Attorney-at-law, Andrea Sabita Ogle will make history as the first Asian American to ever be nominated as a candidate for Civil Court judge countrywide in Queens County.
Ogle migrated from Guyana at a very young age with her family and worked diligently to climb the legal ladder to become the first from her community to be nominated to this position.
“I am humbled and honored to be nominated as a candidate for Civil Court judge countywide in Queens County. Thank you for your confidence. I am grateful and privileged for the opportunity to serve the people of Queens,” Ogle told Caribbean Life in a recent exclusive interview.
‘This is a testament to strengthening the community,” she said quoting the late Nelson Mandela: “A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long may in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.”
Ogle, a compelling vice president of Assigned Counsel Association of Queens County Bar Association, was nominated by the Queens County Democratic Party as a countywide candidate for the general election on Nov. 2, 2021, for Civil Court judge in Queens County. She was endorsed by the political leaders and local clubs in Queens County, and will not face a challenger in the general election.
While calling on the community to go out and vote, Ogle explained that the relevant criteria involved in “my selection as a candidate included merit, professional experience, knowledge, temperament, community involvement and commitment to public service, ongoing education and professional activities, ratings and recommendations.”
She explained that judges are different from other candidates in that they are not elected to represent the views of the people who vote for them. “Most people do not routinely interact with judges and many voters do not know much about them, which can make it difficult to decide amongst judicial candidates.”
Once elected she will be assigned to a court and a part depending on the vacancy being filled in either the Civil Court, Family Court or Criminal Court.
The counsel has a wide range of experiences with more than 20 years handling intricate legal matters in Civil, Criminal and Family Court, which have enabled her to develop an appreciation for the adversarial system of justice and to learn new areas of law.
Ogle is certified by the Appellate Division Second Department to represent indigent adults and children in all phases of Family Court, Supreme Court and Surrogate Court proceedings.
Honored by the Borough of Queens, and NYC County District 27, and many others in recognition of her dedication and commitment to the community, Ogle who is trained in Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, is an arbitrator in Civil Court and is a former special education impartial hearing officer for New York State and former revocation hearing officer for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
Additionally, the legal practitioner prepares Continuing Legal Education Courses for attorneys and serves on the board of managers for the Queens County Bar Association, and is vice president of the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean Bar Association-Queens.
A hard working and passionate advocate in the community, Ogle is also a member of the Macon B. Allen Black Bar Association and the Queens County Women’s Bar Association.
With more than 20 years serving the community in the legal system, the legislator appears in court daily and has seen first hand how the court impacts the lives of real people.
“I have also served the community in various capacities over the years and have also worked in conjunction with various legislators and associations to educate the community on issues that are relevant and have a direct impact on the community,” shared the member of the bar.
She believes that justice and compassion are not mutually exclusive and that a judge is a public servant of the people. She said Judges make decisions, which can impact you and your community in almost every aspect of your life.
“I am committed to hard work, and in the position of a judge it is a role in which I can do real good to the community. I believe that I posses the temperament and qualities to be fair and impartial so that the parties can respect the process.”
Ogle said that one of the best ways to learn about judicial candidates was to invite them to speak to organizations and that she would welcome the opportunity to continue to meet the community.
She is thankful to the community, elected officials, party leaders, her family, and all who have supported her long and varied career, noting that her work and experience have prepared her for the position for which she is being nominated.
