In a January 13, 2025 New York Law Journal article, NYS Chief Administrative Judge and LLAQC Member Joseph A. Zayas demystifies the bench by talking about his unique life experiences growing up in New York City and the importance of second chances.

He writes “For nearly as long as I have been a judge, I have firmly believed in the importance of what I call demystifying the judiciary — that is, helping the public understand what judges do, how they make decisions, and how they’re chosen for their positions. One aspect of this demystification is candidly discussing my background and upbringing because I believe that my formative experiences — humble as they were — have given me a perspective some judges may lack, including a deep appreciation of the value of second chances. This perspective makes it easy for me to understand the motivation behind the push to enact ‘Second Look’ legislation in New York.