2026 New York General Election

But McSweeney-Ortiz’s path to law involved first gaining a broader perspective. Born and raised in Woodside, she attended Mary Louis Academy and earned her undergrad degree from SUNY Albany, majoring in Spanish with a minor in business.

Michelle McSweeney-Ortiz For Judge

When McSweeney-Ortiz enrolled in Queens College to continue her studies, it was with a new goal in mind: a master’s in education in Spanish, which she used to teach the language at Holy Cross High School for seven years.

I am a veteran attorney, working the past 10 years as a court attorney to a Supreme Court Judge in the Commercial Division and Tax Certiorari Parts, after spending 10 years in private practice at a neighborhood law firm. Prior to becoming an attorney, I was a foreign language high school teacher and attended law school at night at St. John’s University.

Meet Michelle | Michelle McSweeney-Ortiz

I am a working mom of 3 amazing kids, a wife, a sister, a friend and a lifelong Queens resident. I am a veteran attorney, working the past 10 years as a court attorney to a Supreme Court Judge in the Commercial Division and Tax Certiorari Parts, after spending 10 years in private practice at a neighborhood law firm.

Michelle Ann McSweeney-Ortiz was born and raised in Woodside. She earned an undergraduate degree from SUNY Albany, majoring in Spanish with a minor in business, and a master's degree in education in Spanish from Queens College; she also attended law school at St. John's University. She is a wife and mother of three children.

Michelle McSweeney-Ortiz For Judge - Queens Ledger

“Part of this is utilizing the other facets that the court has. I don’t think enough cases are sent to mediation,” said McSweeney-Oritz, who worked as a mediator while in private practice. “[And] seeing the inner workings of what their issues are helps us recognize what cases are ripe for mediation, versus what cases will not settle.”

Michelle Ann McSweeney-Ortiz works as a court attorney for a Supreme Court judge in the Commercial Division and Tax Certiorari Parts. She previously worked in private practice at a neighborhood law firm, including as a mediator, and as a foreign language teacher at Holy Cross High School.

Served for 10 years as a court attorney for a New York Supreme Court judge in the Commercial Division and Tax Certiorari Parts.

Worked for 10 years as an attorney at a neighborhood law firm.

- Served for 10 years as a court attorney for a New York Supreme Court judge in the Commercial Division and Tax Certiorari Parts.
- Worked for 10 years as an attorney at a neighborhood law firm.

Legal Experience

“Although you might not have any interest in the law, you never know if you’re going to be sued,” said McSweeney-Ortiz, in a recent roundtable with the Queens Ledger. “You want to make sure that the people who are listening to your case are being fair and impartial, and interpreting the law properly to make sure that you’re being heard.”

“When you’re a private practitioner, you are very much an advocate, one way or the other,” she explained. “The biggest difference, I would say, between being that zealous advocate and being a judge is to really be open to listen. We all go into most situations with preconceived notions, and you have to take that off the table.”

Sometimes, McSweeney-Ortiz noted, neutrality involves understanding that the paperwork doesn’t tell the full story. In cases where one side lacks a competent advocate, that can mean eliciting more details to fill in the gaps; when the parties know each other, the root problem may not be the alleged infraction at hand — who threw what into someone else’s yard, for example — but a deeper grievance that goes back years.

Queens County is our home and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect when they enter a courtroom. If I am elected Judge of the Civil Court of Queens County, I promise that I will work hard every day and will listen to every person that comes before me and treat them with fairness and patience. My experience as a working mom and veteran attorney will guide me every day I serve on the bench.

Said judges should be fair and impartial, interpret the law properly, and ensure people are heard.

Said judges should listen openly and set aside preconceived notions when evaluating cases.

Thinks judges should listen openly and set aside preconceived notions when evaluating cases.

Said judicial neutrality requires understanding that court paperwork may not tell the full story.

Believes judicial neutrality requires understanding that court paperwork may not tell the full story.

Pledges to listen to every person appearing before the court and treat them with fairness and patience.

- Said judges should be fair and impartial, interpret the law properly, and ensure people are heard.
- Thinks judges should listen openly and set aside preconceived notions when evaluating cases.
- Believes judicial neutrality requires understanding that court paperwork may not tell the full story.
- Pledges to listen to every person appearing before the court and treat them with fairness and patience.

Judicial Philosophy

As of October 15, 2026, Michelle Ann McSweeney-Ortiz’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judicial Administration

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Community Involvement

Michelle Ann McSweeney-Ortiz

- Pledges to listen to every person appearing before the court and treat them with fairness and patience.

Isaac Brickman

Alejandra Gracias

William Shanahan, known in the community as “Shanny” is a lifelong resident of Queens County.

William Shanahan Running for NYC Civil Court Judge in Queens County

William David Shanahan is a lifelong resident of Queens County.

William Shanahan Running for NYC Civil Court Judge in Queens ...

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William Shanahan - Ballotpedia

William lost the 2024 race for the New York City Civil Court, Queens County seat.

He obtained his BS in criminal justice from St. John’s University in Jamaica Queens, and obtained his law degree from Saint’s Law School.

He has spent the past 33 years litigating both criminal and civil cases in New York courts.

He has spent the past 33 years litigating both criminal and civil cases in New York courts.

Straight out of law school he served as an Assistant District Attorney in Nassau County where he worked diligently with police and victims of crimes, prosecuting some of the most serious criminal offenders.

“I never found that making money for other people, so they can get richer, rewarding,” he said, adding that, “This can’t be what life is … basically doing legal research in an office all day and never really getting out there and talking to people.”

After his stint on Wall Street he moved on to work for All-State Insurance, one of the largest insurers in the country, where he spent the next several years as a senior trial litigator, specializing in fraudulent claims.

After his stint on Wall Street he moved on to work for All-State Insurance, one of the largest insurers in the country, where he spent the next several years as a senior trial litigator, specializing in fraudulent claims.

It was in 2005, that Shanahan opened a private general practice, serving communities in Queens and Nassau County, which he runs to this day.

Over the course of his career, he has appeared as a guest expert on various cable news shows including appearances on Fox News and has taken on a number of cases pro bono, fighting for the civil rights of his clients.

“I’ve actually protested with Eric Adams, the mayor, before he was a mayor, on some civil rights cases,” Shanahan told Vision Times.

Currently, Shanahan also serves as a court arbitrator, a quasi judicial role, where he conducts and oversees small claims and civil trials.

Has litigated criminal and civil cases in New York courts for 33 years.

Has litigated criminal and civil cases in New York courts for over 30 years.

Served as an assistant district attorney in Nassau County, prosecuting serious criminal cases and working with police and crime victims.

Worked as a senior trial litigator for All-State Insurance, specializing in fraudulent claims.

Opened a private general law practice in 2005 and continues to serve communities in Queens and Nassau County.

Serves as a court arbitrator, conducting and overseeing small-claims and civil trials.

- Has litigated criminal and civil cases in New York courts for over 30 years.
- Served as an assistant district attorney in Nassau County, prosecuting serious criminal cases and working with police and crime victims.
- Worked as a senior trial litigator for All-State Insurance, specializing in fraudulent claims.
- Opened a private general law practice in 2005 and continues to serve communities in Queens and Nassau County.
- Serves as a court arbitrator, conducting and overseeing small-claims and civil trials.

In order to inspire more faith in the system, Shanahan says that as a judge he would work tirelessly to ensure every case on his docket is resolved in a timely manner.

“I’m going to make sure that every case that comes before me is given a fair shake and I am going to move my cases,” he said before explaining how he is seeing several cases take upwards of six months to be heard.

Said every case before him would receive “a fair shake.”

- Said every case before him would receive “a fair shake.”

“I’m going to make sure that every case that comes before me is given a fair shake and I am going to move my cases,” he said before explaining how he is seeing several cases take upwards of six months to be heard.

“I’m not going to let that happen. I’m going to make sure that when I am there, I’m working and I am going to move these cases and make sure that justice is done,” he said, adding that there is a big difference between workflow in the private and public sectors, and that he would take a private sector approach.

Plans to move cases promptly and ensure justice is done.

- Plans to move cases promptly and ensure justice is done.

As of October 15, 2026, William David Shanahan did not have a website or any information online.

William David Shanahan

As of October 15, 2026, William David Shanahan’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Took on pro bono cases to fight for clients' civil rights.

- 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

Queens Civil Court Judge, District 3

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Legal Experience

Judicial Philosophy

Judicial Administration

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement