change how courts treat litigants so litigants can focus on their cases rather than mistreatment.

Ensuring that litigants will feel like they were treated fairly: The court system can feel like a hostile environment and isn’t designed to serve litigants well. Danielle will push for transformative change in the way litigants are treated so that they can spend less time worried about being mistreated by the courts and spend more time focused on their cases.

Plans to educate the community about what Civil Court can do and the resources available for resolving cases.

“If elected as a civil court judge, I hope to use the position to help educate the community on the powers of the civil court and the resources that are available to help resolve their cases,” Noel continued. “I also hope to continue educating court staff in recognizing and eliminating bias in our treatment of court users.”

Plans to continue educating court staff to recognize and eliminate bias in their treatment of court users.

Plans to make case information more user-friendly for people unfamiliar with the court system.

Supports translating court documents and proceedings into every court user's native language.

Plans to require anti-bias training for all attorneys and judges.

Plans to ensure her courtroom supports people representing themselves and seeking equitable outcomes.

- Plans to make case information more user-friendly for people unfamiliar with the court system.
- Supports translating court documents and proceedings into every court user's native language.
- Plans to require anti-bias training for all attorneys and judges.
- Plans to ensure her courtroom supports people representing themselves and seeking equitable outcomes.

Judicial Administration

As of October 15, 2026, Danielle A. Noel’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Additionally, Noel is the co-leader of a Girl Scout Brownie troop in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where the girls learn about entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and community service.

Volunteers as a mentor to undergraduate students through the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Association.

Noel said she is actively involved with the University of Pennsylvania’s Alumni Association, where she volunteers as a mentor to undergraduate students and advocate for faculty, staff, and students of diverse backgrounds.

Co-leads a Girl Scout Brownie troop in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where girls learn entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and community service.

Serves as a trustee of Congregation Beth Elohim.

- Co-leads a Girl Scout Brownie troop in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where girls learn entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and community service.
- Mentors interns.
- Serves as a trustee of Congregation Beth Elohim.

Community Involvement

Celeste Felix

Christine G. Ortiz

Linda Lo Cascio

- The New York Civil Court has jurisdiction over civil cases involving amounts up to $50,000 and other civil matters referred to it by the Supreme Court.
- It includes a small claims part for informal dispositions of matters not exceeding $10,000 and a housing part for landlord-tenant matters and housing code violations.
- There are 120 judges elected to the Civil Court, but only about 50 sit in it. The remaining judges sit in other courts, such as the Criminal Court or Family Court.
- Judges are elected to 10-year terms in partisan elections.
- They are paid a salary of $216,400.

Judge who handles majority of civil cases in New York